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xs650 > > After Market Products > > Pamco - Electronic Ignitions > > Getting PAMCO, Questions first


Getting PAMCO, Questions first
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phatdawg
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PostPosted: September 8, 2009, 3:44 pm    Post subject: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

I have communicated with Pamco Pete a few times with my bike not sparking (83 heritage special with TCI). As I am tired of troubleshooting this thing and suspect the TCI (although I changed the transistor) I am ready to try the PAMCO. First, a few questions:

1: For my 83 which kit from mikesXS should I get or piece it together?
2: I recently bought a highoutput coil from Mikes part number 17-6803. Should I go with the green coil or kit it is part of?
3: Which components will be eliminated with this conversion (pickup coil, TCI...)?
4: Can the bike easily be converted back in myself or next owner desires?

Thanks for the info and look forward to getting this bike going again before the cold weather sets in.

-Phatdawg

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pumps
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PostPosted: September 8, 2009, 3:56 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

You'll need everything in the kit part #14-0912 except the plug wires but if yours are old you may as well replace them. If you haven't used the coil you might sell it or see if mike might leave out the coil from the kit and reduce the price accordingly. I don't think if you piece it together you'll get a better price than the kit.
I don't have TCI ignition but you can just remove the box and the pickup. Save them or sell them I suppose.

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gordo
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PostPosted: September 8, 2009, 4:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

Phat, you want the whole kit,as it's cheaper than piecing it together. As long as you don't replace the alternater rotor for a non TCI one , you can put it back to TCI anytime you want. It's a shame the TCI is giving you a hard time. No problem's with mine so far.10500 mile's and still ticking!
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phatdawg
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PostPosted: September 8, 2009, 5:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

gordo wrote:
Phat, you want the whole kit,as it's cheaper than piecing it together. As long as you don't replace the alternater rotor for a non TCI one , you can put it back to TCI anytime you want. It's a shame the TCI is giving you a hard time. No problem's with mine so far.10500 mile's and still ticking!

I'm jealous. My bike has less than 8K miles and been troublesome. Part of me thinks I should try getting spark one more time before doing the conversion and the other says just do it. Wish there were more XS enthusists around Northern California.

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Joseph
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PostPosted: September 8, 2009, 5:56 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

I would try the tci one more time. I see pamco is excellent at services and we love him and mikes XS but I'd try the tci. I have an 80 with stock tci and I love it. It cant get simpler than a pickup on the rotor if you ask me, perfect timing. It is always going to spark at the right time, it is connected to the pistons more directly than any other.
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PostPosted: September 8, 2009, 8:09 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

Joseph wrote:
It cant get simpler than a pickup on the rotor if you ask me, perfect timing. It is always going to spark at the right time, it is connected to the pistons more directly than any other.

You are correct sir. Doesn't get any better than crank triggering.

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Skip
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PostPosted: September 8, 2009, 9:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

I would not be too quick to pull the trigger on the TCI.
Before I spent the money elsewhere,I would take the time to replace the 3 prong transistor in the TCI unit.
The transister number is MJE5742GOS-ND,which is the equivilent of the OEM transistor number ETD41-035 found in most Yamaha TCI units.
This transistor is is readily available at most electrical specialty shops for only a couple of dollers.
You must be light handed to properly remove and re-solder the transistor and if you are not,take the box to a electric specialty shop and have them do it.
I have been down this road and speak from experience,this repair can bring back your missing spark and lets face it,it is not a lot of money to lay down.
Not to say that Pamcopete's set up is not top notch because I beleive in his product and appriciate the knowledge and input he shares with each and every one of us.
We are fortunate to have him and the many other "voices of knowledge" who post on this great forum.

Good Luck phatdawg.

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dwyatt
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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 12:48 am    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

Skip,

I'm still running the stock TCI, so far no problems, but I like the idea of upgrading the electronics to avoid trouble down the road. Could you elaborate, or point me to a post on this replacement and any other upgrades we can do to the stock ignition?

My bike is a '83 turned into a roadracer, running a total loss ignition system made from a stripped down stock TCI set-up. I've considered going to a PAMCO system, but so far I don't have a need to change.

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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 9:44 am    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

dwyatt,
Here is the link to explain more.
Hope this sheds some light on it!
Do read it right through and remember the transistor you want to use is
MJE5742GOS-ND

www.650rider.com/index...transistor

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dwyatt
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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 9:45 am    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

Thanks, I'll check it out. I'm an idiot when it comes to electrics, but see no need to let that stop me.......
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pamcopete
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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 10:35 am    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

Well, in general, the time to swap out the TCI system for a new Electronic Ignition system is before the TCI fails. That way, you can in good concience offer your TCI box and pickups on Ebay and use the money you get from the sale to offset the cost of the new system. You can't do this after the TCI has failed.

A lot of the TCI's offered on Ebay are from people who have done this.

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Joseph
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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 11:36 am    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

Quote::
running a total loss ignition system made from a stripped down stock TCI set-up.
What is a total loss ignition system?

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phatdawg
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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 11:39 am    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

pamcopete wrote:
Well, in general, the time to swap out the TCI system for a new Electronic Ignition system is before the TCI fails. That way, you can in good concience offer your TCI box and pickups on Ebay and use the money you get from the sale to offset the cost of the new system. You can't do this after the TCI has failed.

A lot of the TCI's offered on Ebay are from people who have done this.

I now have two TCIs and would like to send them to someone to try on their bike just so I know that this is the weak link. Any offers? Also Is it possible for the pickups to ohm out correctly and not function?

Thanks.

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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 11:39 am    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

That is good logic Pete! Those TCI's on ebay are brining in a good buck these days!Would certainly off set the cost of your great set-up!
Thank you for all you bring to this site!
Skip

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dwyatt
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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 11:53 am    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

Total loss is no charging system at all, just run until the battery is too low to trigger the box. Racing ONLY application.

Also what my pretty yellow $7k bike will be once I wad it at the track.....

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phatdawg
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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 1:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

I think my last post kind of got lost. Here it is again:

I now have two TCIs and would like to send them to someone to try on their bike just so I know that this is the weak link. Any offers?

Thanks.

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penn71911
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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 5:56 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

phatdawg... if you're serious, send me one, or both, I'll pop them on my '82 and we'll see. I ride my XS almost every day, she's a runner, if the TCI's are good or bad we'll know right away. Either way, I'll send them back after... PM me if you want.

BTW, ohm out the pick-up and pass a magnet over the face of it, the readings should change. If they do, it's good.

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phatdawg
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PostPosted: September 9, 2009, 10:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting PAMCO, Questions first

penn71911 wrote:
phatdawg... if you're serious, send me one, or both, I'll pop them on my '82 and we'll see. I ride my XS almost every day, she's a runner, if the TCI's are good or bad we'll know right away. Either way, I'll send them back after... PM me if you want.

BTW, ohm out the pick-up and pass a magnet over the face of it, the readings should change. If they do, it's good.

Chris,

I will PM you. I will have to get out and take off one of the TCI's. If you agree to do the test for me I will send return postage so all you have to do is drop in the mail. This would be really helpful for me and be some piece of mind.

-Mike

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