Does anyone have a problem with this?

Since the rear is spoken for, I have to relocate the ignition box. I moved it once to behind the shock and it stayed there for 10 years or so. Now that space is taken so I started searching. I had the air box cover off and thought, hmm...it fits perfectly inside the capture cage for the filter. Can it be affected by the coils if too close and if so, any thoughts on how far is good? It's really not that close, it's got the whole length of the air box separating them. Hey, it's the coolest and driest place on the entire bike.

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Won't it get a lot of vibration & oil vapor there?

Can you cut a pocket out of the seat bottom and put it there? Make a little fiberglass "box" to epoxy in, along w/ 2 posts/bolts in the seat combined w/ a rubber band to hold it in place?

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 06 June 2010 - 05:50 PM, said:

Won't it get a lot of vibration & oil vapor there?

Can you cut a pocket out of the seat bottom and put it there? Make a little fiberglass "box" to epoxy in, along w/ 2 posts/bolts in the seat combined w/ a rubber band to hold it in place?



There's a wide metal piece that connects the 2 frame rails under the seat that I don't want to remove. Plus it's right above the exhaust. I don't know how much vibration is in there, certainly easy to make an isolator. My concern was it's proximity to the coils. I know some street fighters have tucked some various items under the tank just not sure about the black box.

[image: View Post]Kel, on 06 June 2010 - 06:14 PM, said:

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 06 June 2010 - 05:50 PM, said:

Won't it get a lot of vibration & oil vapor there?

Can you cut a pocket out of the seat bottom and put it there? Make a little fiberglass "box" to epoxy in, along w/ 2 posts/bolts in the seat combined w/ a rubber band to hold it in place?



There's a wide metal piece that connects the 2 frame rails under the seat that I don't want to remove. Plus it's right above the exhaust. I don't know how much vibration is in there, certainly easy to make an isolator. My concern was it's proximity to the coils. I know some street fighters have tucked some various items under the tank just not sure about the black box.


How about on the back side of where a bump pad would go, inside the rear cowl above the exhaust cans? You could use a little insulation to keep the direct heat away?

I've seen wiring stuffed inside airboxes, yes, but personally I wouldn't trust the longevity of such a fragile old component functioning inside the airbox. :blush:

I think the proximity of the coils would be fine, I just picked up an 83 Nighthawk 650, it has a sparkbox right under where your crotch would be on the seat, and the coils are mounted to the back bone of the frame only 6-8" forward of that.

I think you are far enough away from the coils, and I assume the crankcase breather is no longer connected so oil vapor is probably low. I wouldn't worry about vibration being any worse there than anywhere else, but I would address the higher moisture and make sure you have dielectric greese on the connections. Do you have any extra space where the old headlight was?

[image: View Post]unbalanced, on 06 June 2010 - 08:33 PM, said:

I think you are far enough away from the coils, and I assume the crankcase breather is no longer connected so oil vapor is probably low. I wouldn't worry about vibration being any worse there than anywhere else, but I would address the higher moisture and make sure you have dielectric greese on the connections. Do you have any extra space where the old headlight was?


I'm more worried about the board and stuff inside the box corroding, than I am about the (comparatively) large connector.

[image: View Post]unbalanced, on 06 June 2010 - 08:33 PM, said:

I think you are far enough away from the coils, and I assume the crankcase breather is no longer connected so oil vapor is probably low. I wouldn't worry about vibration being any worse there than anywhere else, but I would address the higher moisture and make sure you have dielectric greese on the connections. Do you have any extra space where the old headlight was?


Curious as why there would be HIGHER moisture. Both snorkels are gone, it's not sealed, air is being sucked into the filter, more moisture than ambient air?

I'll take a peek in the headlight area. Don't want to extend the harness if I don't have to but there is room in there. The plugs for the box end right at the intake to the air box so it just seemed like as good a place as any.

waht about an errant backfire through the airbox?

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 06 June 2010 - 11:35 PM, said:

waht about an errant backfire through the airbox?

