• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

GS850 Electronic ignition?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris Bohane
  • Start date Start date
C

Chris Bohane

Guest
I have a 1979 GS850 with points.
icon11.gif


Would the forum advise a change to electronic ignition?

What is involved?

Best product?

I will be sourcing the ignition from the USA, are they compatible?

Any potential disasters I need to avoid?
icon5.gif


Thanks, as always.

Bozza
 
You're points ignition in good working order can work very well.

But a lot of folks, myself included, have gone to the Dyna S ignition. Easy to install, and at least in my case a big improvement. You also get automotive style plug wires that you can replace without having to replace the entire coil or digging out wires.

In order to go with the Dyna S you will have to either get new 5 ohm coils or put in a ballast to compensate for the 3 ohm coils that came on your bike in stock form. I'd go with both the ignition and coils, but that's just me

Here's where I bought mine. Good prices as well. $120 for the ignition, and $120 for the coils.

http://www.z1enterprises.com/
 
Last edited:
mark said:
You're points ignition in good worling order can work very well.

But a lot of folks, myself included, have gone to the Dyna S ignition. Easy to install, and at least in my case a big improvement. You also get automotive style plug wires that you can replace without having to replace the entire coil or digging out wires.

In order to go with the Dyna S you will have to either get new 5 ohm coils or put in a ballast to compensate for the 3 ohm coils that came on your bike in stock form. I'd go with both the ignition and coils, but that's just me

Here's where I bought mine. Good prices as well. $120 for the ignition, and $120 for the coils.

http://www.z1enterprises.com/
Click to expand...

I went with the Boyer Bransden MP Digital Unit. New coils are supplied in the kit. Good instructions and easy to install. The MP fits neatly between the frame tubes under the tank.
There is a marked improvement over points, especially in the mid range rpm. Advance is all in at 4500rpm instead of 2500rpm with the mechanical advance setup.
The other advantage is you can custom your MP to your preferred advance curve and range. Price is similar to what Mark has quoted on the Dyna S.
Pull up BB on Google for distributors in your area.
 
49er said:
I went with the Boyer Bransden MP Digital Unit. New coils are supplied in the kit. Good instructions and easy to install. The MP fits neatly between the frame tubes under the tank.
There is a marked improvement over points, especially in the mid range rpm. Advance is all in at 4500rpm instead of 2500rpm with the mechanical advance setup.
The other advantage is you can custom your MP to your preferred advance curve and range. Price is similar to what Mark has quoted on the Dyna S.
Pull up BB on Google for distributors in your area.
Click to expand...

That's pretty cool....never heard of that ignition before.

I checked it out, just because I was curious. Here's the link to their website.

http://www.boyerbransden.com/
 
mark said:
In order to go with the Dyna S you will have to either get new 5 ohm coils or put in a ballast to compensate for the 3 ohm coils that came on your bike in stock form. I'd go with both the ignition and coils, but that's just me
Click to expand...

I installed a Dyna S system in my '79 850 in 1987, but I did not replace the coils. I just took out the points and put in the Dyna S. It's been working perfectly ever since. It eliminated the points bounce which made it hard to set the ignition timing.

I have to respectfully disagree with Mark, however. The 1987 instructions said the Dyna S "is designed to operate with stock coils, however, it may be used with other coils that have at least THREE OHMS primary resistance."

I checked on Dynatek's website and it appears the current Dyna S product for '79 GS 850s (p/n DS3-2) still requires a MINIMUM of 3 ohms resistance in the coils. I think the OEM coils would be OK, based on what I've read.

See http://www.dynaonline.com/english/instruct/DS3-1_3-2.pdf

Tomcat
 
Last edited:
tomcat24551 said:
I installed a Dyna S system in my '79 850 in 1987, but I did not replace the coils. I just took out the points and put in the Dyna S. It's been working perfectly ever since. It eliminated the points bounce which made it hard to set the ignition timing.

I have to respectfully disagree with Mark, however. The 1987 instructions said the Dyna S "is designed to operate with stock coils, however, it may be used with other coils that have at least THREE OHMS primary resistance."

I checked on Dynatek's website and it appears the current Dyna S product for '79 GS 850s (p/n DS3-2) would still prefer the 3 ohm stock coils.
See http://www.dynaonline.com/english/instruct/DS3-1_3-2.pdf



Tomcat
Click to expand...

Sure, but if you get the 5ohm system, and add a ballast you can upgrade to 5 ohm coils later. The 5 ohm system in other words give you more flexibility with aftermarket coils.

The 5 ohm system works fine on a '79 with 5 ohm coils.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top