The stock Indian points-and-cam setup is not all that accurate. It is not unusual to find timing more than 5 degrees different on front/rear cylinders on Indians that "run well" (to speak nothing of timing with really worn points cams). With the IPE Electronic Ignition timing is the same on both cylinders (as it should be), and there is a noticeable improvement in easy starting and smooth running. And you don't have to perform routine timing checks and adjustments like with points. Oh, yeah, the IPE Electronic Ignition is also waterproof (even functioning fully submerged), which might be of interest to those of us having been left temporarily stranded in the rain by a distributor full of wet points.

If for some reason you have to, adjustment is simple: 1) Turn the engine until the correct flywheel timing mark comes up in the timing hole. 2) Switch on ignition, advance fully (handlebar grip), loosen distributor clamp and twist the distributor until the timing LED comes on, tighten clamp and you're done. Complete fitting  instructions below.

The complete Electronic Ignition kit, P/N ELIGN1, costs EUR250.00 (EU), EUR200.00 (World) + shipping (email for postage/shipping costs). Payment by bank transfer or PayPal. More info on the Mail Order Info page.

Warranty: If your IPE Electronic Ignition should ever malfunction under normal conditions within a year from the purchase date, return it and I will send you another free of charge. If that also fails, the problem lies elsewhere. 

Every kit is tested before being sent out and they are extremely reliable under normal conditions. Basically the only things that will kill them are bad coils, reversed polarity and high voltage spikes. So make sure (see instructions below) that the resistance between terminals on your coil is 2 Ohms for a 6V coil, and 3 Ohms for a 12V coil, and watch your + and - if you mess around with the wiring. Finally, be aware that a badly regulated DC generator is poison for any electronic ignition (talk to Indian Frank Vandevelde at indianfrank@yahoo.com about any Autolite problems you may have - Hi, Frank!). If you blow up your ignition in any of these ways, be honest about it and don't try for a free replacement, OK?

Even Burt Munro used IPE Electronic Ignition! 
Well, sort of. For the New Zealand racing scenes in The World's Fastest Indian, the magnetos of the replica bikes were gutted and fitted with IPE Electronic Ignition to ensure good starting and running (it is not cheap to keep a movie crew waiting while you try to start a bike with less than great ignition). IPE Electronic Ignition is available in New Zealand from Paul Hanes at hanes.eng@xtra.co.nz

World's Fastest Electronic Ignition?
Here is another shot of the converted magneto on one of the World's Fastest Indian movie bikes.

Ordering or questions: info@indianpartseurope.com

For more information on prices, ordering, payment,
shipping and general mail order info, look here

Fitting instructions.

1) Remove distributor cap and rotor. Remove points and disconnect (or remove) condenser. Remove wire leading from the negative side ('Dist' on stock coil) of the ignition coil to the points. Remove terminal post screw from distributor body.

2) Make sure your distributor is in good condition. The kit is a great fix for worn points cams, but worn out distributor shaft bushings etc won't help. Make sure your coil is compatible with the electronic ignition. Measure with multimeter across the coil terminals. A 6V coil should have a resistance of around 2 Ohms, a 12V coil should be around 3 Ohms.

3) Mount new 'points plate' in distributor body using the original points screws.

4) Pull new wires through wire hole in distributor body. Fit flex over wires.

5) Slip new rotor over points cam with punch mark centered over small cam lobe, and "V" mark (this is over the trigger magnet for the front cylinder) pointing at the sensor. Tighten the 3 set screws evenly, using M2.5 allen key, supplied with kit, so the rotor runs concentrically with points cam shaft. Using a drop of Loctite here is a good idea.

6) Connect red wire to positive side of coil ('Bat' on original coil) and the green wire to the negative side of the coil ('Dist'). Wiring terminals for crimping and soldering, and heat shrink flex, are included in kit.

7) It is a good idea to fit a ground wire between the distribitor body and some suitable point on the engine (cloth-covered wire and terminals included in kit). The electrical ground connection between the distributor and the rest of the engine, through the bushing in the oil pump in which the distributor is mounted, is marginal. If the ground fails at the same time as the coil fires, the ignition sensor may be overloaded and damaged. In any case, bad electrical ground here will lead to erratic running.

8) Time ignition as usual: Turn the engine until the correct flywheel timing mark comes up in the timing hole. Switch on igntion, advance fully (handlebar grip), loosen distributor clamp and twist the distributor until the timing LED comes on, tighten clamp and you're done.

9) Refit hammerhead rotor and distributor cap.

10) Go for a ride on your "new" Indian!