Old Biker - Out with the Pamco Ignition and back with the Points

It had to be done, after checking the timing on the Pamco against a standard points setup, I found the points were a better option. So I decided it was time to lose the Pamco electronic ignition and keep the points setup.
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[@fungi2bwhth]

Great video!!! I LOVE my points system on my 1978E. After setting the points gap and timing statically, I use a cheap ($15) dwell meter to dial in the gaps, and adjust the timing with a strobe. With that done, and my carburators syncronized, the bike runs awesome and probably smoother than from the factory. Also, I love tinkering with the machine, and the points service gives my OCD something to satisfy it!! Thank you for taking the effort to share this.

[@daviesheerin6736]

Fkn brilliant video! You are the first guy I have found to see the picture. Good man. Everywhere i look online every cnt is pretty much saying saying 'My XS is a classic - but with my Pamco, I'll never need a screwdriver or feeler gauge or understand anything.

[@malcolmking7926]

When I was young and foolish I fitted a Boyer system to my Trident T160. It ran badly and was very difficult to start. In Boyers defense I kept the 6V coils instead of putting 4V ones in. I too reverted back to points - it started MUCH easier. I have now owned the bike 40 years and have fitted a Tri-Spark ignition and I am pleased to say the bike has never ran better especially the idle which is rock solid. Looking at the Pamco it is located in a very hot environment which is bound to shorten the life of the electronic components - points are reliable, fixable at the roadside, understandable and available. If my Tri-Spark goes wrong I will have to push it !

[@jndk6000]

It's been 11 years since I put a Boyer Brandsen Micro Power on my XS. Great improvement, and still working flawless.

[@yves2348]

Same here ;)

[@arthurleino]

I had a 78 Yamaha XS650 special. But, I did convert my 83 FXWG to points. Interesting video.

[@keithhall4883]

Yea that music sounds much better more fitting. on some bikes you have to open turn the cam till its fully advanced then set the points gap, then check with the strobe.

[@cb400fhonda6]

Good job mate

[@servicarrider]

Back in the day I filed a lot of points over the years with a match book emery board (striker). Do they even make book matches any more?

[@danb.3397]

I spec'd my coils after having a similar problem on the R cylinder and my coil secondaries are double spec so maybe coil breakdown for me.

[@stevepalmer5670]

Junk the standard coils & fit a dual output one & convert it to single points.Did mine years ago & no problems.

[@OldBiker]

Did you install the dual lobe cam? I was looking at that before and couldn't make me mind up whether to do it?

[@stevepalmer5670]

@@OldBiker You can buy the dual lobe cam but I made my own out of a Nissan micra distributor, I ground off two opposite lobes & cut a slot for the peg. The hole in the middle is exactly the right size. By the way Iv'e just bought one of the new RE interceptor 650's. Brilliant bike.

[@OldBiker]

I've been looking at the Interceptor 650 on KZbin lately, I have to admit, the bike has style to it, I love the red n black tank paint job they do.

[@stevepalmer5670]

@@OldBiker I bought the black one & it looks superb.I fitted short reverse cones the first week I had it,sounds gorgeous.Get down your nearest dealer & book a test ride, for £5.1/2 thou it's a no brainer.

[@johncooper7242]

new intro is great. I think it was good timing to change it (see what I did there lol ) I have to be honest ...I have never rated the Pamco ignition system very highly . For the past 5 years or so I have seen literally dozens of owners having problems setting it up or frying their Pamcos. The forum and net are full of failures. it ain't cheap either.! I don't see any Boyer ignition failures though but I suppose there have been but having them manufacture in the UK and good telephone support has to be a better option for us Brits.. You made that job look easy ...I wonder how much Tourettes there was off camera ...... I've been meaning to ask what month and year your XS650 is ? Mine was manufactured November 1978 but DVLA have just refused my MOT TAX exemption request saying I have to wait until April 2019 ?? they seem to change the goal posts every time I look on their site

[@OldBiker]

Hi John, I have a spare Boyer from my Triumph that I want to fit to one of the XS's but before I do that I need to get another cam as I need to knock out the insert sleeves to make the Boyer sit flush, yeah now the Gov site says it has to have been built before Jan 78, rip off tax grabbing money sponging c**ts

[@johncooper7242]

@@OldBiker I noticed Howard of Smedspeed was selling a load of cams and other stuff cheap recently on ebay. I wonder if he is packing up engine building . ? Might be worth messaging him ?

[@OldBiker]

I think he stopped building engines a while ago now, I'm sure I read that on his website a few weeks back

[@trigg6874]

@@johncooper7242 I bought one of his engine stands off ebay :)

[@jaycotter627]

Should have left the dual output coil on there threads online to show how to wire it did it mine alot better then original

[@uziXwraith]

did you try to tune the electronic ignition? before swapping back to the points?

[@OldBiker]

Tune the electronic ignition?

[@James_Sovereign]

Huh? What is there to "tune"?

[@WILDGEESE399]

@@OldBiker hello just wondering your view on the pamco charging unit do you think they are worthwhile to replace the battery with capacitor?

[@yves2348]

Errrr... Tune ?

[@hockeysockeys5323]

Is that the xs650 special or the midnight special

[@OldBiker]

The Midnight was the XJ 650, I think it was named Midnight Maxim, you could be thinking of that bike? Cheers Cliff