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timgray

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Everything posted by timgray

  1. timgray
    Here's a photo of the "growth" I was talking about. Also notice a Diode is missing, it was rolling around in the case.
  2. timgray
    checking the TCI can be frustrating. the hardest part is getting to it. All your coils should read around 3-4 ohms. the Pickup coils should read around 120 ohms each. be SURE you are getting good voltage to the TCI when ignition is on. check the red positive and check to make sure the ground wire is also good. If you do not get full battery voltage then check the switches for your sidestand and kill switch AND the relay they trip. also the safety tipover sensor in the front will kill the TCI power. Also check your engine ground and frame ground. That can cause issues with spark as well.
  3. timgray
    A bit more troubleshooting.... I started the bike, got it idling and then set a voltmeter to AC and measured between 12V+ on the battery and the output of each Cyl on the output of the TCI. I get 3.4 volts on each one EXCEPT for #3 I am getting much less, at around .9 volts. so I borrowed a friends Oscilliscope and checked. #3 is firing, but very weak. after 3000 rpm's it looks like it is sparking to the eye, but it's really only sparking every 5th or 6th firing. I dont know if this will help anyone, but I thought I'd post it. Honestly a cheap handheld Oscilliscope is a great device to troubleshoot Ignition stuff. I was able to use it to see the output of the pickup coils.
  4. timgray
    Figuring I have nothing to lose I opened up my dead TCI. it looks good except for every diode has something growing on it and when I touch one it crumbles to dust. AHA! So I go to radioshack and pick up some power diodes, install them in place of my dead diodes... Put it in the bike and.... Still not spark on Cyl #3. at least until I hit 3000 rpm then it start sparking. so at least it is now sparking above 3K on #3. does ANYONE know anything about the insides of these things? I am desperately trying to get it to run before winter. I'll post photos of the board later.
  5. timgray
    Diodes are $1.25 for 10 of them at Radio shack, the highest priced place to get diodes. Unless he made a harness and it's plug and play, then it's worth every penny.
  6. timgray
    If the Vboost servo is a standard servo the new ECM might as it has a servo control output on it. Otherwise switching the vboost servo to one that is supported would be doable. All it needs to be able to do is read the range, then set the tables inside the TCI to switch to the new spark profile after the VAC signal get's past the trip point. I agree that fitting a GM 1 bar and then doing some test runs with my logging Voltmeter to figure out what points and what it sees is required, but I think it will read the range needed. I dont need the full range, I only need a stable trip point. If I can read that and have the new TCI react to that reliably. That's all that matters. I only want to replicate the stock TCI at this point.
  7. timgray
    Awesome info randy, there was enough there to give me what I need. I am confident I can replicate the "Boost sensor" operation on our bikes with ths IgnitorTCI. A GM 1 bar MAP sensor puts out a 0-5 volt signal based on the vacuum in the intake. This is essentially what our boost sensor does. The ingitech box wants a 0-5 volt signal for a Throttle Position sensor to modify the spark map. well the same 0-5 volt signal can be used from a GM MAP sensor to do the same thing. The value of this Ingitech box now just jumped up a lot. Plus I talked to them and they have a 4 channel unit that will not need to do waste spark and can use both crank pickup coils. I believe it's their racing box, and it has an output to trigger "Nitrous" or a exaust servo. that can trigger a VBoost unit that someone would install from a Vmax. so this Ingitech box would allow someone to install vboost and get it to work just like it does on a VMAX. Note: the regular unit can do this, use the shift indicator light to trigger a servo to open the Vboost valve to have vboost kick in above X,XXX rpm's only. and yes I would love to be able to pick his brains if he is willing to talk to me. Thanks a bunch.
  8. timgray
    That is a link to Ingitech and not to where the Triumph forum of guys using this box and getting a vac sensor to work on it as was mentioned above. I found ingtech's info, and I'm talking with them but I really want to read about what the Triumph guys are doing with it and making it do things that Ingitech is not including, like the vacuum sensor to replicate the stock TCI.
