Standard To Electra ?

desideep · 27th November 2009, 23:35

Hi all,
i have been thinking for some days that as the Electra(OLD ones not the new) and STANDARD share same mechanicals. would it be possible to remove the Standards's electricals and replace them all with the Electra's electricals and convert it to a CDI based ignition system.
the way i see is that the only differnce in the engine otherwise is the POINT system. so if we just let it be the way it is and dont use it and use the CDI system instead i hope that should work.
I dont feel like using the Point replacement kit
What say....

Gordon · 28th November 2009, 01:24

Any reason for the shift to modern ignitions?

I always thought Electra was only TCI, didn't know some of them came with CDI too. All CDI bikes (Machismo/Thunderbird/Electra CDI) would then have the exact same electricals, right? And I guess the Standard also has the same electricals as in these bikes, except for the one high capacity coil in the alternator, the CDI unit itself and maybe the 12v electricals.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

akshay4587 · 28th November 2009, 09:10

Yes it is possible and kits are freely available.
Electra had CDI earlier before it was changed to TCI.
i would recommend CDI over TCI.
Kit is for around 1k or so

Rennjit · 28th November 2009, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Yes it is possible and kits are freely available...

Any info on kit contents, what all need to replaced ?

Shashank.A · 28th November 2009, 10:25

does CDI work without battery ?

Gordon · 28th November 2009, 11:11

Yes. CDI works without battery. It gets its power from the alternator.

shan2129 · 28th November 2009, 12:26

a quick question !! how did the vintage RE's work ? they had TCi right ? so battery at that time ?

iron · 29th November 2009, 01:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by shan2129

a quick question !! how did the vintage RE's work ? they had TCi right ? so battery at that time ?

all Vintage RE's ran on CB Points. They launched the CDI ignition based electra4s in the year 2002. This was basically the same Standard Model but it did not have any Contact Breaker Points for ignition, it had CDI instead Extremely Reliable Never had any Battery problems
A few AVL Thunderbrids also came with the CDI based ignition.

Later on most probably in the year 2004 they switched over to TCI ignition when the E5s was launched.

I m also considering to switch over to a CDI based ignition. i own a Std 350..
I came across this kit called Auto Escorts kit which is an ignition kit for Points Replacement but again this supposedly electronic ignition kit has mechanical moving parts so m still confused..
Any 1 using this kit over hear.?

desideep · 29th November 2009, 03:07

hey IROn i may be wrong but the vintages did run on the DYNMO so not all the bullets ran on the CB points till the electra was launched.

Tomorrow i am going to get a Electra part book and a STD part book and check the difference and awaibale parts.

thanks

iron · 29th November 2009, 19:49

ohk..
Now wen we say vintage we will have to break it down from which year to which year..
i agree with deep that points wer introduced later but the ones from 1950 to 1957 or 1962 came with Magneto Ignitions ( i think you are refering to these as dynamo they wer also called as Magdyno in official sales brochures)
1962 onwards it was probably points. Can any old timers plz shed some light on this. And not to Forget all were 6Volts
i Searched on Google and this is wat i have found sadly none of these are directly available in india.

Power Arc Ignition - Royal Enfield Online Store
Boyer Bransden Electronics Ltd
Motorcycle Electronic Ignition Kits
Custom Electronic Ignition Kit - Royal Enfield Online Store
Simple Electronic Ignition - Royal Enfield Online Store

Gordon · 29th November 2009, 22:04

The points replacement kit anyways provides you with the basic necessities to perform the conversion. Whats stopping you from picking that kit?

Whenever you wish to convert to CDI, you will require all those parts that the kit provides one way or the other.

Are the CB points giving you any trouble?

desideep · 30th November 2009, 00:46

Hey Gordon,

some how i feel that i would always need to carry a spare kit with me when i am out of coverage. cause the spairs for them would not be easily avaiable. where as if it is done with the Electra kit then the spares may not be a problem even at places like leh.

and above all the Point replacement kit would still have moving parts thats at the stator plate that would be replacing the exact points.

I don't know but lately the bike has been giving starting problem. and all that.

i am also waiting for SANKAR's input here...

@gordon. would you have a contact number for the Autoescorts...

Rennjit · 30th November 2009, 09:46

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/895414-post8.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sankar

So finally i got the Autoescorts Eureka electronic ignition kit from the dealer yesterday...
Eventhough it's an electronic ignition kit the advance and retard is still controlled by the mechanical advancing system. The ignition timing isn't fixed and it's adjustable just like the original points setup. ..

can be called a 'mechatronic' ignition ?

ron_9191 · 30th November 2009, 13:44

A TCI or a CDI conversion for a Standard 350/500 is a very nice option as it reduces your visit to the mech. But unlike the points ignition system as far as I know, you just cannot play around with advancing or retarding the timing. A CDI/TCI is a WYSIWYG system. No further tweaking possible, but like I said it will work trouble free for ages.

