Hitchcocks Forum

Decided to fit the Eureka ignition to my Lighting today. It had to be the Eureka as I have a tacho. If I fitted a Boyer Bransden, the tacho would go nuts, but I digress. The first job was to fit the ignition unit. Yup, that went well. Fitted the pick-up plate. That went well too. Removed and drained the primary chaincase. A doddle. While the cover was off, I used our Hosts alternator spacing shim to reset the stator. I have to say, that this laminated sheet is a good idea. Cheap as well! Moving switfly along....... Fitted the strobe timing kit I bought from out Hosts (Another good product!). Hooked up all of the wires, checked the timing, checked for a spark, got ready to start the engine. Nothing! Checked everything again. Nothing. In the hours that passed, I managed to get the engine running twice. Most of the time, it would kick back or fire for a couple of revolutions and then die. That Eureka unit had also fried my tacho! GRRRRRRRRR. In the end, I changed back to the contact breakers. The bike fired up second kick. Using the strobe kit, I found that my bike was a couple of degrees out. This was down to the plate that controls the bob-weights being a bit worn. The bike now fires (static) at 5 degress BTDC and full advance is as per the book. Happily, I was able to replace the tacho as I had a spare. As for the Eureka module (Should be spelt: You Reek ah). I threw it into my spares box where it awaits my displesure. Think I'll buy a Rooster Booster module. I had one on my Bantam. Ace gadgets.

------------ Electronic Ignition on a basic Bullet ?? I think I get the point !!

Barry, can you tell me where the tacho wires on your Lightning go to ? Since changing the engine in mine, it doesn't work any more. I don't recall there being any extra wires that I disconnected, apart from one thin one that was attached to the back of the gearbox, which I assumed was the neutral light.

Hi Pete. I've absolutely no idea where the tacho wires go. However, I do understand the principle of how the tacho works. The tacho is operated by a 'spike' from the coil (This why you can't fit a Boyer Bransden to a Lightning). This 'spike' is turned to an electrical voltage inside the tacho which then moves the needle. So to get that 'spike', an extra wire must be connected to the coil (I saw two wires connected to the + terminal of the coil). The other wire must be connected to earth. To power the tacho, one wire must go to the battery (or a live feed). Another must go to earth. I assume that your fuel gauge works (as that's another set of wires)? The wire that goes to the back of the gearbox is indeed the neutral light. Another point to note is both of my tachos are wired differently at the tacho socket, yet they both work.