PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins...

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bwolfie

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I contacted PamCo Pete about making a system for the commando. We are talking about it currently.

If you don't know anything about his systems, do a google search for PamCo Pete and XS 650. It is a very simple system, only 3 wires. Power, ground and coil trigger.

http://www.yamahaxs650.com/

They are the end all system for the XS. He also has them for several CB hondas. The bonus is that it uses the stock AAU. So a mechanical tunable advance mechanism.

I am just checking to see what kind of interest for this is out there. It would have a sub $150 price tag, his XS kit is $99. It uses a single dual output coil, but might work with the stock setup.

Basically remove the point plate, bolt in the new pickup plate and trigger rotor, a few wires, set and go. No black box.

I have the setup in my XS, I have not touched it since I installed it. And it started first kick on the install.

So fire away, what are your thoughts.
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

The part about keeping the mechanical bits, is whats putting me off. :|
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

I know there are many people who like the AAU but hate the points. Just an option for them.
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

the AAU IS the worst part of the stock Ign. it takes a beating from the harmonics of the camshaft and the vibration from the rest of that lump. you would be off with OE lucas points if it was not for the AAU being the weak link ( high maintenance )


bwolfie said:
I know there are many people who like the AAU but hate the points. Just an option for them.
Click to expand...
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

Ive heard reports of the original Lucas points doing 60,000 miles with a cleanup every 20,000 or so.
Lucas made some questionable electrical items, but as Bill says, there contact points were very good. I would say the quality of both the heels and the points themselves far exceeds the standard auto points of the 60s, which if memory serves were good for about 20,000 miles if things went well.

The only time I have had a mechanical problem with my 47 Vincent Touring bike in 25,000 miles of touring came when I thought I should replace the OE lucas points with some expensive new made in Japan items. This Vincent has a state of the art 1960s mod, Norton Commando twin points and twin coils. The Japanese points only made it 350 miles before giving trouble.

Once I realized what the problem was, I fitted the old lucas points back in and completed the trip.
Once home I purchased as many NOS lucas points as could be found. There are enough on the shelf now to take the bike around the world about twenty times, that'll do it!

Glen
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

I too have seen the wisdom of stocking up on dead end breaker ignition but for my very special project I"m going with the hi end programmable optic triggered PowerArc, like two price levels up from the model Old Brits sells.
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

I'm not surprised at the direction things went...
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

some times the truth is a hard pill to swallow!!!!!


bwolfie said:
I'm not surprised at the direction things went...
Click to expand...
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

worntorn said:
Ive heard reports of the original Lucas points doing 60,000 miles with a cleanup every 20,000 or so.
Lucas made some questionable electrical items, but as Bill says, there contact points were very good. I would say the quality of both the heels and the points themselves far exceeds the standard auto points of the 60s, which if memory serves were good for about 20,000 miles if things went well.

The only time I have had a mechanical problem with my 47 Vincent Touring bike in 25,000 miles of touring came when I thought I should replace the OE lucas points with some expensive new made in Japan items. This Vincent has a state of the art 1960s mod, Norton Commando twin points and twin coils. The Japanese points only made it 350 miles before giving trouble.

Once I realized what the problem was, I fitted the old lucas points back in and completed the trip.
Once home I purchased as many NOS lucas points as could be found. There are enough on the shelf now to take the bike around the world about twenty times, that'll do it!

Glen
Click to expand...

You heard wrong. :shock:
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

The set of Lucas points I replaced had 35,000 miles on them and were still working fine. They could be used again with a light sanding.

Glen
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

Concours, some of us still around grew up on points ignitions in the family car, the boat, the lawnmower and them big old American Vtwins or Cushman motorcycles, so I believe ya, just the motorcycle area tends to get so oilly the carbon builds up on cycle points more often. In marine applications its saw sea water moisture corrosion. The first salvation the boat guys got was transistors carrying the coil charge current to relieve the points surfaces then LED optical triggered sparkers. The transitor packs are still made and even adaptable from GM distributor ignition module. This essentially makes points permanent lasting.
 
Re: PamCo Pete ignition for Norton's and other British twins

It occurred to me that I have several bikes with breakerless ignition while the one I ride the most has points. When I first got the bike, I thought this might be an issue, given the high milage usage intended. Ive done the mileage with it, but ignition maintenance has been a non issue, other than my one attempt at preventative maintenance with previously mentioned aftermarket points.

I bought the bike sight unseen in Australia in 2004 then had it shipped to me here in Canada. The seller had owned it for ten years in Oz and ridden it about fairly lightly, about 1500 miles per year. He advertised it as having modern breakerless ignition and being a "one kick" starter.
The one kick starter part was accurate, but I was a bit unhappy when I doscovered the ignition was actually a modified Norton points etup.
He had never looked under the cover but made the assumption it was cdi based on ease of starting with zero maintenance in ten years.
Now that I have lived wit the setup for all these miles, Im happy with it.


Glen
 
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