Ironhead Broke Down and Ordered an Ultima Ignition Kit

[Jeff]

Per the recommendations of many of you. Managed to shear the roll pin and snap the head of the retention screw on the mechanical advance unit yesterday. Again. At least the second or third time now, in these last 43 years. I've finally had enough. I service this thing every winter, and saw nothing awry this year. Just lubed it and put it back, and had been riding it since then trouble free. So, the electronic ignition will soon be joining the electronic voltage regulator. I'm dragging this thing kicking and screaming into the... umm... 1980's?

Oops - big brain fart on my part - Ultima, not "Optima". I thank the good doctor for catching that for me. Sorry about that.

[trappnman]

After 40 odd years riding ironheads, I did the same a few years ago and haven't regretted it for a second. I took the next step in putting on the alternator conversion- 1000s of trouble free miles on 2 ironheads since.

[The Doctor71]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Broke Down and Ordered an Optima Ignition Kit

Always eager to learn about new ignition systems for IHs..... thus I googled "Optima Ignition Kit" and came up with little that resembled an IH ignition system. Am I missing something ?

Or am I overthinking this and "Optima" was just a simple typo, or auto-correction thing ? (possibly you meant to type "Ultima", but ??). If you could confirm one way or the other. Thks.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by The Doctor71

Always eager to learn about new ignition systems for IHs..... thus I googled "Optima Ignition Kit" and came up with little that resembled an IH ignition system. Am I missing something ?

Or am I overthinking this and "Optima" was just a simple typo, or auto-correction thing ? (possibly you meant to type "Ultima", but ??). If you could confirm one way or the other. Thks.

Yup, you're right. Ultima, not Optima. Sorry about that. And thank you very much for catching that and correcting me. I bet I had everyone scrambling to look up "Optima ignition for..." I'm very sorry I wasted everyone's time who did that.

I went back and corrected my post and, I thought, the title of the thread. The title correction only seems to take on the first post itself, but not on the thread title. Again, I'm sorry I sent a few of you off on a wild goose chase.

[PoodlePunche]

I typically avoid electronics, as I like old stuff you can actually work on, but points is where i draw the line.

My 78 has a twintec ignition, and it's been solid since repairing the wires, and adding VOES.

my KZ400 on the other hand, still has points, and has been sitting for over a year, because i don't want to deal with them..

[joe s]

If you don't use the Ultima coil, make sure the one you use is 3 ohms not 5 like points need. Adding VOES will make the bike run better with lousy gas.

[Jeff]

Yeah, I haven't run points in anything for an awfully long time. Much of what I ride and drive is old enough to have been fitted with them when new. I started noticing over 20 years ago that it was getting harder and harder to source quality points. I switched everything over to some form of points replacement magnetic pickup. My old Beetles, old Porsches, old bikes... all of it. This one had the Dyna S unit, which served me faithfully for quite some time. It's that darn advance unit that I think I have identified as an inherent weak point. So, well, it just had to go.

I do intend to use the Ultima coil, since I bought the whole kit. Would there be any reason to use a different coil? Nothing I have is three ohm anyway, and I don't see where I would run out and buy a different coil. I'll just run the kit as issued.

[IronMick]

No reason to not use the complete Ultima kit

[PoodlePunche]

Originally Posted by joe s

Adding VOES will make the bike run better with lousy gas.

Even with good ethanol free gas, without VOES my bike ran super hot, since there was essentially no timing advance.

Think i paid around $40 for the VOES sender, so there's really no reason to skip it.

hardest part was finding a place to mount it. Put mine under the seat next to the breakers

[joe s]

Originally Posted by Jeff

I do intend to use the Ultima coil, since I bought the whole kit. Would there be any reason to use a different coil?

Mostly laziness to take the time to swap out the coil already on the bike.

Older Ultima coils had issues, but haven't heard people complaining online about them any more.