Mallory A577 distributer

[sparkyframe]

I just installed this unit into a '69 XL, along with a 3.4 ohm HD coil (mallory says 2-4) Installed junk carbon core plug wires like Mallory says to do. Found TDC, set the SOB up with the sensor right down the center of the 11 window like they say to do, start kicking, get some flames out of the carb, a few snorts, and it kicks me over the handlebars. Thats worse than the magneto!! So I put a timing light along with a spark plug checker on the front cylinder, at this point the plugs are in the heads only so I can feel compression to find TDC. As find TDC and position for the starting kick, a spark shows up?? This is what throws me over handlebars. Retard the timing by rotation the 577 over and over a little at a time until I am lagging by 90 degrees, and still get the TDC spark. At one point I had stepped away from the bike with it about at TDC and the prick was charging and sparking over and over again, about every 3 seconds. Mallory does not specify a coil, other than that it falls into 2-4 ohm, and of course they push their super coils.

Help?

[sparkyframe]

I found a hairline crack in the case of the magneto coil after a bunch of cussin. Found a new coil, still no fire. Leg is getting weak. MALLORY WAS OFF TODAY, YES THE WHOLE COMPANY HAD A PICNIC PARTY TODAY no tech support, less and less impressed with them by the day. Hopefully that will all change if things work out.

[springer-]

I sent you a PM

[springer-]

I found a picture of a waveform from an ignition firing.  It shows some of the stuff I was explaining on the phone.

[sparkyframe]

Canned the Mallory, went back to magneto, runs pretty good aside from some carb issues. Distributer and 21st century will have to wait for technical support and I'm sure some scrapping with Mallory/Accel/Mr gasket and whoever they bought today.

[Johnnyshvlhd]

I installed a mallory unit on my 57 pan (with shovelheads) a few years ago and was never happy with it. It seemed to be harder to start than when I had the stock circuit breaker and points ( i did have a later style mech advance on it before the mallory.) Good luck, would like to see how it works out for you.