C5 ignition system --update after installation

[wilcoy02]

C5 ignition installed on Honda Goldwing gl1100

I had no idea what the C5 was when I first heard about it. All I heard was I would not need another set of coils for my ride. I had gone through 3 or 4 sets of 30 plus year old coils in the last two years. I could not get OEM coils from Honda for a bike this old. I thought the price was a little high until I realized that with this kit I got new coils, spark plug wires, mounting system, and a neat spinning wheel with a strobe light.

I was not thrilled when I received the package and realized I had to pull my engine out of the frame to install this in my GL1100. I had purchased this system and had it in my hand-so I proceeded to pull my engine out and performed this simple process of installing the spinning wheel and strobe light in the engine. I did some maintence to the engine while it was out and painted it.

I placed the coils where the old coils had been located with the easy brackets that came with this system. I ran the new spark plug wires. I wanted to make sure I had them placed correctly so I called Paul on the phone and he talked me through the last wire. He laughed when I asked if he wanted to hear my engine run over the phone.

I turned the key on and hit the start button. It started right up the very first time.

Now that I have been riding with this system for 3 months from 95 degree heat to 18 degree cold I have found the following:

It has not improved my gas milage.
It does start as soon as I hit the start button.
In any gear it is ready to pull me ahead real fast. There is no more putt putt -- -it is ZOOM ZOOM at any speed.
I can pass a vehicle and know I have the power to get around it fast.

In the heat of the summer it starts right up with no choke.
In the cold it starts right up with the choke.

I do no understand the technical aspects of such things and I have not realized what the different curves can do for me but with the way it was set up I am very happy it is on my bike.

I am glad I made the decision to have purchased this for my bike.

Now I am going for a sunny ride to try out this ignition and my heated gear.

 

[slabghost]

Too cold and slick for me. Great report and nice pics.

 

[Ansimp]

Great to hear of the success of your new ignition :good:

 

[dan filipi]

Great report.

I''ve driven on snow plenty but never riden.
I'm too chicken to try.

 

[joedrum]

well the c5 surely produces what it claims.....this is surely the best oldwing after market product ever offered .....puts the oldwing in the same class as any new bike ignition out there ....

thanks goes out to gary and paul of powerarc and c5 for this superb Wisconsin bred product

seems what most figured was a bad bad spot about the c5 proves to me to be its strongest asset...most ignitions you vacume to tell what your hand is doing in the throttle position and reacts to that ..meaning it goes somewhere to the vacume inspired sweet spot ...this is no advantage at all to me ....c5 lacking this feature thank GOD is always in the right spot as advance curve is set ...this is much better system as involves ignition advance with absolutely no movement to get it .....and no lag time what so ever ....it cant be late if it don't move to get there ...it is always in the lets go position so that's what it dose .....

the two biggedst flaws in the oldwing system is the built in lag time of the Honda ignition and the carb system too ...the effect of the old stock system is it always labored to take off and runs poorly at low rpm ... the c5 takes this condition totally off the table in the ignition ...

im very pleased to have been part of your decision to purchase this c5 system ...sheesh the bike looks nice wes and you sure look happy to be the owner

 

[tuna boy]

I see the pic of the snow and you on your scooter. Gotta ask, do your crash bars get a work out on snowy days. I have ridden dirt bikes on snow and ice but never a bike that big.

 

[wilcoy02]

The only time my crash bars get a workout is when I forget to put the kickstand down at the gas pump.
I only ride when there is no snow or ice or salt on the roads.

My drive is the hardest part of riding in the winter.

 

[joedrum]

mine too LOL

 

[brianinpa]

Great to know Wes!

Hey, when there is snow on the ground, put on a tire with more aggressive tread and let er eat!

 

[chilidawg]

Yes, this is an old thread! But......

I am very interested as to the reason why?? The author had to pull his engine to install this ignition system!

 

[dan filipi]

Nothing wrong with reviving old threads....

Wilcoy installed the 1100 C5 KIT which replaces the rear ignition.
It's an engine or swingarm out job to do it.

 

[brianinpa]

Chilidawg I am choosing to pull my motor because there are several things I want to do to the bike while I am installing the C5: timing belts, clutch, polish aluminum, replace some leaking gaskets/seals, and clean/paint the engine because of those leaking seals/gaskets. Sure I could do most of this with the motor in the bike and just install the C5 by pulling the swingarm, but for me it just makes sense to pull the motor. Besides, it's easy to do.

 

[chilidawg]

I ere to your greater knowledge of this subject than I, but I still have questions.

Why does the old ignition system have to be removed before the new one is installed in a completely different place on the motor? It's electrical, can it not just be disconnected?

Is it due to the vacuum advance and having to replace it with something else?

I'm fixing to put mine, if I do it, on the '75 cam extension on the left head, I really don't know, I'm just asking questions.

 

[slabghost]

chilidawg » Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:44 pm[/url]":2ell22c6]
I ere to your greater knowledge of this subject than I, but I still have questions.

Why does the old ignition system have to be removed before the new one is installed in a completely different place on the motor? It's electrical, can it not just be disconnected?

Is it due to the vacuum advance and having to replace it with something else?

I'm fixing to put mine, if I do it, on the '75 cam extension on the left head, I really don't know, I'm just asking questions.

It doesn't. You can just disconnect it if you are installing on the head. Wilcoy put the C5 in place of the 1100 ignition. So old ignition out and new in the same place.

 

[wilcoy02]

Thanks slabghost-- I was wondering what I did.

It really was worth the cost and work to get it in. I have not regretted it.

 

[chilidawg]

Thank you Wilcoy for joining this discussion.

Thank you slabghost for clearing that up, but I still have a question.

What about the necessary ignition advance at higher rpm? where does that go with the C5??

Questions? Questions?? Questions???

 

[slabghost]

C5 does not need any external advance. Mechanical or vacuum. Advance is programmed into it. It opens a lot of options by being programmable .

 

[dan filipi]

chilidawg » Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:04 pm[/url]":205hza09]
Thank you Wilcoy for joining this discussion.

Thank you slabghost for clearing that up, but I still have a question.

What about the necessary ignition advance at higher rpm? where does that go with the C5??

Questions? Questions?? Questions???

I thought you might be interested we have posted the installation manuals and advance curves in the gallery Here.
I haven't posted the 1100 instructions yet but the basics are the same.

 

[chilidawg]

Questions asked and answered.

Thank you very much gentlemen! :clapping: :Egyptian: :builder:

 

[C5Performance]

chilidawg » Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:44 pm[/url]":353j20ga]
I ere to your greater knowledge of this subject than I, but I still have questions.

Why does the old ignition system have to be removed before the new one is installed in a completely different place on the motor? It's electrical, can it not just be disconnected?

Is it due to the vacuum advance and having to replace it with something else?

I'm fixing to put mine, if I do it, on the '75 cam extension on the left head, I really don't know, I'm just asking questions.

Personally I like the head/cam mount since you could adjust or repair if needed by removing two screws and pulling off the cover. I also understand and appreciate why there is a desire to keep it in the stock location. I guess it depends on you. First, do you have the skills to pull the swingarm back far enough to do the job, second, do you plan on playing with custom timing curves? (many guys think they will be only 2-3 of our customers ever have).

The C5 never uses vacuum or mechanical advancers. They do not react quick enough and usually do not function properly. It would be like putting over sized high performance brake rotors on your car and keeping the tiny little junky calipers.