Got my EBAY GS 450 centrifugal advance unit today.  Seems to be a perfect match with the GS 500 crank end and key!  It is has a reluctor for electronic ignition triggering which I will have to fashion into a breaker point triggering cam. Should be easy to do. Also have to build the 2nd prototype to match new cam diameter.

My cousin worked on electronic equipment for the U.S. Navy and was in charge of White House Secret Service communication systems. He says "solid state electronic devices are going to fail. It could fail when new or in 20 years, but failure is going to happen."  I would rather have the reliable, easy to maintain, trouble shoot, repair and tune breaker point system (which I have seen outperform the electronic box in serious competition) and save hundreds of $$$ in the bargain.

In 1985 I got a '72 dodge charger with points. For twenty years people told me to put electronic ignition in it. I drove it until a tree fell on it in about '05, then I sold it for $1000 (the same amount of money I gave for it) and it still ran just fine. I don't know what people's fascination with electronic ignition is. Since then I've lost one electronic ignition box in a 94 acura integra, it stranded my friend that was borrowing it out in the middle of nowhere. My current car has been fine, but ya never know when it's gonna leave you stranded. I'm just glad for the invention of cell phones to call for backup. 

I've seen points systems fail too. Ask anyone that has had a VW beetle. The real one, not the fake one.
You can maintain and replace them a lot and it will probably never fail, but by the time an electronic ignition fails, you'd have done that X 20 and spent more time and $$$ in the process.

Anyway eco.usa, your issue likely was not in the ignition - you never found for sure - or did you ?

Cool.
Buddha.

Budda, you are 100% correct about the Volkswagen conversion! I just compared prices again and things have CHANGED for the better! I also have a 62 VW fiberglass dune buggy with points and it is now only $50 from The Samba to convert to EI. $50 for the entire kit! That's amazing! A few years ago the conversion was $600 for new distributor, new coil (old coil wouldn't work with EI) and electronic ignition box. Now everything including condenser is in the same size package as the factory points!

Back then, $600 would buy a whole LOTTA points!

Now I gotta look into EFI for the buggy too! 

Oh wow, Yes I remember when it was several 100. @ $ 50 I'll try it too.
I honestly dont care one way or another, but I am not into re-engineering the wheel.
Cool.
Buddha.

Centrifugal advance from GS 450 has a larger hole for the bolt into the crank shaft. Guess I need to have a spacer tube made to have a tight fit around the crank end bolt. 

Combine that work with having the reluctor (electronic ignition trigger arm) ground into a cam profile to actuate the breaker points.  Good thing I got a friend with an old school machine shop.

Also wondering why there are 2 metal teeth or spurs extending toward the bolt head at that end of the GS 450 point cam shaft??

Is anybody else AMAZED by this thread?
Absolutely no criticism intended, but I have to say that in over 40 years learning about and restoring scores of bikes of all types, this is the first time I've ever heard of anyone wanting to go back from solid state ignition to points ignition.
Hey, don't get me wrong... I'm old-school as anyone, (whatever floats it), but still! 

Jools - yes, me too, though I probably dont get out much.
And at the end of it, I suspect his issue isn't in that ignition system in the first place.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: Joolstacho on December 31, 2014, 02:25:36 AM
Is anybody else AMAZED by this thread?
Absolutely no criticism intended, but I have to say that in over 40 years learning about and restoring scores of bikes of all types, this is the first time I've ever heard of anyone wanting to go back from solid state ignition to points ignition.
Hey, don't get me wrong... I'm old-school as anyone, (whatever floats it), but still! 

If I'm honest, never seeing ignition points again would be too soon for me. I'm not crazy about carbs either though the technology has changed the world and thus deserves respect (not for bikes; I'm talking about toilets...). But points?! No. Solid state and beyond please.

Anyway, the arguing is dynamic enough to keep the thread interesting. Happy 2015 to all regardless of ignition tech.

Does the the fact that all OEMs are now gouging everyone on price for black boxes all over the vehicles?  Or that even at $450 new per black box for the 2002 GS 500 are no longer available? 

In my book, That is Suz saying "just go away, we don't want you."

As Gilda said:  "Never tell an alligator bite my azz"  Some of us don't have to fall into their $$ trap.  All we need to do is light a fire in the combustion chamber at the right time.  It's not High Tech.  You mentioned that in a previous post Buddah, when you said there are tons of parts in one black box and less than 10 in the Suz but both are $450, WHY?

Quote from: The Buddha on December 23, 2014, 07:44:15 AM
And I would like both dead black boxes if you're not going that route. I need to crack one of these open. And yes 3 days in acetone would do it. I have never been inside one.
The time I was fixing my MZ660, I was working on a denon 3600. Oddly they were both $350 or so. I went, huh, there is 4000 components in the denon and its $350, and there is 6 in the MZ and its also 350. LOL.

BTW yamaha helps us out by only slathering like a litle dab of goop on it and tossing it out the door. That way you find bad components in 2 seconds.

Cool.
Buddha.

@ eco.usa - read my post - I presume this was the one.

Denon 3600 as much as it sounds like a vehicle is actually a receiver ... you know, picks up radio, and makes things loud, has a remote control and what not.
I think no one gets my analogies and references. And sarcasm as well. I should just plain quit doing that.

But then I'll have like 13 posts. Yea I know, quality, not just quantity OK OK I get it.

Cool.
Buddha.

Well, that's a shame... A Denon 3600 sounds just like a new bike my dad would want to buy. His current bike is only 720 pounds and that Denon 3600 sounds like a REEEAAALLL beast! 

Happy New Year!!!

No he should get a yamaha DSP 3090. Its a yamaha to boot. LOL.
Cool.
Buddha.

Question everything?  Happy new year!

Any updates on points conversion? My 82 GS450 was a points bike (I think, I never had any issues with them so I never checked)

I believe both my 69 f100, and my73 super beetle were points ignition. I know the 48 plymouth was. I had to file the points to resurrect her.

Points ignition project is still happening.  Lot more machine shop work needed now to get the Suzuki GS 450 centrifugal advance unit to do the triggering. 

Also will make ignition timing adjustable to the degree for each cylinder separately and capable of firing 4 spark plug head which will speed up that lazy combustion chamber resulting in more HP at less timing advance (minus at least 7 degrees with 2 plugs per cylinder).

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on January 06, 2015, 01:40:26 AM
I believe both my 69 f100, and my73 super beetle were points ignition. I know the 48 plymouth was. I had to file the points to resurrect her.

I remember setting the gap with a match book cover.....good times, good times, old times, old times...

This is the points set up from a KH250 triple.



Notoriously difficult to set up.........and don't even think about taking it out in the rain!!
First thing most owners did was junk the whole setup in favour of a Boyer-Bransden

Points ignition was unreliable and high maintenance with lots to go wrong, I don't miss it. Respect and kudos for what you are doing but I don't think its a step forward. 

+1 sledge. Just looking at it gives me the creeps. Yes the VW beetle has one of "Distings" Thanks Cookie. Its now part of my everyday speech. I'm gonna order me a Disting for lunch now @ this podunk cafe.

Cool.
Buddha.