Forum

[windmill john]

I would rather have points on Gupta, but a PO had fitted the Boyer, so I just haven’t gone to the expense of retro fitting points and ATU.

[stinkwheel]

My "perfect" system for a Bullet would be a modern replica magento (something like the VAPE lucas replacement ones, only they don't fit bullets) running off the timing side but only providing the charging output (so basically 2 wires sticking out with 12V DC in them). I'd also have a crank-mounted, self-exciting electronic ignition.

[jawa-enfield]

As far as i know there is besides the original, Boyer, Beck of Sachse.. I don't know if Vape has one with advance system.
Are there more?

[Wheaters]

My "perfect" system for a Bullet would be a modern replica magento (something like the VAPE lucas replacement ones, only they don't fit bullets) running off the timing side but only providing the charging output (so basically 2 wires sticking out with 12V DC in them). I'd also have a crank-mounted, self-exciting electronic ignition.

My year 2004, 350 Bullet Electra has no distributor or drive gears fitted, it has factory fitted TCI instead, all running off the left side of the crankshaft. It needs a battery to work but otherwise it's completely maintenance free; no adjustment needed.

[stinkwheel]

As far as i know there is besides the original, Boyer, Beck of Sachse.. I don't know if Vape has one with advance system.
Are there more?

I wouldn't be using it to make a spark, I'd be using the magneto purely as a dynamo to charge the battery and run the lights.

The ignition would be part of a stand-alone crank mounted CDI system. Possibly electrex?

[stinkwheel]

My year 2004, 350 Bullet Electra has no distributor or drive gears fitted, it has factory fitted TCI instead, all running off the left side of the crankshaft. It needs a battery to work but otherwise it's completely maintenance free; no adjustment needed.

I actually looked into that because our hosts had most of the guts of one in stock at the time I was building my 612 and it was very cheap. (they still do, link below).

As I recall, there was some fundamental barrier to me doing so which would have been too much hard work to overcome. I think it may have been something like the end of the crank being different or that I'd have to change the whole primary chaincase.

https://accessories.hitchcocksmotorcycl ... ting/39345

[Wheaters]

The stator assembly of the Electra bolts onto the inside of the primary chaincase cover. The cover is held onto the inner case by perimeter screws and has a gasket, rather than the more usual 'O' ring.

I don't know about the crankshaft but it is quite likely to be different; it has a relatively large flywheel with embedded magnets which fits over and around the stator, rather than a "solid" magnetic rotor inside the stator like the earlier Bullets.

It seems this design is a "half way house" between the traditional old style and the later EFI engines, as if they were experimenting with TCI. I see the later bikes have 18 coils on the stator, mine has only 12. I have no idea if the entire assemblies could be swapped over.

The one thing I don't like is that it's not possible to check the timing point, let alone adjust the timing because the bike won't run without the outer cover and there's no access port. I think Paul H said he'd cut a port on a bike he worked on.

Edit: Just followed your link to the alternator stator and thought I'd better bag onewhile they were available - so I did!

[windmill john]

Paul, if you’re reading this, does retarding the inlet cam by one tooth, need any compensation with the timing? I know it has no physical affect on TDC, just wondered if any allowances need to be made, or just set for full advance at 32 degrees.

I guess as I’m strobe timing it once the work is done, all is taken into consideration anyway, so in fact there is no question!

[Bullet Whisperer]

Paul, if you’re reading this, does retarding the inlet cam by one tooth, need any compensation with the timing? I know it has no physical affect on TDC, just wondered if any allowances need to be made, or just set for full advance at 32 degrees.

I guess as I’m strobe timing it once the work is done, all is taken into consideration anyway, so in fact there is no question!

Hi John, retarding the inlet timing will reduce any tendencies towards pinking, especially with high compression ratios, so in theory, you might get away with a little more ignition advance, where some might otherwise feel the need to retard the ignition a little, but the optimum timing position really remains the same regardless.

[windmill john]

Fantastic, many thanks for that Paul.

John