vw points in a Duc single??

[LaceyDucati]

When I said large order I meant 100's, so no panic on stock levels! That's assuming all is ok when they arrive they Excuse my pessimism but I've been burnt before & all that leaves Italian factories Is not always as it seems

If all goes ok & anyone on the forum does want to speak to me about buying a few sets I would be happy to talk turkey!

Thanks Jim for your words of support for the businesses. Although we love our Ducatis we do need to make our livings. I've made a living out of my Ducati Single business for 12 years now, I'm never going to get rich, I keep buying more stock! Our business specialises in engine and service components, re-manufacturing when necessary (mainly in the UK). Our tag line for the business is "keeping the Ducati Legend alive" and that's what we try to do

p.s. for Mike, nothing wrong with keeping things simple re. points and 6V, if it works and you are happy, no problem.

[DewCatTea-Bob]

By: Jon...
" To achieve that with an electronic ignition system would involve the expense of buying two expensive ignition kits. "

____ Hmmm... I'd think that after going through all the trouble of doing a complete-motor swap-job, that also moving-over an ign.coil & it's control-box wouldn't be thought-of as all that much extra work, (especially since it's fairly helpful to already have the ign.coil moved out of the way while trying to get the motor placed into the frame, anyhow!).


" Points are so simple to maintain and adjust that it really isn't worth all the trouble and expense of fitting electronic ignition, "

____ Well that's most certainly quite true if you're talking just adjusting the point-gap ! _ And could even still be quite true IF we were talking about complete-replacement of the points-set, on most any Jap-bike.
But for on our old DUKEs, well, let me put it this way... If ya took your DUKE to a decent motor-shop for it to be given a full tune-up,, would ya be very content paying their tune-up bill, for them to have simply installed a new set of contact-points without also then checking to see that the ign.timing is still properly set ??
Those of us who once did this job for a living, then liked that we could charge for the extra time it took to check the ign.timing on the OHC-Duc.singles, but ya have to admit that it's a real pain-in-the-back to do the job RIGHT !!
So while we may actually LIKE playing-around with the points once in a while, it's really something that ought to be avoided if possible, (cuz afterwords, ya can no longer be very certain about the exact ign.timing, without the whole degree-wheel set-up task) !
Therefore I'm all-for any system where I could set it up just one last time & then forget about it for-good !
__ On eBay, it's possible to find the various needed parts of non-points systems from Honda-singles (or other suitable models) for just 99-cents each. _ Indeed I've bought all of the four required ign.parts -(coil, black-box, trigger & sensor) from a XL250 for under 15-bucks shipped, from 'motorcycle_parts_4_sale', on eBay !
So who says that such systems have to be expensive?

. . .

By: Jim...
" I suspect Nigel doesn't have enough profit margin in points to give quantity discounts, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to ask. "

____ Well I had actually meant to convey that the hope would be possible (far more likely) BEFORE the order to Italy was placed. _ (Otherwise I'd expect that ya would have to order MORE than just two sets at a time in order to still expect to get any kind of discount.)
The idea behind my thought was that a substantial increase in the number of units to whatever the order-total to Italy would've otherwise been, could've then possibly reduced the per-unit price/cost from the manufacturer or distributor there, thus creating a margin for discount for the individual-buyers who had pre-placed orders for multiple units.
That's all.


Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob

[Jon Pegler]

When I set the static timing on a Ducati single, I always have a degree disc on the crankshaft and a light or buzzer set to react when the points open.
A check with a strobe light and a timing pointer to check the advance and the job is complete.
Whilst ignition timing is not difficult to do, I can swap an engine over quicker than I can set the timing accurately if I need to.
Honda singles were never very common here in the UK and prices are not quite the same for parts as in the US.
Shipping is not cheap, either.
Maybe next time I'm in the States I'll look out for some Honda parts.

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" Whilst ignition timing is not difficult to do, I can swap an engine over quicker than I can set the timing accurately if I need to. "

____ Of course I certainly didn't mean to suggest that you yourself must have been overlooking the proper setting of the ign.timing (in order to make that claim of yours)... However being able to complete a motor swap job in less time, does help make my point that the job of proper setting of the ign.timing, is not a task which ya really want to look forward to having to complete every time ya wish to mess with the ign.points !


