Looking at my bike (1980 FXWG) the other night, it looks like the timing cover has never been off before - still has what look like the original rivets with no sign of any scratching around them.

I have no reason to replace the ignition system as the bike fires up nicely, but I would like to understand what options are on the market today.

At some point in the future, I will pull the motor just to see what I am really dealing with (and to repaint or polish the cases), so there will be an opportunity to dual plug the heads, but really I'd just like to know what everyone thinks the best options are - and why if possible.

Obviously, I can stay with the OEM unit if that is what's still in there. Where I am currently thinking of going with this bike is a mild cam, decent carb (currently Mikuni TM40-6 - which might work) original exhausts - and in that case, it might be worthwhile to put in a better ignition system.

So what do you think?

 

I was always told, If it's not broke don't fix it.

 

adm --- go ahead and fix it BEFORE it breaks -- for the ign IS going to go bad and you are way passed due . When it goes bad it will start fine and run fine till the engine warms up and the RPM drops below 1000 then good luck keeping it running , let the engine cool back down then the same thing all over againe . It IS going to go bad on you
For $125 at Jreh Cycles or someone like them the ULTIMA ign system 53-644 is tops , it's adjustable for what you might be doing and is simple to do , installing is a piece of cake , mark both sides of the notch that's for adjusting on the old one and install the new one in the same place no need to adjust timing -- simple . the 1 unit in the cam cover replaces everything
Both my '80 and '81 let me down -- they are H-D made by the Japs

 

agree the ultima is a great unit had one in maybe 20 years go bad in my shop - what it did was the led light for the static timing burned out and my rep replaced it free - we did not originally install it and had no idea how old it was and it was still working

 

Blue Streak

 

Dyna S. Trouble free, worry free. Ran one on my Shovel for about 15 years and when I thought it might be on its way out I replaced it with another!



I think Ultima is Dynatek only less money. Can't figure how or why they do that but that's what Dynatek said.

 

Ultima 53-644 kit with coil and all other gubbins ordered! Thanks folks.

Will post how I get on with it.

Now what do I do with the points cover - it's clear i need to drill out the rivets to get it off, but how best to fit it back on again - preferably with bolts/screws of some kind?

 

I used daytona twin tec 1005, with two accel single fire coil since i have dual pluged heads. Runs really nice, never had a problem with it.

 

use same on my shovel been 15 plus years always runs great

 

From what I can recall....which is usually hit or miss......the Dyna kit comes with screws. The Ultima will prolly also. The holes in the timing cover I believe are pre-threaded or the screws were self tapping.