Motorcycle Distributors

In order to make the combustion process run properly inside your engine, an air-fuel mixture must be ignited at the correct time within the correct cylinder. Keeping this under control is the job of your motorcycle ignition system. It generates, distributes and delivers high current created in the ignition coil to the right spark plug at the right moment of time. The latter is extremely important since a spark must occur when the air-fuel mixture is fully compressed and the piston is in its top dead center. Otherwise, your engine will be running rough, which may not only reduce its performance and fuel efficiency but also damage its components.

There are two basic types of motorcycle ignition systems, including old-school distributors, which are often called contact points, and electronic systems. The first type has been around for many decades and can be found in just about any classic or vintage motorcycle. Such ignition systems rely on mechanical parts to create high current at the required time and deliver it to the correct spark plug. A typical motorcycle distributor consists of mechanical contact points, a rotating cam, condenser, distributor cap, and some other components. All the parts do its piece of job to ensure proper functioning of the ignition system.

The further evolution of the motorcycle ignition system led to the creation of distributors that were equipped with an armature instead of contact break points. When the tooth of the armature passes, the pickup coil sends a signal to the ignition module to supply power to the primary circuit of the ignition coil. The latter causes an extremely high voltage in the secondary circuit of the ignition coil, which is then delivered to the right spark plug. The absence of points that had a life expectancy of around 10,000 or 12,000 miles and then needed to be replaced allowed to extend the service intervals of the ignition system.