Can anyone think of a suitable ignition coil for a points-and-condenser ignition on a 1963 Honda race bike that uses only an alternator and no battery? I want to duplicate the appearance of the original coils (no longer available) by making original-looking hollow plastic shells in the shape of a 1.85 x 3.5" cylinder, with smaller actual coils inside. Preferably they should be low-resistance ones found on race bikes, and of course easily available. Most Hondas of the 1960s used coils that were approximately that same size. Modern coils are very small, but they are meant to use a CD type ignition system. Thanks,
Randall
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Suggestions for race ignition coils?
Thanks, Davo, that's good to know. But what I want to do is make plastic replica shells that will have the appearance of the original coils, which are very prominently mounted on my frame behind the carburetors. So I'd like to find smaller coils that will fit inside these shells. Alternatively, I could mount the empty shells strictly for cosmetic purposes and then use CB77 or similar coils under the tank where they would not be seen. --Randall
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Is that a CR72 picture I see there? They use different coils because it is what used to be known as an ET (energy Transfer) ignition. CRs had a small alternator and points and the points cam had to be machined differently.
With a capacitor (battery eliminator) you can use regular coils, but I seem to recall that ET coils were different and I don't remember why. Probably the resistance, but may be something else related to the need to charge and discharge faster than a regular battery and points coil.
An ET system is not tolerant of miss timing. The points must open at exactly the right time in relation to the pulses from the alternator so the advance has to be welded up IIRC. Yoshimura used that system as I recall.
if you go with a capacitor system, you can use any 3 ohm or 5 ohm coils from say a CB350 or Honda 50 which look like the CR style.
Where's an electrician when you need one?
With a capacitor (battery eliminator) you can use regular coils, but I seem to recall that ET coils were different and I don't remember why. Probably the resistance, but may be something else related to the need to charge and discharge faster than a regular battery and points coil.
An ET system is not tolerant of miss timing. The points must open at exactly the right time in relation to the pulses from the alternator so the advance has to be welded up IIRC. Yoshimura used that system as I recall.
if you go with a capacitor system, you can use any 3 ohm or 5 ohm coils from say a CB350 or Honda 50 which look like the CR style.
Where's an electrician when you need one?