Subject: Harper electronic ignition
Author: Ron Komoroski
Date: Aug 13, 2003, 7:22 AM
Post ID: 1714138104
Well, the Eldo project is running.......not without hassles. The first time
I tried to set the timing on the thing, I had a problem. I could alllmost
(but not quite) get it in time at one end of the distributor travel, so, I
loosened the mounting bolts, pulled up the distributor & rotated it one
tooth on the distributor drive gear. THEN I could alllmost (but not quite)
get the marks to line up at the other end of the adjustment travel. I called
Mike Harper. He said that they "had a similar problem on one of their test
installations", and that the thing to do was pull up the distributor, rotate
it 180 degrees, then swap the plug wires on the distributor cap. OK, I did
as instructed, & the left cylinder timed up perfectly-right in the center of
the adjustment travel. GREAT! except that the bike was running on the left
cylinder only, pop,pop,pop,pop, w/the right contributing a window rattling
KAPOW backfire every few seconds. THIS isn't right. When the timing is
right, switching the timing light to the right cylinder will show the timing
marks at the top of the pulley, in my case they were at the bottom, so the
left was dead on & the right 180 degrees out. The location of the magnets is
fixed because they are cast in a plastic part that can only go one way on
the points cam, the pick up is solidly riveted to a mounting plate that
replaces the points, fitting over the old points pivot post & being held in
by the same little screw that held the points. Unlike the Dyna, there is NO
adjustability in the componets.
Fortunately, I had a second distributor in my parts stash. After cleaning,
lubing & installing the new counter weight springs, I put it in & was
finally able to time the bike properly. It IS all the way at one end of the
adjustment travel, but the marks line up at idle & full advance.
So, how does it run? Pretty good! it's obvious that the Petronix coil
supplied w/the Harpers kit is MUCH more powerful than the stocker. The bike
fires up on the first turn of the starter-every time. I haven't ridden it bu
t a few miles so far, but it feels strong & smooth.
Further reports to follow,
Ron Komoroski
PS, for those who missed it the first time. The Harpers loop electronic
ignition kit consists of: A Pertronix "ignitor" (magnet containing rotor &
pickup assembly) #MR-121. A Pertronix "flame thrower" 40K volt coil, 3.0
ohm, #40611. And a new distributor cap & rotor, HT wires & spark plug caps,
all stock Guzzi parts.