Advance Assembly Grenaded...

chewblanca

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This weekend my advance assembly decided it was done. Not sure what caused it. I've put about a 1,000 miles on this bike and never had a problem with it.

Here's some pics of the destruction.

Does the cam look completely fried? I assume at the least I'll replace the bronze bushings..
I think I'll take the time to convert to electronic advance modules. Unless that seems like a bad idea?
Any other input from the gallery?
00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190630122829399_COVER.jpg
IMG_20190630_121823.jpg
 
Electronic ignitions are great - reliable starting and no-fuss / no-muss day to day running - BUT - there aren’t many alternatives and I think that they all require a working mechanical advance system.

The one that did not require a mech advance was the Pamco e-advancer - but it went out of production a couple of months ago and is now unobtainium.

The Boyer-Bransden system from the UK is highly regarded, but it does,I am pretty sure, require a mechanical advance.
 
Yes it was a Mikes XS assembly. The posts did come clean out of the assembly but not sure which order the carnage progressed in. Thanks for the info about the Pamco being discontinued. Being a re-phased motor I believe he was the only one that made electronic advance units... I may be SOL. And I really do not want to use another Mikes XS unit.

Unless anyone has one on the shelf? I'll pay a pretty penny for it! lol
 
For a rephased XS, both VAPE and Ignitech are options with electronic advance. VAPE is a complete PMA+CDI setup, replacing the entire ignition and charging system. Crank triggered, so nothing at all are driven by the cam shaft. I
gnitech is a programmable universal digital ignition system, which normally is crank triggered, but MAY also be set up to be cam triggered. Not sure if there is enough space inside the XS points cover for their pickups.
Both these are made in Europe and have a good reputation.
 
Another option is the Powerdynamo system from Hoos Racing. It's not cheap, but it combines alternator and crank fired ignition, and you get to deal with Gary Hoos, one of the good guys who stands behind what he sells and provides first class personal tech support. He can configure the system for either 270 or 277 rephased motors. www.hoosracing.com
 
Boyer ignition for a 277 rephased motor? Maybe you could mount a trigger on each end of the Boyer threaded rod that replaces the OE ignition rod, mount a timing plate in both ignition housings, run two coils, and ground one plug lead from each coil to keep from burning up the igniter boxes (you'd need two). Now you're within spittin' distance of a Powerdynamo system that wouldn't force you to jump through a bunch of hoops. Boyer might make something for a 90* (270) twin, but whether it could be fitted to an XS650 without some interesting tweaks is another question entirely. Too bad Mark Whitebook stopped producing the Probe ignition--robust timing plate fully supported in the bottom of the ignition housing where it belongs, LED to dial in static timing before strobing, 4 position rev limiter, pushbutton adjustable advance curve, sturdy aluminum casing on the igniter box, superb personal tech support, available for 180, 270, or 277 motors. All that for an extra $50 over the cost of a Boyer ignition. I suspect that Mark would have sold plenty of his ignitions if he had marketed more aggressively. Just glad I bought mine in time.
 
Well I'm not sure what to do here. The PowerDynamo kit through Hoos seems like a viable option but I'll have to find a place to mount the extra ignition controllers. Not sure I want to try another mechanical advance unit or not yet as for new components is almost 200$. So I bet if i bought Gary's PowerDynamo I could recoup some cost by selling my PMA and whats left of my Pamco..
I feel like the advanced units that Pamco made can't have been that complicated, slightly surprised no one has copied them or created an alternative. But that could be considered ripping of an original design. Anywho.
 
Mike's XS sells a copy of the Pamco. They were stealing Pete's trademark along with his design until Pete called them out on it. Don't know if they offer it for rephased motors, but it's Chinese made, problems have been reported, and you'd be rolling the dice to buy it. You can't get something for nothing, but if the price is cheap enough, it's easy to get nothing for something.

Edit: Checked Mike's, and their pirated Pamco isn't offered for rephased motors.
 
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Aint that the truth Grizld! The lesson I learned to buy something cheap is the aggravation that comes with it. It has happened too often cheap = runs/lasts for awhile then...”oh dang, it doesnt work or fit! :mad::confused::redface: I shouldn’t of cheaped out!” Lol
 
I think this could be saved.
Let's have a closer look.

The advancer's retainer nut.
20190701_Chewblanca_advancer02.jpg


Notice the chisel marks, indicating that we're looking at the exposed/visible/outer side of the advancer retainer nut. Note also that the little raised ring would be on the backside. This would mean that this retaining nut was installed backwards, and they can easily loosen up thataway. A loose advancer will rattle violently back/forth, stressing the mount posts.

My take is the advancer loosened up first, from the backwards retainer nut, then eventually self-destructed.

Now, the camshaft's threaded right (advancer) side.
20190701_Chewblanca_advancer01.jpg


I see at least 3 good threads. Clean this up, chase the threads with a new retainer nut. I believe that a new retainer nut, installed correctly, with loctite, will hold a new advancer.

The MikesXS advancer has a history of poor post retention. I'd do some quick flash welds on the backside to reinforce the post swaging...
 
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Understood. You'll get suggestions from folks operating within their own tools and skillsets. I just gave you my take, but that's from a guy that has some tooling and has had to do some fancy rigging to get things to work. Nothing wrong with the other suggestions, using new modern parts. You'll have to decide for yourself...
 
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