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Points, Yes or No?
- mackinnon0909
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- SWest
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- 10 22 2014
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Steve
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- 650ed
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I've put 59,000+ miles on my bike, and I replace the points and condenser about every 8 - 10,000 miles or so. The set in the bike now have been there for more than 9,000 miles and work perfectly fine. It takes me about 1/2 hour to replace them; that includes getting my tools out, cleaning up, and drinking a beer when done. Doing that once every 3 years or so doesn't present a hardship for me. If you have never replaced points yourself I can post instructions that will get you started. It isn't particularly difficult to do.
Electronic ignition doesn't require routine maintenance, but when electronic ignition fails, it fails hard and leaves you walking. Points gradually wear and periodically require replacing, but they don't fail hard. I like that fact when I'm on the bike 100 miles from home.
Some electronic ignition systems put more demand on the charging system than others, and I believe most if not all require more current than points, so the selection of an electronic system should be done carefully. If you switch, be sure you first understand what the load is going to be on your charging system and whether or not your bike's system can handle it. Unlike the 1977 KZ650 excited filed 3-phase system or the 1981 and later KZ650 permanent magnet 3-phase systems, the 1978 KZ650 charging system is a single phase system. That system is arguably the weakest of the lot. Given that, putting an electronic ignition system on that bike may cause problems depending on the power demands of the system you select. There has been much written about the excessive load the Dyna-S system puts on the single phase charging systems and the resulting problems.
One other factor is the expense. If you install electronic ignition be sure to factor in the cost of the coils that you most likely will need to buy to match the ignition system requirements. When you add up the cost of all the components you need you can compare that to the cost of the points and condensers you will need while you own the bike plus the cost of a timing light and dwell meter which you should use to very accurately adjust the points. These tools are not particularly expensive, and it helps to have them when replacing points.
Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- SWest
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Steve
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- RonKZ650
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321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- loudhvx
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Let the bike warm up and read the battery voltage with the Dyna S installed with the old coils and bike running at about 1500~1700 RPM. If the battery is over 14v and holding steady, then it's probably ok.
1981 KZ550 D1 gpz.
Kz550 valve train warning.
Other links.
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- Tyler
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Here is a discussion of my problem, and on the second page shows how I upgraded my charging system.
www.kzrider.com/forum/4-electrical/59409...-stator?limitstart=0
The dual points system in the 650 works just fine, the dyna pickups and coils do make a hotter spark, but you can also find a later type factory electronic ignition and use the pickups and igniter without running into a possible issue with your charging system. The 81 to 83 650's and all the 750's used an electrIc ignition.
If I knew what I was doing all the time life wouldn't be any fun.
'80 KZ650 E 700cc, dyna ignition and coils, frame up restoration, daily driver
'81 KZ1300 A3 full restoration, custom big bore pistons, 1400cc 6 cylinder super bike
"77 KZ650 B1 - Barn Find, work in progeress
"74 Yamaha DT 400 Enduro
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- bountyhunter
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Except when they fail. IMHO, points/coil are more rugged against over voltage failures and even when coils go bad they usually run rough and give some signs. Electronic boxes typically fail instantly with no warning and leave you stranded.RonKZ650 wrote: There is no con to electronic ignition. .
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- wex652
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sohc4shop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=32
The following is from the site:
'The primary advantages of this system:
1. The original dwell is preserved (no other electronic replacement system provides this feature).
2. The power consumption is only 0.1 amp more than stock, max. In comparison: the typical Dyna S uses a little over 1 amp extra current, as do other similar "electronic trigger" systems.
3. Points and condensors stay in place: this provides 100% backup if the electronics should ever fail. You can unplug the 4 wires to the points and coils, plug the points back into the coils, and hit the road again in (literally) about 2 minutes, even on a hot bike.
4. This unit has a 5-year, 100% warranty: if it fails, I'll fix it for return postage only.'
Brian
Z650B1
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- LineArtist
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The idea here is to enjoy riding!
'79 KZ650B3 (stock)
'79 KZ650B3 (parts bike)
'06 HD 883R
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- gd4now
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- Denco where did you go?
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1977 KZ650 B1
Pods and Denco header
OLD KAW OWNERS SMILE ALOT
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- baldy110
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