Ignition Advancer

[seb421]

has any one tried or fitted one?

just been looking at one by factory pro on ebay

will other things have to be adjusted if one is fitted? like fueling etc.

from the advert

"Hi, you're bidding on a brand new, never been fitted Factory Pro Ignition iming Advancer PLUS a replacement clutch cover gasket to fit all VTR Firestorm models from 1997 to 2004.
This easy to fit mod advances the timing by 4 degrees and instantly adds 3-5 BHP and also gives a crisper throttle response according to the manufacturers."

[Pete.L]

Yep!
Been there, done that, wouldn't bother with it again.
Not enough gains for the effort in my opinion. Yes it does feel crisper, no you don't need to run on super to make it work and after 30K miles on my Storm I never had any ill effects to the moter (well not from that ). If you want to feel like you've added another 20bhp change the sprockets. £20 for a larger rear (+2 teeth). 20 min job and well worth it.

Pete.l

[tony.mon]

Got one fitted, yes, it feels crisper, exhaust note barks a bit more, too, but unless you're into the clutch side already it's a fair bit of work to get to it.

On the other hand, actually fitting it is simple, one nut, off with the old part, on with the new, no setting up or anything.

For my money, probably worth it; when you've only got around 100bhp every little extra helps....
And with cans and a carb kit fitted at the same time you'll certainly notice a power hike, and more torque coming off tickover.

[seb421]

ive got the dynojet kit which i will get fitted in the next month or two.

was wondering with the ignition advancer will it cause the bike to run hot? or does it degrade the engine in any way?

surley honda would have made it fire at +4 if its better all round?

[tony.mon]

Seems that Honda have to make engines that'll run on any old grade of petrol.
We're fairly lucky on the UK, we don't get much old or adulterated stuff compared to some markets around the world.
So we can run engines in a higher state of tune, and a +4 advance works fine. If you're heading off the Africa or South America you might have to be a bit more careful, though!

I've not noticed any increase in engine temp, and no damage to seats or valves.

Won't hurt to do a plug chop so you can read the plug temps after fitting, though.

[seb421]

sorry if this makes me sound thick, but whats a plug chop mate?

[tony.mon]

It's for old folks!
Ride in the mid-range, engine pulling in gear but not on full chat, then kill switch and whip the clutch in.
Coast to a stop, and when you take the plugs out you can read from the plug colour how rich or lean it's running under those conditions.

Every Haynes manual has a page of plug colours you can refer to.

It's a pretty coarse sort of a check, and to be frank it's probably only worth it with bikes where you can see the plugs, but in the olden days (before Dyno's) it's the best we had. I learnt how to do this with highly-tuned little 250's back in the seventies, when men were (etc- continue until bored, oh, already?)

Seems to me that despite what I said I'd be much more tempted to put it on a dyno after the jet kit's in so that they can set it up perfectly- saves an awful lot of trying a different jet or needle position and then trying another one to see what it feels like.

[seb421]

that big place in blackburn , rocket centre they have a special dyno area, would they fit the jet kit for me? says it requires some drilling!

[tony.mon]

Fairly sure they'll do it for you. Most tuning centres do this all day.

The Dynojet kit needs holes drilling in the carb slides, they supply a template for this, and it isn't that hard.
Alternatively buy a Factory Pro kit, their kit doesn't need the slides drilling.

Drilling holes just changes the carb vacuum a little, and lets the carb react to a big handful more quickly. Or is it more slowly? Thinking about it, the holes should reduce the vacuum a bit, and therefore the slide should be pulled up a bit slower.... Anyone any ideas?

And while we're there, will this affect the vacuum for carb gauges or scotoilers?

[seb421]

are the Factory Pro Kit's better than the Dynojet?

keep toying with the idea now of gettin the ignition advancer and a k&N fitted and the Blue Flames on then getting it Jetted with the jetkit

[seb421]

also tony mods like Dynojet Kit, and ignition adavancer etc

am i lieing when i tell the insurance that the bike is not modified if i dont decalare these?

[tony.mon]

Dynojet vs. Factory pro? (apparently you can get an Ivan's kit, too).

You pays your money a takes your choice.
Dyno are more popular, easier to get, but google Factory Pro's site in the US and see what they say......
The man has a point to prove, methinks.

I can't see much performance difference between the two, but then I've not seen a back-to-back comparison either- so we'll probably never know which one's more effective.

But overall I'd say there wasn't going to be much in it.

As to the other mods I've made, well, I like playing, but can only report that when I was out with a bunch of other, mostly standard Storms last year mine didn't exactly leave them all standing. So claims of ten or twenty more BHP are unlikely, until you start spending big bucks on high-comp pistons, cams etc, or a big-bore kit or turbo- much easier to just buy an SP1 or 2.

But if you like to play, and can either pay someone to do it or don't mind getting greasy the sky's the limit, eh, Mikstr?

Probably most people would be better off making sure that the engine's valve clearances are within tolerance, balancing the carbs and then replacing the rear shock, maybe getting the forks Rogered.

That'd where I started spending, but everyone's entitled to a view..... otherwise all Storms would end up the same!

Why not meet up with a few people and ride each other's?
That way you'll know what suits your riding style.

[mik_str]

I discussed this matter (FP advancer) with Roger D and was told not to use it. He stated that it offers very little in the way of improvement while making the engine run hotter. Needless to say, I followed Roger`s advice and did not buy one.