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Author Topic: To upgrade ignition or not  (Read 1009 times)

tc80211

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To upgrade ignition or not
« on: April 04, 2014, 01:03:22 PM »
Its me again, '83 R65 (not LS)
After so much help with tires/tubes, tanks, and everything else now it is time to zero in on electrical...
Should I upgrade my ignition?
Should I upgrade my Diode?

My budget has about 400-500 for electrical and the current wiring harness has tested well so no need to replace. starter is also in good condition and when i took this thing apart all the sensors appeared to check out.

notes: the JPT connector on my ignition sensor has shattered, like disintegrated completely. Otherwise some corrosion on the stator is visible.

Offline montmil

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Re: To upgrade ignition or not
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2014, 01:32:24 PM »
What are your expected goals in upgrading the ignition and diode (board) ?

Are you considering an alternative to the bean can? Something like the Alpha Ignition from MotorradElektrik? Or a different coil, plug wire set, solid state VR... ?

The diode board is part of the charging system but replacing just the OEM board with something different may not do anything -other than deplete your finances- without upgrading the alternator for more output to run new electrical farkles. Maybe just new brushes.

Help us out here by tightening up your goals, wants n' needs and I'm sure there are several folks on board that would be happy to help spend your bucks. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

tc80211

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Re: To upgrade ignition or not
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2014, 01:35:46 PM »
The need to spend money certainly is not present. I doubt I will add any more electrical items then the bike originally came with. But I do want to make some cross-country passes so I guess I am seeing if its worth upgrading any of these items for the sake or reliability (since they are 30 yrs old)...

I would rather spend the money on gas hauling ass across the plains :)

Offline Luca

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Re: To upgrade ignition or not
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2014, 03:15:19 PM »
Well I can think of one thing that's come up recently.  If you've got the stock bosch coil, replace it with a dyna "brown" from www.motoelekt.com

And while you're there, you can replace the stock tail light with a beacon II LED unit.  Draws less power and puts out wayyyy more light.
'82 R65LS
'01 K1200RS

Offline Barry

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Re: To upgrade ignition or not
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2014, 03:51:09 PM »
Quote
...But I do want to make some cross-country passes so I guess I am seeing if its worth upgrading any of these items for the sake or reliability (since they are 30 yrs old)...

There is nothing inherently unreliable about the stock ignition and charging system providing it's in good order.  The early points ignition is possibly more reliable or at least easier to fix if there is a problem but other that that any of the stock electrical systems are plenty good enough to cross country with from a reliability point of view. The bike is not going to go any better with an after market ignition and an after market charging system is only needed if the stock one doesn't deliver the watts that you need.
« Last Edit: April 04, 2014, 03:57:00 PM by bhodgson »
Barry Cheshire, England 79 R45

Offline nhmaf

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Re: To upgrade ignition or not
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2014, 04:03:44 PM »
I'd check the charging system output at different RPMs and make sure that it is working well.   If not, *usually* it is something relatively cheap like brushes, voltage regulator, or diode board,  And sometimes it is the alternator which is more money.  If I didn't have alot of cash and wasn't looking to run more electrical accessories, I wouldn't replace the alternator until it needed it.   It wouldn't hurt to replace the brushes (they are) and that could be cheap insurance against stranding on the roadside.

The aftermarket diode board from motorrad elektrik is a good one and, it could be considered somewhat of an insurance investment as the old diode boards do eventually go - and some sooner than others due to soldering issues.   If your existing diode board is still doing its thing properly, you can choose whether or not to update it now.  I did mine just as a matter of course when I was updating other things on my bike.  The voltage regulators do also die, suddenly, when they do, and that can leave you with dead battery even with everything else working.  Motorrad Elektrik also has some solid state voltage regulators that aren't expensive.  

Some folks (and it often, but not always includes me) are of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy.  But, if it is a big x-country ride in the future, I do try to  either update, or at least have a handy spare for some things such as a throttle cable, diode board, voltage regulator, relay, and maybe a clutch cable and some fuzes tucked away somewhere.
Airhead #12178 ? BMWMOA #123173 ?BMWRA #33525 ?GSBMWR #563 ?1982 BMW R65LS ?1978 BMW R100/7 1998 Kawasaki Concours