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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Universal Coil and Voltage Regulator ?
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Message started by mpescatori on 06/17/13 at 06:07:35

Title: Universal Coil and Voltage Regulator ?
Post by mpescatori on 06/17/13 at 06:07:35

Hi all.

I am reading a novel loosely based on a real story - as experienced by the author in person - about a man riding his old "banger" (a Shovelhead Road King) from Milan to India, across Iran, Pakistan and quite a few hair-raising situaitons.

http://www.threepercenters.it/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/copertina.piccola.controsole.jpg

I noticed how he mentions he carried all sorts of spares, from gaskets to plugs&cables to brake pads for the disc brakes, but then the only thing that failed him was the voltage regulator...
:-/
He eventually "McGyvered it" with a voltage regulator off an old 350cc Royal Enfield, but it too gave up quite soon...
...his bike being 12V and the RE Bullet of the time being 6V...
:-X
So here's my question:
"Will an ordinary, run of the mill ignition coil work on our Savage?
Anything from the coil salvaged off a broken down 125cc scooter to the "universal" coil made for English bikes? To an automobile coil?"

http://www.tuttoquad.com/ricambi/bobina_quad.JPG

Generic 50cc moped coil...

http://my.frooition.com/110052/images/IGC02.jpg

Modern reproduction of 12V BritBike coil...

http://i44.tinypic.com/rm32jb.jpg

Salvage yard, when they're this clean it's love at first sight... ;)

Title: Re: Universal Coil and Voltage Regulator ?
Post by ToesNose on 06/17/13 at 06:26:54

Any 12v coil made for electronic ignition should work in a bind. If it is a true concern of yours to have one as a spare why not just get one for the LS650, I've seen them as low as $5 used on EBAY(usually closer to $15) I know you are in Italy, but I'm sure you could find one from a European EBAY or equivalent for a reasonable cost. ;)

Title: Re: Universal Coil and Voltage Regulator ?
Post by mpescatori on 06/17/13 at 06:45:14

HI.

I have found "new NOS" coils for the DR600 and DR650, they go for about €40-50.

I have become more and more leery to buy from the US after I was knifed in the back by Customs who charged so much in Excise and VAT, the cost of an item I bought literally doubled !

(ouch...) :o

Not to mention shipping costs... ::)

Title: Re: Universal Coil and Voltage Regulator ?
Post by verslagen1 on 06/17/13 at 07:15:07

You need to try and match the voltage and current rating of our coil or this will happen...

http://www.suzukisavage.nl/ForumsPro/download/id=728.html
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1293638302/0

This happens when someone leaves their key on all night.

Title: Re: Universal Coil and Voltage Regulator ?
Post by mpescatori on 06/19/13 at 05:39:22

OUCH !

OK, I'll try to rephrase the question:

Electrical spares for the Savage are rare as hen's teeth here in Europe.

You can find electrical spares for any king of 500-800 dualsports/enduro, from the Yamaha XT to the Honda XL to the Suzuki DR...
...not to mention BMWs (expensive but available) and Ducati-powered Ducs and Cagivas and the odd Gilera.

But if my coil or my voltage regulator fails in... Poland... Portugal... Norway... Turkey, and all I have available is the local do-for-all village mechanic and a scrap yard...
- a coil made for electronic ignition will do... many cars have tiny coils built in the individual plug cable, would that do?
- a voltage regulator... given the puny alternator of the Savage, would "any" 12V regulator do ?

In other words... if I have to "McGyver it" somewhere in "Faraway-istan", what should I look for ?

C'mon, I intend sending a trip report next summer !!! 8-)

Title: Re: Universal Coil and Voltage Regulator ?
Post by WD on 06/19/13 at 12:18:17

Universal Brit bike 12v coil. You can also get away with a Kohler small engine coil and voltage regulator.

Go to www.dotheton.com and search for "Kohler mod". It will likely be in a Honda thread... It might also be available through the SOHC forums.

Now, is our bike's coil a TRUE 12v coil, or is it internally regulated down to 5.5-6V, as it does make a huge difference... The Bosch VW coil is an internally ballasted unit that drops its input to 6v... or it is a straight (true) 12v coil, depends on the era of donor engine...

Title: Re: Universal Coil and Voltage Regulator ?
Post by mpescatori on 06/20/13 at 02:46:09

Thanks WD.

Yes, I know all about ballasted coils, my MGB has a 12V (-earth) electrical system and a 6V coil with resistor and a starting bypass.

I assume the Savage to be a 12V coil, don't see why they should complicate themselves with a ballasted coil...

I'll lookup the website you suggested.

By the way, do you know why it is that in the old days topping 100mph was called "doing the ton" ?

Because in the 1930's bikes powerful enough to reach such speeds had a speedo needle that would, literally, go full circle.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_206TETOgLd0/TC7W89P9tNI/AAAAAAAAD2c/3rQHsnWTd5Y/s1600/100mph+Bonnikson+speedo-front+view.jpg

8-)