'74 Eldo ignition wire set

[DaGootz]

Hey Gang, I need some suggestions for a plug and coil wire set. What is everyone using? I never thought it would be hard to fid something so common but I beat the internet up trying to locate something I could use. I saw MG Cycle Parts has bulk wire and all but no dist. cap boots. I; actually looking at VW air cool wire set to make work. Like I said in my Introduction post I'm totally new to Moto Guzzi so I do need help....thanks 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

They do have the plug caps (fake NGK type):
https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_157&products_id=6090

I buy bulk Belden plug wire at NAPA, terminals for the distributor and coil ends of the wires there as well. I use an inexpensive Accel tool to crimp the ends on.
 
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BEL734803
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BEL727003





Here's a good source for all sorts of ignition parts and other stuff too.
https://brillman.com/

[DaGootz]

They do have the plug caps (fake NGK type):
https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_157&products_id=6090

I buy bulk Belden plug wire at NAPA, terminals for the distributor and coil ends of the wires there as well. I use an inexpensive Accel tool to crimp the ends on.
 
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BEL734803
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BEL727003





Here's a good source for all sorts of ignition parts and other stuff too.
https://brillman.com/

Thanks Charlie, HUGE help. I was heading to NAPA tomorrow to check things out, what a cowinkiedink!. Is that "Summit" tool something that goes into a vise, vs pliers?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Thanks Charlie, HUGE help. I was heading to NAPA tomorrow to check things out, what a cowinkiedink!. Is that "Summit" tool something that goes into a vise, vs pliers?

Yes, goes in a vise. Made by Accel, sold lots of places other than Summit.

[Tom H]

I do not know the price of the tool that Charlie showed for crimping the spark plug wires. There are crimpers on the bay of fleas and the river site that have changeable jaws for plug wires, the little blue and red connectors and many more jaw sets. Reasonable priced and work well.

Tom

[DaGootz]

I do not know the price of the tool that Charlie showed for crimping the spark plug wires. There are crimpers on the bay of fleas and the river site that have changeable jaws for plug wires, the little blue and red connectors and many more jaw sets. Reasonable priced and work well.

Tom

Yeah, I've been checking them out on Amazing and found one just like that one for $6, it chucks in a vise.

[Tom H]

For $6 and Charlie approved, grab it!, especially if you already have some crimpers.

Tom

[DaGootz]

For $6 and Charlie approved, grab it!, especially if you already have some crimpers.

Tom

Heck yeah I'm gonna grab it!

[Ratso88]

When I was recommissioning my ‘74 Cop Bike I got most all of the ignition lead supplies from Ton’s Performance. They really cover a lot of what you’ll need.

https://tonsperformance.com/

My local NAPA no longer stocks any copper core ignition wire, boots or cable ends.

K&L has picked up supplying a limited range of plug caps once produced by NGK.
NGK had stopped supplying plug caps a couple years ago.

[DaGootz]

When I was recommissioning my ‘74 Cop Bike I got most all of the ignition lead supplies from Ton’s Performance. They really cover a lot of what you’ll need.

https://tonsperformance.com/

My local NAPA no longer stocks any copper core ignition wire, boots or cable ends.

K&L has picked up supplying a limited range of plug caps once produced by NGK.
NGK had stopped supplying plug caps a couple years ago.

AWESOME!!! Thanks much appreciated, cool vendor.

[73 sport]

      Check out "Magnecore' ignition wires.

[DaGootz]

Hey Gang, I need some suggestions for a plug and coil wire set. What is everyone using? I never thought it would be hard to fid something so common but I beat the internet up trying to locate something I could use. I saw MG Cycle Parts has bulk wire and all but no dist. cap boots. I; actually looking at VW air cool wire set to make work. Like I said in my Introduction post I'm totally new to Moto Guzzi so I do need help....thanks

So, after striking out everywhere, short of making wires myself, I went into Mooresville, NC's racing district and over to Scott Performance Wires in Talbert Park. As I got off my Beemer, a man mat me out front and we had a nice chat about motorcycles and such. I asked him if he works here at Scott and he said, "well, I own the place"....what a cool guy. His name is Mark Vieau, pronounced (View). We went in, with wires and cap in hand, and he wrote up a work order and later that day they called and my resistor wires were ready. They weren't cheap but they are top of the line and they fit and work! The old girl starts like a champ now, one push and she sits and idles just fine. Thanks for everyone's help, it's greatly appreciated. This is a nice community to be in, thanks again.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Why resistor wires?

[DaGootz]

Why resistor wires?

Because my riding buddy and I use two way communication and I use a GPS. My research tells me copper core will interfere with electronics. Why, are resistor wires voodoo for the loop frames?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Because my riding buddy and I use two way communication and I use a GPS. My research tells me copper core will interfere with electronics. Why, are resistor wires voodoo for the loop frames?

