Boyer and Pamco Ignition

Well that is no good....

I guess I will see how Mikesxs responds to my email and see if they give me a refund!

Thank you for helping me figure this out...

Pamcopete, feel free to PM me if you would like to discuss more of what to do about this copy.
 
I purchased a '79 XS650 that did not run. The previous owner had a new PAMCO ignition plate that was not installed, but he claimed it needed to be. I swapped it out and the bike fired up and ran. Well... I was running it and it was running good, but I shut it off to go retrieve my timing light to perform the final timing setting. The bike would not restart! It has no spark. I followed the test procedure and all I found was the primary coil resistance is only 1.2 ohms instead of the 2.5 - 4.5 ohms specified. Can this cause no spark?
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.
 
Could, and low resistance = high current flow, what coil is it?
Pamco spec is; Coil primary resistance: 2 to 3 Ohms, dual output.
 
Could, and low resistance = high current flow, what coil is it?
Pamco spec is; Coil primary resistance: 2 to 3 Ohms, dual output.
I'm not sure what coil it is. It's black and has 0314F printed on one end of it. The spec (2.5-4.5 ohm) I refer to is what's on yamahaxs650.com, recommended for '71 -'79 models.
I'm just frustrated that it was running so good, I shut it off, and not 5 minutes later it wouldn't run!
 
You can test a coil directly to the battery, install and ground both plugs, hook up one terminal wire, touch then remove the second wire. the coil will spark the plugs when you remove the wire.
 
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I shut it off to go retrieve my timing light to perform the final timing setting.
If you flip the kill switch but leave the ignition on, they will potentially destroy themselves, if I remember right.
 
If you flip the kill switch but leave the ignition on, they will potentially destroy themselves, if I remember right.
shouldn't, kill removes plus 12 from the pamco AND coil. IF it's wired right LOL.
 
I think the warnings are for key on, kill switch on, for an extended time period. Even a points coil will heat up if it's set of points is closed and that coil is "charging" for a long time.
 
Or potentially the output transistor could fry, leaving the coil looking okay. Easy enough to check a transistor with a meter, but you might have to unsolder one or two of its leads. Many moons ago I was repairing amps and P.A.s, and in the shop was an amazing in-circuit transistor checker. Never seen one that good since.
 
Quote from Pamcopete to a question about leaving the ignition on with a pamco.
From the Pamco thread http://www.xs650.com/threads/pamco-ignition.46859/

Q,........About to do a Pamco install and I don't understand this warning sorry.
If I start the engine and then turn it off with the key all's good right?
If the engine stalls and the key is still on and the neutral light is on - is this an issue?
Aren't I turning the ignition on before I kickstart it - by turning the key and the neutral light coming on, doesn't that mean the ignition is on?
confused about what to watch out for here and don't want to make a doodle of myself and break the thing on the first day :doh:
A, Pamcopete,......OK. This question has been asked before, so here is the answer. 12 minutes. That's the time it takes for the coil to get to a temperature of 125 F, which is about 10F higher than it would get to with the engine running. That is also starting off at room temperature, so probably no more than 10 minutes if the coil is already warmed up from the engine running. This is not the time to destruction. Just the time to a particular temperature above normal operating temperature. The transistor in the PAMCO never got above 90F and it is rated for 347F, so no worries there. It's the coil that would eventually fry, and if it shorts out as well, then it may take the PAMCO with it.
 
Here are pics of the coil.
 

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That's not a coil that's a time bomb. I've thrown away brand new in the box coils like that, that had busted loose terminals.
 
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