Igniter alternative

[moehme]

Looks like the cost for a new igniter for my '82 GS1100GL is around $450.00

Doing some research online for other alternatives, I came up with the following:

Dyna 2000 with coils (DDK3-2) - $384.00 [z1 enterprises]
Boyer-Bransden (MKIII) (no coils) - $233.23 or $349.85 [old bike barn]
Electronic Research & Development (Hyperpak) - $165.00 [ebay]

Anyone have any opinions?

[duaneage]

Troll here for an ignitor from a part out unless your into high performance ignitions.

[salty_monk]

You can get a Dyna S for $120... I believe all you need to do is find a Nippon Denso manual advance from an earlier bike.

Dan

[Planecrazy]

I put a Dyna S on my 1980 550L and it works great! My bike already had the mechanical advance so I didn't need to worry about finding one, but even if you DO need to find one this is probably one of the best ways to do away with the igniter problem for good!

Regards,

[moehme]

Unforunately, I can't use the Dyna S. According to Dynatek, the Dyna S system is for bikes with points and condensor. Mine has an electronic ignition so I must use the Dyna 2000.

[Planecrazy]

Unforunately, I can't use the Dyna S. According to Dynatek, the Dyna S system is for bikes with points and condensor. Mine has an electronic ignition so I must use the Dyna 2000.

Are you absolutely sure? I thought that the reason to get the mechanical advance was to get around that issue on the newer bikes... You might want to double check with them to make sure.

Regards,

[moehme]

Are you absolutely sure? I thought that the reason to get the mechanical advance was to get around that issue on the newer bikes... You might want to double check with them to make sure.

Regards,

I'm pretty sure - I will double check with them anyway.

Thanks

[chef1366]

They work with both. Lose the igniter or the points it's essentially the same thing. Some you need a different advance Dynatech will let you know which ones.

[LeeGS550E]

You can put the dyna s on with a mechanical advance from an earlier bike. Does your block have 3 mount screws for the pickup plate or 2 points? I ask because I converted an '83 550 with ignitor over to the dyna s, and had to make my own backing plate because the dyna is designed for 3 mounting screws and the 550's block only has two screws. Other than those two hurdles, it was a successful swap.

[Calvin Blackmore]

When are you going to put a cover on that thing?

[moehme]

Pretty sure my pick up plate has 3 mounting screws but will check tonight to be sure.

But you bring up a number of other questions:
1) What kind of a job is it to put on a mechanical advance from an earlier bike:
2) Timing - will this be an issue?
3) Cross compatibility for the mechanical advance. Does it have to come from another 1100 or will one from a 1000 or 850 fit?

You can probably tell I'm a novice on some of this stuff, but have the tools, time and ambition (I want to get riding). Once I have the parts needed and some sort of guidelines - the job will get done.

Thanks to all

[Planecrazy]

You can put the dyna s on with a mechanical advance from an earlier bike. Does your block have 3 mount screws for the pickup plate or 2 points? I ask because I converted an '83 550 with ignitor over to the dyna s, and had to make my own backing plate because the dyna is designed for 3 mounting screws and the 550's block only has two screws. Other than those two hurdles, it was a successful swap.

My '80 550L accepted the Dyna S with no mods necessary at all. I don't recall three mounting points either ... only two (but it's been a few years and I could just be spacing it out). Maybe you got a Dyna S intended for a different bike than the 550? Anyway, glad you were able to make it work!

Regards,

[LeeGS550E]

The 80 550 is the 8 valve, which has the three mounting points. The '83 and later models had pickups that were fixed (timing controlled by the ingitor), and the pickup's mounting plate only mounted with 2 screws.

I really wish I'd taken picture of the mounting plate before I worked out the dyna plate. The biggest issue with putting the dyna on the TSCC 550's is the mounting, not the wiring. The retrofit of the mechanical advance also means you need to use shims when putting on the pickup's mounting plate, as the mechanical advance adds about 1/2" to the rotating assembly.

The only reason I bring this up in this thread is if the O/P's block has two mounting screws rather than 3, which means he'll have to do this work as well.

Best regards,
LZ

[Planecrazy]

The 80 550 is the 8 valve, which has the three mounting points. The '83 and later models had pickups that were fixed (timing controlled by the ingitor), and the pickup's mounting plate only mounted with 2 screws.

I really wish I'd taken picture of the mounting plate before I worked out the dyna plate. The biggest issue with putting the dyna on the TSCC 550's is the mounting, not the wiring. The retrofit of the mechanical advance also means you need to use shims when putting on the pickup's mounting plate, as the mechanical advance adds about 1/2" to the rotating assembly.

The only reason I bring this up in this thread is if the O/P's block has two mounting screws rather than 3, which means he'll have to do this work as well.

Best regards,
LZ

Excellent info - thanks for sharing it!

Regards,

[LeeGS550E]

Pretty sure my pick up plate has 3 mounting screws but will check tonight to be sure.

But you bring up a number of other questions:
1) What kind of a job is it to put on a mechanical advance from an earlier bike:
2) Timing - will this be an issue?
3) Cross compatibility for the mechanical advance. Does it have to come from another 1100 or will one from a 1000 or 850 fit?

You can probably tell I'm a novice on some of this stuff, but have the tools, time and ambition (I want to get riding). Once I have the parts needed and some sort of guidelines - the job will get done.

Thanks to all

Ok, just read your post now. If you've got the three mounting screws, you've overcome the big hurdle.
1) Fitting the mech advance was easy in my case. Just pull the bolt out of the crank and put the unit and the dyna rotor on with the bolt. I needed a brass shim between the dyna's magnetic rotor and the mechanical advance, but that was easily made from stock available at Home Depot.
2)I wondered about this too - I used a mech. advance from an 8 valve 750 on my 16 valve 550. I don't think the advance curve was exactly the same. But I tweaked the adjustment until I found a happy medium, and it seemed fine. It would pop a little bit at 8 or 9k, but I didn't really spend enough time up there to cause problems. I would guess on your shafty you're not going to redline the thing a whole lot, so probably should be ok. If, however, you blow a piston, you never heard that from me. :-D
3)Like said above, probably be ok. Try to get one from as similar a bike as possible. Isn't your G/L an 8valve motor? If so, get one from a GS1000 - I would think they have similar needs as far as timing advance.

Hope I'm helping and not just steering you in the wrong direction.

LZ