Copper core wires on all my bikes, no interference with the GPS, but I don't use any sort of communication devices.

IMO, resistor wires aren't necessary on an old bike, that's all. Not "voodoo".

[cliffrod]

Copper core wires on all my bikes, no interference with the GPS, but I don't use any sort of communication devices.

IMO, resistor wires aren't necessary on an old bike, that's all. Not "voodoo".

Need to ask for legit information, not being a smart ass.  Why are resistor caps (plug wire ends) like NGK necessary? 

The reason I ask is that I installed a full dyna ignition (coils & pickup) on my V7 Sport in the 90’s plus accel solid copper core wire and plain plug wire ends from the same generic accel kit at the same time.  I’ve never had any problems and the bike runs great.

Am I just lucky or ?.

[DaGootz]

Copper core wires on all my bikes, no interference with the GPS, but I don't use any sort of communication devices.

IMO, resistor wires aren't necessary on an old bike, that's all. Not "voodoo".

Gotcha… Thanks!

[Kaladin]

The coil-condenser combination has an LC frequency which causes ringing in the circuit.  Resistors in the wires dampen the ringing.   Ringing causes RF noise, but can also put extra stress on the caps.

[wirespokes]

I've had the same question about resistor caps. I ran an airhead without any resistance in the plug leads, caps or plugs for many years and no problems. However, the guys who really know electronics caution that the resistance is needed, and as I recall, the electronics (ignition amp or ignition) can be degraded a little at a time until eventual failure. It can also degrade the coils. The recommendation is to run 1K ohm resistor caps with a points ignition and 5K ohm with electronics.

I've always run copper or metal core wires. The non metal plug wires degrade over time and I avoid them. The only thing that can happen to metal core wires is the insulation gets hard and brittle - but we're talking many many years for that to happen. You'll have replaced those suppressor leads many times by the time the metal core leads fail for leaking insulation.

[guzziart]

FWIW, I'm running metallic core wires on my old stuff (cl350, Eldo & LMIVSE) with non-resistor plug caps and resistor plugs these days.  From what I recall (last Spring), I had an issue either finding resistor caps or non-resistor plugs so I changed over to a combo that was more readily available to me.  I've had more 5K ohm plug cap failures in my life with old bikes than plug failures so in my mind, that issue is no longer a potential problem.  Anyway, I also run with a Garmin gps and Cardo Freecom 4x on the Guzzi's and have never had any RF noise issues.
Art

[bmc5733946]

Actually, the resistance in the secondary ignition circuit, plugs, wires, etc. creates higher voltage spark because it needs to overcome that resistance to fire across the spark plug gap. This resistance also allowed larger spark plug gaps and thus better combustion and hence lower emissions etc.. At least, that was what I was taught in my automotive ignition class. I was also taught that one source of resistance was sufficient for this to happen as well as to suppress radio interference. Capacitors in the primary side of the system are also helpful in keeping radio noise to a minimum, especially at the radio power connection. Most of this radio stuff is obsolete because radios have changed. I relearned some of this stuff as we used very high-powered communication radios in the snow plow trucks we built. Those radios are now gone as well.

Brian

[DaGootz]

FWIW, I'm running metallic core wires on my old stuff (cl350, Eldo & LMIVSE) with non-resistor plug caps and resistor plugs these days.  From what I recall (last Spring), I had an issue either finding resistor caps or non-resistor plugs so I changed over to a combo that was more readily available to me.  I've had more 5K ohm plug cap failures in my life with old bikes than plug failures so in my mind, that issue is no longer a potential problem.  Anyway, I also run with a Garmin gps and Cardo Freecom 4x on the Guzzi's and have never had any RF noise issues.
Art

Thanks Art, good to know for future reference. 

[DaGootz]

I've had the same question about resistor caps. I ran an airhead without any resistance in the plug leads, caps or plugs for many years and no problems. However, the guys who really know electronics caution that the resistance is needed, and as I recall, the electronics (ignition amp or ignition) can be degraded a little at a time until eventual failure. It can also degrade the coils. The recommendation is to run 1K ohm resistor caps with a points ignition and 5K ohm with electronics.

I've always run copper or metal core wires. The non metal plug wires degrade over time and I avoid them. The only thing that can happen to metal core wires is the insulation gets hard and brittle - but we're talking many many years for that to happen. You'll have replaced those suppressor leads many times by the time the metal core leads fail for leaking insulation.

Thanks, I'll keep this in mind, much appreciated.

[Kaladin]

More factoids.

The current flowing during the spark is less than 10mA.   So, using Ohm's law the voltage drop across a 5000 ohm resistor is 50 volts.  Compared to the 10-30kV of a typical spark that 50 volts is insignificant.