  9. timgray
    does anyone have the links to the triumph forums where there are other people messing with this box? If there is a way to get the boost/vac sensor put back into the loop on it I may decide to spend the long dollar and buy one. I'd have to start from scratch as having an 83 I'm sure the timing curves are different than the 84 on up as everyone says that an 83 can only use an 83 TCI. Unless someone has the full details on the 83 versus the 84 for timing and ignition that I can look at.
  10. timgray
    I have considered it, But would rather not spend $225-$250 for one. plus I want to get on the road in the next 2 weeks instead of waiting until mid to late october to get the part. I also have reservations in sending that much money out of the country. With the wife not working $250.00 is a whole lot of money to me right now. I guess if I cant find a good used one, I'll have to give up and save up the money over the winter in hopes that the aftermarket TCI actually works well. I dont like how it does not use the Boost sensor so gas mileage will take a major hit. I do have a question.... the VMAX ignitor/TCI looks identical to outr 1st gen unit.... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TCI-ignitor-unit-TID14-93-VMAX-1990-07-1-pickup-system_W0QQitemZ150367029808QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item230292ca30&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245 does anyone have a pinout or know where to get a pinout of a Vmax ignitor/TCI? also is the timing in the Vmax the same as ours? Could this work?
  11. timgray
    I was told that they did not. that the 86 up TCI would not have the right settings for the Boost sensor and just overall ran worse than an origional. If I can use any 1st gen TCI that would rock. Can anyone confirm this?
  12. timgray
    Ok I am running out of options. I got today a used TCI from a great member here and unfortunately it was bad. I cant find any on Ebay and I need one to hopefully finish out this years riding season. I'm going to tear into my Dead TCI as I have nothing to lose and see what is up, but without a schematic or any way to test it in a live working system I'll be shooting in the dark. I heard that an 84 TCI will run an 83 just not perfectly, Oh well it will get me on the road. So if you have a working TCI I'm after it. if you have a DEAD TCI I'd love it for the parts to see if I can fix mine. Thanks guys.
  13. timgray
    Anyone have a 83 TCI they are willing to sell? if it will run the bike I'll take an 84.
  14. timgray
    I got a kick out of this little line... "FJR1300: Available in January for $15,190 including standard ABS, the FJR that impressed us in our recent Sport-Touring Shootout now comes in a new Liquid Silver color." Does yamaha really think they can raise prices? in this economy? Sorry but if you're buying a bike, you can get any dealer to cut nearly 3 grand off the price of an FJR or anything else. Heck There is a metallic black 2009 in the showroom near me with everything but the wierd auto transmission for $10,900. bike dealers are hurting to get people to buy, there is no way they are selling bikes anywhere MSRP. buddy of mine even got a killer price on a 09 RSV he was sitting on, and he was not even buying, just waiting for me... the sales guy came out and said, "I'll take $2000.00 off that bike right now". Sales guy cringed when he asked, "Why does it have a cassette player?"
  15. timgray
    Actually the MSD one can even be used for a 4cyl car, it's that configureable. I asked them for more details about sensor inputs, if it can be used to accept the Boost sensor input then it might be very useful. What I do like is the triple spark for every fire and at 40Kv instead of our stock weak 8Kv.
  16. timgray
    Anyone know what pins on the TCI Ignitor unit are the coils? -- nevermind, I found a pinout. Don is a lifesaver for making this. http://www.bergall.org/temp/venture/tci/tciplugs.jpg I've got all other wires mapped but on the wiring diagram in the manual it's "mystery" 5 wires drawn in with no colors. Coils are fine they all read 3.3 ohms. Pickups read at all 4 positions. 118,113,118,116 ohms. They check out fine as well. Nice to see that the most reliable part on these bikes is the part that fails on me. My luck.... I need a new one, THEN I'll tear into the dead one and hopefully figure out a parts list and schematic if possible so that these things can be fixed. This winter I'll be looking for dead TCI's to go through and determine failure points.
  17. timgray
    I'm going to ohm out everything this afternoon. But does anyone have the full tech specs on the 83's ignition needs? Dynatek here in the states makes a ignition module for 4 cyl motorcycle engines that is the same price as the Croatia one with more features and looks like it can use the boost sensor, MSD also makes one as well.
