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I installed an HPI and it was great until the rotor magnet cracked/separated.  I installed the VAPE ignition and my bike runs more smoothly in my opinion. I did a 450 miles early this year in the california desert on route 66 with no issues.  since I installed the VAPE, the plugs burn more evenly than with the HPI.  the best part is that you can run without a battery on both systems and the spark energy is pretty high.  With points ignition I was always chasing issues.  I once had the right side points intermittently shorting to ground and causing either plug fouling or missing and backfiring.  with any of these modern ignition systems these problems are now a thing of the past. 

You guys have all the cool stuff 

Thats wild.  I didn't know that was possible.  So this means the gear itself was worn therefore the oil made it's way into the combustion chamber regardless of the condition of the crankseal itself?

You are doing a great job Marc.  thanks for handling these types of issues

I know you a talking about vape but my HPI ignition failed on me and I found out the rotor magnet was cracked.  This was a no spark condition on both not one side.  Could it be spark leakage on the side that is failing?  If you start it up in a darkened room can you see the spark arc to ground?

Yea I got the 2nd ones(SUDCO) and they definitely improved performance overall. I was able to find a pair of PWK30 mm for about 50 dollars.  Sudco is gone now so there may be alot of those floating around ebay.  when I initially purchased them they sent me 3" exhaust flex hose instead.  It took them about a month to get that all straightened out...

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  Just a heads up I found a bolt on frame solution.  a company called baxter cycles sell some for old triumphs and nortons.  I got the one for the 1" down tube.  I went on no problem but I feel I need to grind down some as the workmanship is borderline.  For now this will do.  I will post pictures soon

thx

Hello

I have a broken kickstand mount that has been re-welded several times.  The finally tab broke off completely and I would like to re-weld forward on the bottom frame tube since I have spec 2 chambers.  Have you guys used aftermarket kickstand tabs or used the stock one and just relocated? 

thanks for the help

Would I do it again? Probably not.  It was too uncomfortable after about 80-100 miles I was done.  We went an extra 30 miles out of the way being lost.  The first day/evening was tough for us 50 somethings about 130 miles. 

In a way, I was lucky for the HPI to fail earlier this month.  If it would have failed out in the Mojave on Route 66 then that would have ended the whole trip. 

Again thanks to the technical knowledge of this forum and especially Marc posting how to's and John from economy cycle for help with installation information.

This trip really helped get my mind aligned since I'm going thru divorce right now it has been the hardest things in life I am going thru.  I'm sure some of you can relate.  What better way is to test your resilience.

I will post some photos of my trip soon.

Well guys just got back from a ride to the mojave desert with friends on the RD.  First major stop was Ludlow where I had to get gas, then to barstow.  We had to get to amboy before dark but that didn't happen.  We got lost as we were searching for the trilobite wilderness area up in the mountains.  I was really scared as it was pitch black with only our headlights guiding us with no cell reception running low on fuel.  It was so cold around 30 degrees we started to get fatigued.  I had just installed the Vape ignition but there was hardly any seat time maybe 3 miles. I was thinking what if the rotor slipped out here and fucked up the motor.  Had to get that out my mind as I had followed directions for installation from this great forum. 

The bike ran flawless with no issues.  I was the only bike without issues as a matter fact.  My bud had problems with his new BMW adventure bike with the electronics freaking him out.  the motoguzzi had headlight issues that I fixed temporarily.  The 82 BMW had issues starting in the cold.  The RD just kept going no matter what weather, road condition or obstacle that got in it's way.  It was exposed to dirt, sand, water and cold/hot weather.  And btw, I had like 40 extra pounds of stuff strapped to the back with clothes, tools, water, food, extra 2 stroke oil...

the best part was when getting back to the lake hughes area I surprised my friend on his ADV bike on the twisties as he couldn't lose me at all.  It done everything his could do on the turns if not better.  It was a great time with great friends.  about 430 miles total!

thanks John.  that clarifies alot.

Hello,

I have successfully installed the vape ignition system on my 73 rd350 as my HPI failed on me.  The rotor magnet cracked and destroyed the pulser coils. 

My question is that I unfortunately used one of those plastic/rubber strap wrenches to hold the rotor in place as I torqued down the bolt to about 17 in/pounds.  I followed the instructions but I  missed the part on not using these types of tools for installation.  The bike runs great again and there's no signs of it running poorly as I took it on a 10 mile shake down no issues.  would these plastic type strap wrenches still damage the rotor in this case?  thanks everybody

Hello,

Just wanted give a heads up that my HPI failed me after about 5 years of service.  I removed the rotor and noticed a hairline crack on the magnet and a possibility that it moved as I see wear marks on the magnet surface.  The bonding may have failed or the crack in the magnet caused it to move as it is not once piece anymore.  Not sure, but whats strange is that as I spin the rotor kicking it over there's no spark or volts coming out of the lighting coils.  I have bare minimum wiring not running a battery just headlight and tail light both LEDS. I can't imagine both stator lighting and pulser coils both going out at the same time.  The rotor would be common to both coils for it to produce voltage to fire the ignition and energize the LED lights. 

Anyway, treatland does not have stock on a new rotor or HPI system.  I went ahead and ordered a vape as I wanted to go back to a 12Vdc electrical system anyway 800; dollars later...merry xmas to me!

I was in awe when I bought my aluminum rims for my rd350 couldn't stop looking at them.  reminded me when I laced up my old BMX in the 80s when I was able to afford good hubs and aluminum rims; great feeling indeed.  Jumped off the loading dock at the city college trying to impress some girls and totally bent the back rim and ate shit and of course they all laughed at me  bad feeling indeed.

Hello,

Friends and I are planning a trip down route 66 to somewhere in the desert.  I would approximate like 300 miles.  I know this is a silly question but what would you guys recommend as general maintenance checks in preparation.  My bike has been rock solid for 3 years since the rebuild.  Current set up:

RD350
ebay cylinders stock bore and porting with Vitos crank and new pro x pistons and rings
30mm flat slide Keihins 140 mains,35 pilots middle clip, one turn out
Spec 2 classic expansion chambers
Shinko tires front and rear alot tread left
Excel aluminum wheels with stainless steel spokes built about 3 years ago
HPI ignition with no battery running LEDS front and rear.
New fork seals with new fork oil running race tech springs
Hagon shocks about 5 years old
Jspooner rear sets

thanks,
Neal