" Maybe next time I'm in the States I'll look out for some Honda parts. "

____ If anyone could quickly set up such a system onto a DUKE,, with your handy shop set-up, I'm sure that YOU could !


Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob

[MotoMike]

...On eBay, it's possible to find the various needed parts of non-points systems from Honda-singles (or other suitable models) for just 99-cents each. _ Indeed I've bought all of the four required ign.parts -(coil, black-box, trigger & sensor) from a XL250 for under 15-bucks shipped, from 'motorcycle_parts_4_sale', on eBay !
So who says that such systems have to be expensive?...

. . .

Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob

Bob
You make it sound so simple. How do you afix the trigger? do you remove the cam from the advancer and install a rotor there and install the sensor on the points plate? I don't know how the points trigger cam is affixed to the shaft. If it is easily removed then fitting the hall effect or other rotor would be possible at the back yard level. I'd like a blow by blow on a $15 ignition. some pics would be great too.

If I were inclined to do my own homebrew ignition, I would see the sensor installation as the hickup. it would probably need to be a sensor and trigger designed for just this application as it must exist in a harsh environment. Once the sensor and trigger weresorted, I would use the sensor to provide input to a simple amplifier capable of handling coil primary current. In that case if the trigger and sensor could be found on ebay or a salvage yard, or even current stock that wasn't too expensive, the amp could be built from radio shack parts for a few bucks. your sensor would simply take the place of the points in a low current circuit and tell the amplifier when to open the primary circuit in the coil. In this way you would not need a brain to handle avance curve, you could retain the stock mechanical advancer.

I know that for guys like Jon with a machine shop and lots of Duc experience under their belt, these little niggling problems are not an issue. But for the handy back yard wrench with little Duc experience (such as myself) more thorough dicussion of the nuts and bolts would be appreciated.

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" You make it sound so simple. "

____ Well for someone like Jon, I'm sure it would be. _ As I had intended to indicate before, the work of my suggested conversion, would be more worth-while for about the same amount of fabrication-trouble as Jon's suggested conversion-job to accept VW-points.
Back when I myself could've easily done such a conversion, eBay didn't exist. _ It was actually back in 2007 when I was getting bike-parts from 'motorcycle_parts_4_sale' on a regular basis, that I then picked-up the Honda ignition parts (and haven't looked-them-over since), to check-into the possibility of adapting them to a DUKE. _ And I then noted no barrier that would prevent such a conversion-job from being possible.


" How do you afix the trigger? do you remove the cam from the advancer and install a rotor there and install the sensor on the points plate? If it is easily removed then fitting the hall effect or other rotor would be possible at the back yard level. "

____ While it would be fairly simple to attach the sensor to the stock points-plate, the trigger adaptation of course wouldn't actually be on a "backyard level" . _ And right now, without the parts held in hand, I really can't say exactly how that adaptation ought to be accomplished. _ But I'm sure that an adapter-bracket could be made to attach the trigger to the stock-shaft. _ With that job done, the rest would be a cinch.


" If I were inclined to do my own homebrew ignition, "

____ You have seemingly read my mind on that thought, as I've always preferred the idea of not using magnetic-type triggering and also retaining a mechanical-type of advancer-unit, just like the Dyna-system that's been made for the early Duc 750-twins.
It shouldn't be too difficult to duplicate that type of system, to work on a DUKE-single.


Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob

[LaceyDucati]

Hi all,
As requested just letting you know that we received our order of points and condensers from Italy today. All look okay and are now on the website under the Electrical section. Prices as follows:

Points £8.00 +VAT in the EEC (approx $12.50 and no UK VAT in the US)
Condenser £8.00 +VAT in the EEC (approx $12.50 and no UK VAT in the US)
Will be available as a set for £15.00 +VAT in the EEC (approx $24.00 and no UK VAT in the US)

Best Wishes
Nigel

[ccambern]

I put VW points on mine. IIRC, I used the stock threaded hole, but drilled a new pivot for the bush. I also augered out the gap and timing adjustment slots a bit. They work great and there was plenty of room to adjust timing. VW points are cheap, high quality, and very common. Once you get the backing plate right, you're good to go.

-Clark

[jbcollier]

If you can get original points, that's the easiest way. Order two so you'll have a spare set for the next time. I fit Lucas points to my boss's 450. Not too much head scratching involved.