  18. timgray
    Well bummer.... I re-soldered the joints that looked like they could be bad. reinstalled it and it's still not firing on #3. Resoldering went wierd. I never saw solder boil like that before, and I've been working on electronics for 20 years. Still the same problem with #3 not firing, but #4 is now strong again in spark. So on a whim I swapped the wire plugs from #4 and #3 that drive the coils from the TCI and installed old plugs in the wire ends. the coil for #3 works I see a spark if it's being fired from #4's wire connection. I now have spark on #1,#2,and #4. #3 is dead. does that mean my TCI is dead? does anyone have a spare I can borrow or any ideas to verify this theory or a test procedure to verify this? Heck there are no used ones on ebay right now. That's my luck.
  19. timgray
    Well after nearly 2 hours of swearing and smashing of fingers I got one screw off and used the alternative method of removing the Box. I snapped off the other ear. Carefully opened the box and it looks clean. Connectors to the coils look clean. I am now where I can actually get to everything to test it, which means all the tuperware other than the rear fender has been removed. They did not make getting to the ignition components easy did they. I also discovered that the manual lies about the location of the boost sensor, it's sitting right there next to the TCI. I cant tell but there might be some cold solder joints, when my low beam went out I could not see a failed solder joint but it was there.... I'm going to resolder all the joints tonight and test again tomorrow. Then I'll be calling for some troubleshooting help.. I did score a full set of 83 coils in good shape (needs wires and ends, but the coils look like new) for about $20.00 so if I have a dead coil I'll have a "spare" I really do thank everyone for their help. This is making it easier for me by being able to pick your brains. Side note: if I was 400 miles away there is no way I'd be fixing this problem on the side of the road. amazed that you have to disassemble the whole bike to just be able to look at the parts.
  20. timgray
    I find a cradle to hold the phone where I can see it, and a bluetooth headset works best. push the button on the side of your head and talk. I bought the highest end Plantronics. It's loud enough ,comfortable to wear all day, and I can drive at highway speed with the window down and the other end cant tell. http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/mobile/bluetooth-headsets/voyager-pro I love it. adding a small foam windsock over the mic and it even works great in a convertible. I had the previous model for 5 years before it's battery gave up and died.
  21. timgray
    As far as I know the spark plug caps are as old as the bike, but they look like a set of New old stock. clean inside as if the bike came off the showroom floor 6 weeks ago. All the electrical on this bike looks that way. when I unplug anything. I can take one apart, what should they measure with an ohm meter?
  22. timgray
    Tore into it today. wow that airbox comes off easily. and Wow how am I going to get that vent tube back on. I have no spark on #3 and a weak spark on #4. #1 and #2 look like they have a good strong spark. Anyways, got to the Ignition module. Connectors look as clean as new, I sprayed some contact cleaner anyways and added some dielectric grease to make sure they never corrode. restarted the bike and nope. Still no spark on 3 and weak on 4. So does that mean I have a dead coil and a failing coil? If so is there any replacements that are better than a used 25 year old part off ebay? Like a vmax coil?
  23. timgray
    Anyone have links to the easy way to pull and replace the airbox? I heard it's a nightmare to try and get everything back on when you pull it.
  24. timgray
    If I dig out the TCI to check the connections should I just go ahead and relocated it/ re solder it? or is it easy to check the connections without digging it out from under the airbox?
  25. timgray
    Went on a ride today. Hoped to get in maybe 400 miles. After about 100 miles I started to get a backfile at idle when I would slow down into small towns, then it got progressively worse.. Zero power at idle, in order to take off from a stop you have to rev it to 2000 rpm. turned around to head home. It has power and feels right at highway speeds, by the time I got home, it was kicking in and out at highway speed and I'm getting surging as if a cyl is working, not working, working, not working.... At idle, it's popping like crazy and idling very poorly. Am I losing a coil? or is it the Ignition computer that needs some TLC? 83 std, well maintained, I do not have any ground wire upgrades. It does start a bit hard when hot.
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