Dyna Ignition is SHIT

[SlowOldGuy]

This should probably go in the vendor section, but WTF.

I've had enough.

This is my THIRD failure of Dyna equipment.  When I first installed it about 6 years ago, a coil failed the day before I was leaving to go to the Boone rally.

Fortunately I had purchased 2 complete systems and had backup coils.  However, because of that failure I never bothered to install the coils/wires/ignition setup on my '93.  I like it when it works, but this is the second ignition box I've had fail in the last 3 months.  This latest one I've only been using for a few months.  Looks like I bought two systems that both have defective parts since the failure mode is the same (chronic loss of cylinders 2 and 3).

They want me to pay an additional $140 to swap the defective unit out for a "new" ignition.  They claim that's their cost.  I'll bet it doesn't cost them $10 to make this piece of shit.  They've been making it for over 20 years and it's not THAT complicated or high tech.

If you're considering buying this crap, I would recommend finding something else.  The first unit had about 5000 miles on it and was installed in a bike that's well cared for and always garaged.  The second unit doesn't even have 500 miles on it.

I'm not happy.

DavidR.

[Harvy]

Wow David - you are not having much luck are you....... mines been going for 3 years now without a problem.....just wondering where you have the brain box installed? I figured it would probably not fare very well if it got hot, so put it in the tail section beside the tool bag - and its also in a neoprene stubby cooler to protect it from any vibration and/or water  intrusion.....maybe that's what is protecting mine from similar failures?


Harvy

[SlowOldGuy]

Harvy,
It's mounted in the stock location (for an '85) under the left side cover next to the battery box.

If it can't survive there, then they have no business selling it.  I'm fairly certain they built a run with marginal components and I was unlucky enough to own 2 since I bought them within a few months of each other.

I'm just a little miffed that they want to charge me $140 as "their cost."  That's just bullshit.

DavidR.

[Harvy]

Yeah David, $140, that's just highway robbery considering the box is cactus.......I've never looked into the box - maybe one of the components has let the smoke out?

Harvy

[racerman_27410]

David ,

Have you checked charging voltage @ high RPM lately?

its probably not a bad idea to also do a resistance check on your ground wires.

those electrons need a path and some regulation dammit!

my original dyna/coils i nstalled in 2000 are stll going strong

KOokaloo!

Frank

[RichBaker]

Wow David - you are not having much luck are you....... mines been going for 3 years now without a problem.....just wondering where you have the brain box installed? I figured it would probably not fare very well if it got hot, so put it in the tail section beside the tool bag - and its also in a neoprene stubby cooler to protect it from any vibration and/or water  intrusion.....maybe that's what is protecting mine from similar failures?


Harvy

Mine's been in for ~3 years, in the tailsection..... Lost Cyl #2 to a bad secondary wire 10 months ago, replaced the wires and all was good again.

ETA: Send the bad box to me, or one of the other electronics guys in here..... We could probably fix it.

[FJ1100mjk]

I have a Dyna 2000 ignition system on my '87 that came with the bike. Once I got it in shape and running, I got one good long 300 mile ride out it before it started acting up. It would go for about five miles, start sputtering, then quit all together. I would let it sit for 15-20 minutes and it would fire up and I could go another five or so miles before I had to repeat the process, and luckily get home. After exhausting everything else that could be causing the problem, I contacted (much easier said than done) Dyna and discussed the problem. I was given the option of sending the whole system in for testing and verifications. When I was getting the bike in shape (it was non-running when I bought it) I thoroughly cleaned all connections, connections, and when I got it running, verified that the charging system was operating properly.

Dyna's service was prompt and I was told that module was in fact bad. They informed me that the system was at least nine years old, and gave me an option of purchasing a new module - at their cost. Stuck, I ponied up the $123 for the module. This was late fall of last year, so I never got it all back together yet. In the meanwhile, I have purchased a complete used OEM ignition system. I bought the OEM system due to the problems that I've seen David have before this post, and a previous statement from Randy saying that he had a number of junk Dyna systems lying around, and didn't hold the Dyna system in high esteem.

I think that I will install the new Dyna module to start with and keep the used OEM system in reserve. Not sure why considering that OEM systems that are nearly 30 years old continue to survive (the OEM one on my '85 is fine), and that even though my Dyna lasted nine years, that's not a stellar life either.

I have considered mounting the Dyna module in the rear tail, but I think that it would be subjected to much more shock in that area than in the position than where it was previously mounted, like David's, where the stock module was at originally.

Marty

[Pat Conlon]

David, sorry amigo....I totally forgot....thanks for the reminder, on it's way.

