Today started crummy with continuing grief in my electrical work with Lucille (my red 1976 Standard). I had installed and wired-up the Pamco ignition system and then I decided to to replace the instrument light bulbs, all of which had burned out. The problem was that after taking it apart, I couldn't get the wiring inside the headlight bucket figured out. I won't repeat the details here, but I had laboriously figured all of this out 14 months ago - and then I mislaid my notes - dammit.
Anyhow, tonight, at 9:05 PM, I finally lucked-in, made the last connection, and got everything working. I now have a collection of nine (9) blown fuses to prove how much "fun" I had in getting to this point. Needless to say, I will be documenting the connections NOW.
With the wiring completed, there was nothing left to do on the bike - aside from trying the PAMCO and setting the ignition timing. To make a long story short, the bike started immediately on the new PAMCO ignition system and it only required a small adjustment of the sensor plate to bring it into perfect time. Really, it was a total anticlimax. I bought a snazzy new timing light and had it connected for maybe 45 seconds. Oh well - I guess I can use it to amuse the cat.
Anyhow, Lucille now starts, idles and revs-up - like a brand new, modern, fuel injected bike....at least in the garage.
Tomorrow - the test ride!
All in all, today turned to be a good day. I will document the PAMCO installation on Lucille in a separate post, complete with lots of photos and answers to the many questions I had while doing this job - including the mysteries of the timing light. For those considering a PAMCO ignition system, the task isn't difficult at all - just a few little things to note in the wiring and one little bump in the installation of the advance side rotor. NOT A big deal, but worth a few words.
Next....I'm on to testing the donor bike and then the conversion of the 1981 XS650 Heritage Special into a snazzy new Cafe bike!
>>>>>
....and after that....
Yeah baby!!!!
Cheers,
Pete
Anyhow, tonight, at 9:05 PM, I finally lucked-in, made the last connection, and got everything working. I now have a collection of nine (9) blown fuses to prove how much "fun" I had in getting to this point. Needless to say, I will be documenting the connections NOW.
With the wiring completed, there was nothing left to do on the bike - aside from trying the PAMCO and setting the ignition timing. To make a long story short, the bike started immediately on the new PAMCO ignition system and it only required a small adjustment of the sensor plate to bring it into perfect time. Really, it was a total anticlimax. I bought a snazzy new timing light and had it connected for maybe 45 seconds. Oh well - I guess I can use it to amuse the cat.
Anyhow, Lucille now starts, idles and revs-up - like a brand new, modern, fuel injected bike....at least in the garage.
Tomorrow - the test ride!
All in all, today turned to be a good day. I will document the PAMCO installation on Lucille in a separate post, complete with lots of photos and answers to the many questions I had while doing this job - including the mysteries of the timing light. For those considering a PAMCO ignition system, the task isn't difficult at all - just a few little things to note in the wiring and one little bump in the installation of the advance side rotor. NOT A big deal, but worth a few words.
Next....I'm on to testing the donor bike and then the conversion of the 1981 XS650 Heritage Special into a snazzy new Cafe bike!
>>>>>
....and after that....
Yeah baby!!!!
Cheers,
Pete
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