Shashank.A · 30th November 2009, 14:02

ron, TCI cannot be tweaked, but I guess CDI can.

27th November 2009, 23:35	#1
desideep Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Adelaide Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 330 Times View My Garage	Standard To Electra ? Hi all, i have been thinking for some days that as the Electra(OLD ones not the new) and STANDARD share same mechanicals. would it be possible to remove the Standards's electricals and replace them all with the Electra's electricals and convert it to a CDI based ignition system. the way i see is that the only differnce in the engine otherwise is the POINT system. so if we just let it be the way it is and dont use it and use the CDI system instead i hope that should work. I dont feel like using the Point replacement kit What say....
	() Thanks

28th November 2009, 01:24	#2
Gordon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,550 Thanked: 506 Times View My Garage	Any reason for the shift to modern ignitions? I always thought Electra was only TCI, didn't know some of them came with CDI too. All CDI bikes (Machismo/Thunderbird/Electra CDI) would then have the exact same electricals, right? And I guess the Standard also has the same electricals as in these bikes, except for the one high capacity coil in the alternator, the CDI unit itself and maybe the 12v electricals. Correct me if I'm wrong.
	() Thanks

28th November 2009, 09:10	#3
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,157 Thanked: 4,722 Times View My Garage	Yes it is possible and kits are freely available. Electra had CDI earlier before it was changed to TCI. i would recommend CDI over TCI. Kit is for around 1k or so
	() Thanks

28th November 2009, 10:25	#5
Shashank.A BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 484 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	does CDI work without battery ?
	() Thanks

28th November 2009, 11:11	#6
Gordon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,550 Thanked: 506 Times View My Garage	Yes. CDI works without battery. It gets its power from the alternator.
	() Thanks

28th November 2009, 12:26	#7
shan2129 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Dehradun Posts: 304 Thanked: 96 Times	a quick question !! how did the vintage RE's work ? they had TCi right ? so battery at that time ?
	() Thanks

29th November 2009, 03:07	#9
desideep Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Adelaide Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 330 Times View My Garage	hey IROn i may be wrong but the vintages did run on the DYNMO so not all the bullets ran on the CB points till the electra was launched. Tomorrow i am going to get a Electra part book and a STD part book and check the difference and awaibale parts. thanks
	() Thanks

29th November 2009, 19:49	#10
iron BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 260 Thanked: 56 Times View My Garage	ohk.. Now wen we say vintage we will have to break it down from which year to which year.. i agree with deep that points wer introduced later but the ones from 1950 to 1957 or 1962 came with Magneto Ignitions ( i think you are refering to these as dynamo they wer also called as Magdyno in official sales brochures) 1962 onwards it was probably points. Can any old timers plz shed some light on this. And not to Forget all were 6Volts i Searched on Google and this is wat i have found sadly none of these are directly available in india. Power Arc Ignition - Royal Enfield Online Store Boyer Bransden Electronics Ltd Motorcycle Electronic Ignition Kits Custom Electronic Ignition Kit - Royal Enfield Online Store Simple Electronic Ignition - Royal Enfield Online Store
	() Thanks

29th November 2009, 22:04	#11
Gordon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,550 Thanked: 506 Times View My Garage	The points replacement kit anyways provides you with the basic necessities to perform the conversion. Whats stopping you from picking that kit? Whenever you wish to convert to CDI, you will require all those parts that the kit provides one way or the other. Are the CB points giving you any trouble?
	() Thanks

30th November 2009, 00:46	#12
desideep Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Adelaide Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 330 Times View My Garage	Hey Gordon, some how i feel that i would always need to carry a spare kit with me when i am out of coverage. cause the spairs for them would not be easily avaiable. where as if it is done with the Electra kit then the spares may not be a problem even at places like leh. and above all the Point replacement kit would still have moving parts thats at the stator plate that would be replacing the exact points. I don't know but lately the bike has been giving starting problem. and all that. i am also waiting for SANKAR's input here... @gordon. would you have a contact number for the Autoescorts... Last edited by desideep : 30th November 2009 at 00:48.
	() Thanks

30th November 2009, 13:44	#14
ron_9191 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 390 Thanked: 302 Times	A TCI or a CDI conversion for a Standard 350/500 is a very nice option as it reduces your visit to the mech. But unlike the points ignition system as far as I know, you just cannot play around with advancing or retarding the timing. A CDI/TCI is a WYSIWYG system. No further tweaking possible, but like I said it will work trouble free for ages.
	() Thanks

30th November 2009, 14:02	#15
Shashank.A BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 484 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	ron, TCI cannot be tweaked, but I guess CDI can.
	() Thanks