jharvey
Forum Apprentice
Greetings,
So, it appears that the springs on my mechanical spark advance/governor assembly have stretched with age. (1980 GSX400ET - which I got just before they switched the model to E.I.) Here are the symptoms to confirm…
Engine idle set to 1500 RPM. After 50 minutes riding with the engine good and hot, pull into a parking lot and if I throttle up to 3000, it would stay there until I let out the clutch to ‘drag’ the engine back to the 1500 RPM idle. If I run it up to 2000 or 2500, it would return to 1500 - and if I went to 4000, it would drop back as far as 3000, but it would stay there until I let out the clutch.
It’s been suggested that I convert the bike to Electronic Ignition, but checking the price for a compatible unit is not encouraging…
www.dynaonline.com
(Which, with a quick look at an online currency converter, tops out at about $550 Canadian before any tariffs, taxes, or shipping. Not an attractive alternative for this ‘fixed income’ rider.)
The Dynatek page also says that the E.I. unit, “...uses a magnetic rotor with the original spark advancer,” so, if it’s using the original spark advance, would that not leave me with the same problem anyway?
So my questions for anyone with experience of knowledge are…
-Does anyone know of a cheaper but reliable unit that would work with my model (that DOESN'T need to keep the original advancer)?
-Is it possible to replace just the springs? (Anyone know of a source - I can only find listings for the complete assembly.)
-Or finally, if I don’t replace or ‘upgrade’ the unit, is this something the bike can "live with" now that I know what it is and can compensate for it (ie. making sure the idle is back below 3000RPM as I pull up to a stop before I put the bike in neutral), or is it going to get progressively worse until some eventual catastrophic failure?
Thanks
So, it appears that the springs on my mechanical spark advance/governor assembly have stretched with age. (1980 GSX400ET - which I got just before they switched the model to E.I.) Here are the symptoms to confirm…
Engine idle set to 1500 RPM. After 50 minutes riding with the engine good and hot, pull into a parking lot and if I throttle up to 3000, it would stay there until I let out the clutch to ‘drag’ the engine back to the 1500 RPM idle. If I run it up to 2000 or 2500, it would return to 1500 - and if I went to 4000, it would drop back as far as 3000, but it would stay there until I let out the clutch.
It’s been suggested that I convert the bike to Electronic Ignition, but checking the price for a compatible unit is not encouraging…
Dyna S Ignition System with Coils for Suzuki GS400 Twin
The Dyna S is completely housed behind the ignition cover and uses a magnetic rotor with the original spark advancer, so the factory advance curve is maintained. Dyna high tech coils are American made, top quality performance coils. Tested and proven on street, racing, and touring motorcycles...
www.dynaonline.com
The Dynatek page also says that the E.I. unit, “...uses a magnetic rotor with the original spark advancer,” so, if it’s using the original spark advance, would that not leave me with the same problem anyway?
So my questions for anyone with experience of knowledge are…
-Does anyone know of a cheaper but reliable unit that would work with my model (that DOESN'T need to keep the original advancer)?
-Is it possible to replace just the springs? (Anyone know of a source - I can only find listings for the complete assembly.)
-Or finally, if I don’t replace or ‘upgrade’ the unit, is this something the bike can "live with" now that I know what it is and can compensate for it (ie. making sure the idle is back below 3000RPM as I pull up to a stop before I put the bike in neutral), or is it going to get progressively worse until some eventual catastrophic failure?
Thanks
