Blowing up ignition units!

[skippy344]

Hey Folks,

I have had Packmule for 7 years now, and have never had a problem with the ignition units. But in the last 6 months have blown 2 ignition units!

The electrical things I have done are installing an intercom unit (StarCom Advance) that I wired to the accessory fuse block, and the Accel coils.

I blew the first ignition unit several months after installing the StarCom, and just blew up the 2nd about 2 weeks after installing the Accel coils.

I removed the fuse from the accessory block until I can unwire the StarCom. I don't wanna keep blowing up ignition units!

My bike is running the best its ever run, but if I keep blowing up the ig units, the bike is no longer reliable. Not to mention, I can't keep looking for ig units to swap out.

Any opinions?

greg

[mro]

blowing up ignition units!

Does that mean that they actucally smoked or show "burn" marks
or did they just quit working.

If they "burned up" would check generator and regulator voltage output.
Also corroded connectors can cause reisistance and heat at that connector.

If they just quit working...they may be repairable.
Check Randy's post about resodering TCI.



mro

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Skippy,

How much power does the Starcom draw?? I would think less than 100 watts, which is what I have wired to mine for my aux. lights.

Aside from you resoldering, Randy can also REPAIR your TCI, he can diagnose and replace transistors/resistors/capacitors as needed on the early model TCI's, at a fair price, so you might want to send THEM to him so he could tell you What's getting blown/burned and could lead you in a direction to better diagnose and repair the problem!?

ALso, the Accel coils, were they the 3 ohm kind or did you find some 1.5 ohm type?? IF 3 ohm, did you bypass the ballast resistor, if not then possibly too much resistance? Or if you have 1.5 ohm coils, do you still use the ballast resistor, if not, then not enough resistance, pulling too much current thru the TCI? JAT?
T.C.

[TopCatGr58]

Another alternative!?

Hey Skippy,

Have you seen This Tech Tip in the Mods, making your own TCI from GM parts ? It might be a frugal way to get you going while you get your OEM TCI's fixed?? JAT!
T.C.

[skippy344]

That's pretty slick!

Hey guys,

I desoldered the PCB last night, and all the components look OK; no burn marks.

The StarCom draws very little, 150mA, so the power consumption is 1.8 watts. I did not have it plugged in when the last TCI failed.

I may try to build one of those replacements that T.C. mentioned in the Tech notes, since I now have a good TCI housing with undestroyed pinouts.

Since I desolderd the PCB Randy, can you still diag it? I kinda messed up some of the landings that the pins go through? I can still resolder the pins back to the traces, but the landings and "through guides" are separated from the PCB.

The mystery continues...

Thanks guy,

greg