:+1:

http://www.vfrdiscus...885#entry706885

[image: View Post]Kel, on 06 June 2010 - 10:08 PM, said:

Curious as why there would be HIGHER moisture.


Condensation from cooling down after a ride, and/or from starting up on cooler mornings.

After much intense thought, I don't see any problem with that location. Constant airflow while running will keep the area cool and won't heat soak any more than any other area directly above the engine. You may want to check it for temperature once everything is back together and running and also for any excessive oil vapor or moisture. ECU location almost always seems to be a compromise one way or 'nuther so it's never gonna be perfect.

It may cut down on power a bit since airbox volume will be smaller. From what I hear, that's one of the differences between the babyceptor and the babymagna, and a reason for the slightly lower power of the Magna. I know you don't have the 500, but it might still affect it. On second thought, is that even part of the airbox?

[image: View Post]InterFester, on 07 June 2010 - 02:30 PM, said:

After much intense thought, I don't see any problem with that location. Constant airflow while running will keep the area cool and won't heat soak any more than any other area directly above the engine. You may want to check it for temperature once everything is back together and running and also for any excessive oil vapor or moisture. ECU location almost always seems to be a compromise one way or 'nuther so it's never gonna be perfect.


How about the corrosive effect of the oil and gasoline vapors? Kel, you've had your bike 25 years, I assume you're not getting rid of it any time soon. Unless you have a spare, good working back up spark box, I really think you should find a new spot for it. In the end though, it's not my bike...

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 08 June 2010 - 05:22 AM, said:

[image: View Post]InterFester, on 07 June 2010 - 02:30 PM, said:

After much intense thought, I don't see any problem with that location. Constant airflow while running will keep the area cool and won't heat soak any more than any other area directly above the engine. You may want to check it for temperature once everything is back together and running and also for any excessive oil vapor or moisture. ECU location almost always seems to be a compromise one way or 'nuther so it's never gonna be perfect.


How about the corrosive effect of the oil and gasoline vapors? Kel, you've had your bike 25 years, I assume you're not getting rid of it any time soon. Unless you have a spare, good working back up spark box, I really think you should find a new spot for it. In the end though, it's not my bike...


Those are all good points to consider. I'm trying to remember if I've ever found anything electrical that corroded in an airbox over the years but can't recall any. Don't remember there being any on the airfilter or metal plates and doo-dads etc. I'd think the fuel vapor would be a bigger issue than the oil, it might act like a preservative to a point. If you try it, definitely keep an eye on it for any issues.

Of course I'm talking about a race bike here but HRC ran the ECU on its RC51 factory bikes mounted right up next to the engine on the lower left side very close to the stator. The 6gen runs it in the upper fairing. The Speed triple sticks it just above the rear shock mount somewhat out in the open. Point being, I don't think it really matters all that much.

I think that is a good place if you could hook it down some how and tie down the wires so not to rub on anything. There will be a lot of heat there if you ride stop and ride stop. I have had my carbs over heat after a hot ride and stop, would not start until I held the throttle wide open and cranked. Won't it be a pain to service the air filter?

Stephen

Maybe I have a fluke box but the thing is totally sealed. It has a long rubber grommet tightly wrapped around the wires and the box itself has a rubber sleeve that covers 4/5ths of it. The connectors are not inside of the air box, which to me, would be the weak link. It sits so perfectly in the clip that holds the filter in that I don't even have to figure out how to secure it. I haven't really decided where it will finally end up. There are a few places still to explore. I really was just wondering if the coils would have any affect on it.

I was thinking that the connector would be the area of concern for corrosion in the long term, with a difference in temperature from the engine to outside air within the air box. If the connectors are external to the box you should be good. The box itself should be fine, I am sure it was designed to meet high humidty and temp - and most are 'potted' for vibration. I say leave it and see what happens, use the plan B location only if you have too.

Everyone should use some corrosion preventive compound on all connections. I use Trucklite NYN-77.

Stephen