installing dyna coils

[zipster]

Installing Dyna coils on my points system GL1000 this weekend. Using Dyna wires and my NGK resistor caps. Any sage advice? Ballast or no ballast resistors? Wider plug gap? Should I buy a Hondaman box?
Cheers,
Zipster

[ericheath]

With points you still need about 2ohms ?? resistance via ballast. You get some from the caps and some from the wires. I'm trying to remember, but I think with 3 ohm Dyna coils maybe 1 ohm is enough??? Better wait for a more veteran member than me.

[robin1731]

What do the instructions on the coils say? If none there contact Dyna for exact info. Usually I run no ballast with those coils and points. But I rarely use the points, switch to ignition at the same time.

Bigger plug gap won't do anything. Stay with stock gap.

.

[Whiskerfish]

On Randakks site he has all the various setups with the recommended Ballasts.

[BustedKnuckles]

I just went through this. I bought Dyna 3 Ohm coils and after the fact called their tech line. I called twice and received two different answers:
Call number one: told the technician I had three ohm coils and am running points. He told me I could not run the three ohm coils, they were for Dyna electronic ignitions only and that I should be running five ohm coils.

This call contradicted Randakk's blog.

Call number two: different technician advised I go with a one to two ohm ballast resistor with the three ohm coils.

I stuck with the 2nd guys advise and bought the ballast resistor that Randakk recommends (NAPA (Echlin) Ballast Resistor #ICR13). It was $12 and measures about 1.82 Ohms.

This is a topic I would like to hear from someone who has tried both methods. Not sure the 3 Ohm with resistor is the best option for a bike with points.

[zipster]

So Busted Knuckles, how does it run? How did you mount the NAPA ballast? Just one ballast for both coils?
Cheers,
Zipster

[BustedKnuckles]

Zipster, I can't speak to how it runs as I don't have a good baseline. I inherited this bike running, barely. I have been combing through the charging and ignition systems bringing it back to life.

When I get it to a satisfactory state of tune, I will let you know if the 3 ohm set works well.

[Whiskerfish]

Too much ballast will result in a (minutely) weaker spark. Too little will result in the ignition system using more of the bikes meager electrical power and decreased life of the points (or dyna) and coils. You must remember that the electrical power generated by these engines is a finite value and increasing the electrical load must be accepted as a risk. Either way both of these scenarios are difficult to determine. So to say it runs fine setup like "this" is really mere guess work. My 2 cents.

[ericheath]

The Hondaman box will make your points last. I'd check what his recommendation is for coils though. I'll bet with the Randakk suggested ballast it will run fine. Randakk says stock ballast is three ohm, so stock coils are around two ohms. You have three ohm coils. Using a three ohm resistor will likely give you a weaker spark. Two ohms ( or 1.85) should have you very close to stock total resistance.

I run the 1.85 ohm ballast with Accel 3ohm coils. (But now with Dyna ignition) I had it with points before I got the Dyna. I used a zip tie to hold it in the stock position. It hasn't gotten warm enough to be an issue.