Wharfcreek
Near 50 Yrs of Experience
OK, just want to add a few more comments: From what I can tell, the pickup circuit is completely discrete, or in other words, it has nothing in common with any other circuit within the bike. So, any similarity in wiring color coding is just that; a 'similarity'. I can't find any continuity between the pickup 'common' wire.....which I will define as being the black/white wire that is connected to both the 'start' and 'run' pickup coils, and any other electrical circuit. It simply connects to the TCI box. Once it's within the TCI box it's anybody's guess as to where it goes within, or 'without'. It appears that there is also a black/white wire exiting the TCI which is used to trigger a head-light relay. But, if that relay is bypassed, then the need for any signal from the TCI to turn on the lights is negated.
Anyway.... I installed my Gonzo yesterday, and I was delighted! I'll take a few pics tomorrow, but just to report on 'performance', I will simply say that the bike started on the first kick, and from what my ears determined, it may actually have provided a quicker 'rev' response than the 'stock' TCI. Let me state for the record that I have no true 'data' to support this....only my ears and eyes. But, being a pretty fair mechanic, I give my ears and my ability to 'hear' performance issues an A+. As an example, I'm pretty good with hearing improvements in EFI throttle lag in HD bikes when working with TBW (throttle by wire). For those unfammiliar with this, the EFI throttle body is actually 'motor driven'....no cables from the handle grip down to the throttle. Some TBW systems have a momentary lag in throttle response from the point at which the grip is twisted to the point at which the throttle motor actually moves the throttle plate. I did a lot of this kind of work when employed at Zipper's Performance, which is a HD 'Performance' shop in my area. Anyway, gaging engine wind-up by ear became a function of this kind of work. So, taking this back to the Gonzo, it was my impression that in using the Gonzo that the engine developed RPM more quickly than it did on the same fuel charge using the stock TCI box.
One point about this that should be mentioned is that the above does NOT necessarily mean anything in terms of real-world acceleration power. A free-revving engine might well gain RMPs more quickly with no load, but this might actually result in a reduction of 'torque'. And, that means that under a load, it may actually suffer in an acceleration test run. But, only a Dyno test would bare this out!.....or, I suppose, some runs on a back road from a standing start to a marked distance and with a good stop-watch!!
The main point here is that Gonzo worked!! And, I'm now progressing more on my 'project' bike. I'm going to go back an update my original thread....the one that brought me here to Jim, Jack, et al! But, again, I can't thank you guys enough for the work you've done to make this Gonzo thing a reality! I think a lot of otherwise 'dead-ducks' will be revived by this!!
Tom D.
Anyway.... I installed my Gonzo yesterday, and I was delighted! I'll take a few pics tomorrow, but just to report on 'performance', I will simply say that the bike started on the first kick, and from what my ears determined, it may actually have provided a quicker 'rev' response than the 'stock' TCI. Let me state for the record that I have no true 'data' to support this....only my ears and eyes. But, being a pretty fair mechanic, I give my ears and my ability to 'hear' performance issues an A+. As an example, I'm pretty good with hearing improvements in EFI throttle lag in HD bikes when working with TBW (throttle by wire). For those unfammiliar with this, the EFI throttle body is actually 'motor driven'....no cables from the handle grip down to the throttle. Some TBW systems have a momentary lag in throttle response from the point at which the grip is twisted to the point at which the throttle motor actually moves the throttle plate. I did a lot of this kind of work when employed at Zipper's Performance, which is a HD 'Performance' shop in my area. Anyway, gaging engine wind-up by ear became a function of this kind of work. So, taking this back to the Gonzo, it was my impression that in using the Gonzo that the engine developed RPM more quickly than it did on the same fuel charge using the stock TCI box.
One point about this that should be mentioned is that the above does NOT necessarily mean anything in terms of real-world acceleration power. A free-revving engine might well gain RMPs more quickly with no load, but this might actually result in a reduction of 'torque'. And, that means that under a load, it may actually suffer in an acceleration test run. But, only a Dyno test would bare this out!.....or, I suppose, some runs on a back road from a standing start to a marked distance and with a good stop-watch!!
The main point here is that Gonzo worked!! And, I'm now progressing more on my 'project' bike. I'm going to go back an update my original thread....the one that brought me here to Jim, Jack, et al! But, again, I can't thank you guys enough for the work you've done to make this Gonzo thing a reality! I think a lot of otherwise 'dead-ducks' will be revived by this!!
Tom D.
