Engine swap

motorhead13

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I've got a 250 bobber which I'm putting a 400 engine and carbs in. Does anyone know if I need to swap/upgrade anything electrical also such coils?

Thanks
 
Depends on the years. Biggest issue would be putting in a bike with electronic ignition if your 250 had points ignition.
If they are both points engines then you are probably fine.
Coils should be the same.
Stator wires should all match up.
 
That's great, thanks for that.
Yes I think they're both points so should be ok as you've said. If it didn't have points what would it have instead?

Cheers
 
I've finally had a chance to look at the bikes and they are different under the points cover.
The current 250 engine has points (the 1st pic)
The 400 engine I want to put in has this green board connection (2nd pic)
But in the box of parts that came with the 400 was these set of points (3rd pic)
Does anyone know what the set up in the 2nd pic is as I don't really know about points etc? And could I take the points off of the 250 engine and put them on instead of what's currently on the 400 as it seems it did have points on it at one stage?

Cheers, any help is appreciated as I'm not familiar with this side of things.
 

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Thanks for the reply.
I read some of the info but doesn't mean a lot to me unfortunately. Would the engine have had points on it originally so I could just put them back on, possibly using the ones from the other engine?
 
It's an upgrade over the points.
Hopefully it works.
Instructions on xs400ignition.com
Probably need to add a couple wires but it'd be worth it.
 
Missed your reply while typing.
It would have had points originally. Should still have the mechanical advanced underneath.
But try it out first. It will run much better and reliably with a pamco.
 
Thanks for that.
The new ignition has 2 wires per connection (4 in total) where as the points only had 2 in total. So if I keep the new ignition could I connect it to the coils as it was with the points as long as I change the connectors on the new ignition to fit the connectors on the coils? Or would I have to change other parts to?
 
Yeah. Green wires to the coils with whatever connector you want to use.
Both red wires tap power from the common power that feeds both coils. Again whatever connection type you prefer.
Black wires to a solid ground.
 
Ive been on the hunt for a mechanical Pamco.. Seems Pamco Pete is out of production with XS400 stuff?? He never got back to be about repairing my Pamco with the E-advance.. Im looking at ignition stuff for Honda CBs, Im thinking I can get a Charlies Place ignition and retrofit it onto the old Pamco.. Ideas are still being spitba;l

The Pamco is better than points and you will want to take care of it.
 
Thanks BBS360.
Excuse my lack of knowledge but would I connect each set of green and red wires from the ignition to a single connector and connect it to the wire from the coils? Or does each green and red wire need to have a separate connector and what would they connect to (one to the coil I assume)?
Also what is the black wire attached to as there's not one on the ignition, is that from the coils?

Cheers
 
Thanks BBS360.
Excuse my lack of knowledge but would I connect each set of green and red wires from the ignition to a single connector and connect it to the wire from the coils? Or does each green and red wire need to have a separate connector and what would they connect to (one to the coil I assume)?
Also what is the black wire attached to as there's not one on the ignition, is that from the coils?

Cheers

Each wire goes to one coil. And the black is a ground.

I have the same unit you have as it was on a bike I picked up. I will see if I can look tonight and see how I hooked it up as I rewired the bike with a custom harness.
 
Thanks for the replies.
This is what is currently set up on the bike having points. The wires coming in from the left hand side on the wires from the points. From what I've seen and read I'm getting some idea of what should go where, but need to learn what each wire actually does so will keep trying.
 

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