Electronic ignition

[oldboy]

For's and against of electronic ignition. Does it warrant the price, do they run any better, are they trouble free or do I stick to points, (which have been trouble free, so far!) I've updated to modern rec/reg so just wonder if I should go the whole hog. Opinions please.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I've gone for fully electronic as my coils were shot. An advantage with points is its an easy roadside fix if there is an issue. Like modern engine management systems electronic systems are a black hole - diagnostics are specialised. If I had my time again I would stick to points with better coils if originals are below par.

[Johnwebley]

I have used Boyer ignition for ages,

Runs sweet as a nut,

Electronic advances,

Would never go back

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[oldboy]

Do all the electronic ignitions have built in advance/retired or do some still retain the mechanical??

[Bryanj]

Both

[Oddjob]

Use the Hondaman system, best of both worlds. If it fails on a run you can revert to points within a couple of minutes. Points last a very long time as it reduces the sparking at the faces.

http://sohc4shop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=32&osCsid=54a6f2d00f03c0932c586efa44cad603

[oldboy]

Are/is there any noticeable benefits in performance/starting etc with this system??

[kevski]

I have used Boyer's on a fair few bikes and never had any problems, these are electronic ignitions, you could also opt for a Dyna-s which is an electronic trigger and retains the original advancer i have used these with no problems also, but as with all bikes your charging system and batteries have to be well maintained or you will run into problems.

[Oddjob]

The Dyna system as noted by Hondaman uses an additional 1 amp.

Read all Hondamans points at the bottom and you can see the benefits.

One advantage he doesn't state is that you retain the original coils, some systems don't and you always get members on here asking about Ohms for coils etc. The Dyna coils for instance aren't known for being the best.

[deltarider]

Maybe it's good to realise that any EI is in essence nothing but a switch in the NEG path of the ignition coil's current. It's only because the transistor involved, cuts current way faster than a mechanical contactbreaker, that the induction produced is better, which in its turn results in a slightly more reserve for the energy of the spark. The rest is imagination and projecting ideal properties. No EI will produce even one HP more over a stock kettering ignition in good condition. Because there's no sparking between breakerpoints, there is a slightly better spark in the low rpm, resulting in a possibly nicer idle and a somewhat better performance in the high rpms. After some consideration - I didn't want electronics in a vulnerable place - I have built my own transistor ignition some 20 years ago, bluntly copying the Velleman kit K2543 (X2 ofcourse) which has been applied by many owners of a vintage vehicle. It has proved utterly reliable. The breakerpoints which now only switch the control current, live for ever (mine nearly 60.000km now) and they hardly ever need readjustment. Like Hondamans, I can return to stock within a couple of minutes. Actually I presume Hondamans is the same as mine, as there aren't that many Darlington transistors for this task. I have knowledge of only two or three. Back in the day the first such a transistor (TIP) was developed by Texas Instruments, especially for the automotive industry. I have no idea why no more make their own. I mean, if I can do it, anyone can and the electronic components are not that expensive.
Never understood what's so special about the Boyer & Bransden. Why you'd want four plugs to fire simultaneously, is an enigma for me. To me it seems that's energy wasted... Well, such an EI is cheaper to make ofcourse, that I know. All in all there's a lot you can sell with the invisible mysteries electricketry and magnetism. Boyer & Bransden... I guess you pay for the name, in this case you pay for both names. A lot of companies use this name & name trick, as to suggest one family could not have been enough to reach this quality. Seems folks are easily impressed by double names.
Here are a few:
Johnson & Johnson - talcum powder
Cross & Blackwell - spices
Benson & Hedges - homocide
Smith & Wesson - homocide
Bonnie & Clyde - banking

[K2-K6]

http://www.boyerbransden.com/aboutus.html 

[deltarider]

Thanks K2-K6. However what I really was hoping for was, instead of a link to an add, that someone could enlighten us over what makes B&B so especially good. Within the boundaries of a 12V feed, standard plugs and a duty cycle of say 52% ofcourse.

[K2-K6]

I was going to respond with more of my own view when I had time to write it, and will post that later.

It was more about your double barrelled name part that's humorous but in this case felt it was more the achievement of Bransden being recognized, justifiably I feel, in his contribution but added to the Boyer name (local bike dealership) in bringing it to market and providing finance to realise the initial production development.  Seems honest to me.

Normal to credit clever thinking people in many fields, I have worked in others where the originator is specifically named due to the step chamge they brought along https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosambi%E2%80%93Karhunen%E2%80%93Lo%C3%A8ve_theorem such as this, when most can stand back and say "ooh that's very clever"  this having a mathematical purity that's demonstrated by pushing data through the intended direction of use,  but then moving it backward to exhamine how it compares to original start point in quantifying just how much of the original data is missed or reproduced.  Normally referred to as a KL Transform, and definitely transformative in image data handling.

[MrDavo]

I can only fix what I can understand, when I’ve had electronic ignition fail on me then replacement, not repair is the only option. I do understand points ignition though, so emergency repair is possible.

On the other hand, I’ve spent many an hour fiddling with points gaps and timing, fit and forget is wonderful- my Sportster and 911 both have magnetic triggers for the ignition on their flywheels that require zero attention ever.

[Oddjob]

I'm just in the process of buying a Hondaman system, I was trying to do a group buy the other year but the costs were not feasible. The beauty of his system is the ability to revert with no problems, he'll also fix the module if you sent it to him. Seems a win/win situation. Cheaper than a Dyna or BB system as well.