Flamethrowers!
This movie thanks to
http://www.Hotrodsetc.net click to download, mpg format 232KB
Rationale
Just because it's COOL.
The way this system works, it uses a 3-pole normally off pushbutton that breaks the circuit powering the engine coils, while making the circuit to the two coils powering the plugs in each exhaust, using a digital circuit in the Hot Box to emulate points. This of course results in the gas-air mixture passing out to the exhaust unburned, where the Flamethrower plugs act as igniters yielding a mostly blue with some yellow flame several feet behind the bike - really visible at night. Simultaneously it powers a buzzer which you will never hear.
So if you activate it while engine braking, you will have flames for quite a while. Just revving the engine, it's under a second as the engine spins down unpowered from the speed you hit the button.
Bear in mind this is probably illegal in your state. Do this at your own peril! Keep a fire extinguisher on board, and be sure you don't have a fuel leak, that could get nasty. Certainly be discrete, don't hit the button right in front of a cop!
WARNING!!! If you do this you may color chrome stacks! This is also bad for your engine as the cylinders get washed down with unburned gas, removing the oil and causing your cylinders to wear faster. In fact when I realized this I removed the system immediately.
Cost
Cost me $136.50
Time
several hours if you take your time
Materials
Flamethrower kit from
http://www.Hotrodsetc.net - $80 + shipping
8 ft spark plug wire
spool of 16 GA wire
2 right angle spark plug boots
2 coil boots
2 12 v. coils
coil power & ground connector clips
bunch of wire ties (these plus Velcro hold my bike together!)
2 long-reach spark plugs
electrical tape
heat shrink tubing for 16 & 8 GA wire
wire solder, flux
female spade connectors, wire-to-screw connectors
Tools
1/2" capacity (or bigger) drill with assorted bits to 1/2", I use titanium
center punch and hammer
air die grinder with 9/16" carbide burr, or Dremel with rotary file or several steel cutting stones, or round mill son of woof file
Carpenter's square and spirit level
fine point felt marker
1/4" drive metric socket set
metric allen head wrench set
phillips screwdriver
dial caliper
soldering gun
heat gun
spark plug wrench
needle nose pliers
side wire cutter
wire stripper
bike lift (optional)
MIG wire welder with stainless wire & argon mix gas
Process
Hotrodsetc provides instructions that work OK for a simple car installation. However it doesn't cover how to connect to a 3-coil platform. No problem, got that covered here. Here's their diagram, modified:
Basically, if you have the kit, you have their instructions. Just follow them with the following Valk specific changes:
You'll need to remove the tank to run the wires on the frame. Be sure you unscrew the phillips screw inside the petcock handle and pull it off. Run 2 16GA wires from your forward bushbutton switch mount location, along the frame. Also run the blue wire from the Hot Box location to the switch. Secure them with wire ties and pull them snug so they can't move and get pinched.
Notice I have done LOTS of electrical mods, but never have a problem with reliability since I solder all connections, use heat shrink tubing everywhere possible, and route carefully using plenty of wire ties, always with an eye to avoiding tight radius flexing and moving parts contacting the wires.
Remove the left side cover. Remove the coolant reservoir tank. The electronic ignition module is behind it. Pull it off it's holder and slit the loom under it enough to isolate the black/white wire. Cut this wire, and connect the 16GA wires you ran from the switch, to each cut end. These wires to the ICM replace the wires to the ignition switch in the factory diagram. I already had the tank back on when I took this pic.
Be sure to use a meter or test light, and connect the hot lead from the ICM to the pushbutton switch where the instructions indicate to connect the wire from the ignition switch. Connect the other of these two wires to the terminal on the switch indicated in the instructions "to ballast or HEI". The third terminal on the switch is to the blue wire on the hot box.
Be careful on reinstalling the tank, that you don't pinch the vacuum line.
Locating the spark plugs: The instructions say 10 inches from the end. Won't work if you have Mild2WILD glasspacks with 36" stacks. Too far forward, out of the exhaust flow. I put them at 5" and it works fine. However the plugs are more visible than I like, from the back. I used the carpenter's square to locate a vertical line 5" forward, then the spirit level to locate the tangent to the curve at vertical. Of course my bike was vertical, on a lift. I'm sure there are other ways but this was expedient and accurate enough. I drilled the holes using a center punch, 1/4" pilot hole, 1/2" bit, then reamed it larger using the die grinder with carbide burr. I opened it so the round part of the spark plug mounts they provide just fit snugly in the holes, then held it there with my thumb in a welding glove while I tack welded it. I used stainless wire with argon silver shield gas to get a good weld that won't rust. I only welded it on opposite sides, avoiding heat buildup coloring the chrome. It's plenty strong.
I went ahead and used the braces for my LeatherLykes, to secure the sparkplug wires, and passed them behind the 416 shocks. The wires are mostly hidden behind the LeatherLykes.
I put the coils behind the battery, and the Hot Box on top of it (the yellow labelled box under the microwave sensor for my Thunderpage alarm). Notice I have NO room left for more mods.
I located the button on some extra space on the chrome plate I made for my cupholder. Looks pretty good, though I'll probably hide the switch under a piece of chrome.
Well it works. Looks really cool. I had lunch today at The Stagecoach. While I was sucking down a Honey Brown with my fish & chips, a Harley rider came by, was waiting to meet somebody, walked around Black Beauty and spotted the plugs - had to call his SO over & point it out. Betcha he was just ITCHIN to come inside and ask me to fire it up, but his Harley pride got in the way!
Man, I'm gonna have fun with this!