I -suspect- Frank is on to something. His instincts are usually spot on. It has been hard to pin down exactly when/why my FJ's systems (both bikes) have gone into overcharging mode, but they have. Due to it's location, was it the heat or vibration on the oem regulator causing the intermittent wackiness? Dunno, but it was hard to pin down.
Bite the bullet and do the Transpo voltage regulator mod even though you think you don't need it...
The Transpo is adjustable so you can dial in the charging voltage exactly where you want it and due to it's remote location on the subframe the Transpo is isolated from the engine heat and vibration.

At the very least, if you do get another failure you can rule out overcharging spikes as the cause.  Pat

[edit] also...here is a tip from Jon Cain:

Another thing you can do to extend battery life is to check the voltage at the alternator. Over charging a battery will harn it quickly. The smaller red wire that goes to the alternator supplies the field voltage. If this voltage reads low (it will because it passes through the main switch, and several connections) you will need to clean the switch contacts and connectors. The other fix is to use a relay to supply full battery voltage to the alternator and use the original circut to activate the relay.  My 89 was overcharging it's battery all the time because the reg/rec was always seeing a false low voltage. I have installed a nice Bosh 30 amp relay, a 15 amp blade fuse and some 10 gauge wire and it now works fine.

[andyb]

What's wrong with the stock unit?  They've been proven to last >20 years with good reliability, and you're not using a boosted application with specialty requirements for timing curves and such.

I've always shied away from the dyna stuff because their quality seems to be very hit or miss, and very expensive to boot.

[SlowOldGuy]

What's wrong with the stock unit?  They've been proven to last >20 years with good reliability, and you're not using a boosted application with specialty requirements for timing curves and such.

I've always shied away from the dyna stuff because their quality seems to be very hit or miss, and very expensive to boot.

Andy,
I didn't trust the stock stuff to last so I splurged and wasted a small fortune on Dyna equipment.
I still have the stock stuff, but I really want to get my money's worth out of this Dyna crap. 

Pat and Frank,
I have the RPM/RT regulator installed on the '85 and the voltages are perfect.  I also reworked the alternator feed wire connector under the left side cover.  It was partially melted a few years ago due to a bad connection.  I replaced the 2-wire connector with individual bullet connectors.

I'm also using a power distribution panel and separate grounding block for all electrical accessories.

I'm hoping Dyna simply unknowingly used some bad components around the time I bought my units (it happens all the time with electroincs).  I can understand that.  What grinds on me is their "sell me one at cost" customer service policy.  They sold me crap, it broke through no fault of mine, man-up and replace the shit.

DavidR.

[rktmanfj]

What's wrong with the stock unit?  They've been proven to last >20 years with good reliability, and you're not using a boosted application with specialty requirements for timing curves and such.

I've always shied away from the dyna stuff because their quality seems to be very hit or miss, and very expensive to boot.

Andy,
I didn't trust the stock stuff to last so I splurged and wasted a small fortune on Dyna equipment.
I still have the stock stuff, but I really want to get my money's worth out of this Dyna crap. 

Pat and Frank,
I have the RPM/RT regulator installed on the '85 and the voltages are perfect.  I also reworked the alternator feed wire connector under the left side cover.  It was partially melted a few years ago due to a bad connection.  I replaced the 2-wire connector with individual bullet connectors.

I'm also using a power distribution panel and separate grounding block for all electrical accessories.

I'm hoping Dyna simply unknowingly used some bad components around the time I bought my units (it happens all the time with electroincs).  I can understand that.  What grinds on me is their "sell me one at cost" customer service policy.  They sold me crap, it broke through no fault of mine, man-up and replace the shit.

DavidR.

The only other thing I can think of that might cause this is an intermittent ground somewhere in the system.   

[ddlewis]

The only other thing I can think of that might cause this is an intermittent ground somewhere in the system.   

Probably got it wired up wrong.  post us a picture.

[SlowOldGuy]

Funny Danny,
Where the heck is Dean when I him?  :-)

I think Randy was implying that there is a bad ground somewhere INSIDE the unit, not my wiring.

Possibly a bad solder joint.

DavidR.

[rktmanfj]

Funny Danny,
Where the heck is Dean when I him?  :-)

I think Randy was implying that there is a bad ground somewhere INSIDE the unit, not my wiring.

Possibly a bad solder joint.

DavidR.

Could be a cold solder joint, could be a brittle piece of 25+ year old wiring, who knows?   

A good idea to ohm out some of the grounds, or maybe power the thing up and flex the board/push around some of the components and see what you find.

[Dads_FJ]

Are you using bias-ply tires?  What oil do you use? 

sorry, I can't help myself... good luck, I hope the *newer* one is better, but I'd mount a spare back up unit in the tail section just in case.