Had to share

[81xsproject]

So, I was over at the typical-miserable-experinece-in-comparison Honda SOHC forum trying to get a few answers about SWMBO's project. I started reading a thread that had evolved into a points vs. E-ignition debate. One guy said this and I think it is funny and had to share...

Archaic as they may be compared to modern ignition systems ... Points get the job done and plenty of folks are comfortable with using them, myself included.

Reminds me of this story:

Astronauts in the Apollo program did begin using a specially-designed zero-gravity pen in 1968 called the Fisher AG-7 Space Pen. Nitrogen-pressurized, the pen worked in "freezing cold, desert heat, underwater and upside down," as well as the weightlessness of outer space. It was developed not by NASA but by an enterprising individual, Paul Fisher, owner of the Fisher Space Pen Company. By his own account, Fisher spent "thousands of hours and millions of dollars" of his own in research and development.

The Russians used a pencil

[mro]

The Russians used a pencil

Hmm...So thats why they lost the cold war


mro

[GNEPIG]

I get it.

You don't need the over priced, over complicated equipment to do the exact same job .

I have no problem with points and will leave them on my SOHC Honda also.

[prometheus578]

"Yeah... but what's yer 'point(s)'?"

Just 'cause you can invent something... doesn't always mean that you should.
Nothing wrong with points. Cars had them for years. Were a pain to set, as had to crawl over the engine to get to them. (at least on my Chevelle)
On bikes, they are easily accessible.
A coupl'a feeler gauges to set the gap and a voltmeter/ohm thingie to set the timing and you're done.

[GNEPIG]

Quote:
On bikes, they are easily accessible.
A coupl'a feeler gauges to set the gap and a voltmeter/ohm thingie to set the timing and you're done.


.. Yep, what he said.

[mro]

originally posted by GNEPIG
You don't need the over priced

tune up:
plugs
points
rotor
cap
condinser
-----
electronic:
plugs


mro

[79XS11F]

All I can add is that the simpler it is the better the chances are that you can fix it your self and not likely find yourself stranded somewhere wishing you were closer to a very well equipped garage or bike shop.
Rob

[81xsproject]

...and so continues the basic argument they are having . It is just like the carbs vs. FI debates that have been here.

[Kurt]

As long as it runs and you know how to work on it, who cares?

[fredintoon]

The trouble with points

ain't the points. It's all the other stuff.
The average points bike is over a 1/4 century old. All those original parts are completely worn out and yes you can buy a replacement points set but where can you get a new mechanical advance mechanism eh? Bloody nowhere. Got me a 1970 BSA single with every moving part of it's Joseph P Lucas "Prince of Darkness" ignition completely knackered so you'd have to kick until you coughed up black slime before it'd start. One Boyer-Bransden later and she's away at first kick.

[TomB]

Hmm...So thats why they lost the cold war

Wow!! someone won the cold war???????




I have a CB500/4, owned it for 23 years, ride it to work every day, its got the same points in it that it came with when I bought off the PO.

I never check them any more, I spent the first ten years checking them finding no difference so gave up. Bike starts first touch of the button every morning.

Bugger!!!!..............now I've said that I'll have to go and check them now

[DiverRay]

Got me a 1970 BSA single with every moving part of it's Joseph P Lucas "Prince of Darkness" ignition completely knackered so you'd have to kick until you coughed up black slime before it'd start. One Boyer-Bransden later and she's away at first kick.

Fred, I have to agree with you on this. I had a '74 1/2 Jensen Healy, and the FIRST thing I did was replace the points with electronic. The only way to get to the points on that car was remove the distributor.

[JWSanders]

It's all about innovation...

Sure, points work fine. So do sailboats, and steam-powered cars, and an abacus!

Let's face it, sailboats are ungodly slow, an abacus is even slower, and the only steam in my car usually happens after a stop at Taco Hell.

Hell, I'm nearly 40 and I've never owned a vehicle that had points. My dad sure hated them though....he had a 70-something Vega that seemed to need them yearly.

Everything progresses eventually. There are so many things that all of us use in our daily lives today thanks to the innovations developed in just the space program alone.

Without innovation, all that's left is stagnation and decay (just look at Russia!). The Russians used a pencil because they lacked the funding to innovate. Here in the U.S., it's in our blood. They lost the Cold War (yes, they did), and their Union in the long run just trying to compete.

But then, socialism is a flawed ideology to begin with. It was just a matter of time anyway. The Chinese finally figured that out. They've opened the floodgates to evil capitalism, and there's no going back. It's really going to be interesting to see how much it changes them.

[fredintoon]

perceived velocity and husbanding resources.

"Let's face it, sailboats are ungodly slow, "
"The Russians used a pencil because they lacked the funding to innovate."
"socialism is a flawed ideology to begin with."
Hi JW,
the fastest you will ever go is 12 knots on the trapeze of a planing sailboat. Unless you count the 3 mph falling down the basement stairs carrying a cookstove.
I have done both. I know.
Now using the indelible pencil you can buy for pennies at the corner store rather than a million dollar space pen built by some Senator's pet boondoggle makes sound sense to me.
And everybody not living a solitary life in a cave in the north woods is a socialist to some extent.

[MaximPhil]

Wind Power

I would like to point out the following:
“We covered 530 miles over 24 hours! We’re thrilled!” “we averaged 22,08 knots over 24 hours. This from a Mono hull keel boat in 2005.
Outright Sailing speed record is currently 48.7knots by a windsurfer.
Neither points or carbs involved
Maxim Phil