Trigger wheel....pros/cons?

[SANDMAN5]

I know there are several threads about trigger wheels,  but I thought
it might be good to put a pros/cons headline to get them all lumped
together. That way, people (like me) considering a trigger wheel can
see them in one place w/o reading multiple threads. So, let's hear it.
Those of you with trigger wheel experience tell us the good/bad about
them.....power loss/gain....mpg loss/gain....problems, if any...etc. I'm
thinking about a 6 degree for my Std. I think I/S's are supposed to
use 4 degree? Thanks!

[mmurffy03]

I am also interested in any comments anyone has I have a 03 standard that I just desmoged and changed my slow jets to #38s with a k&n air filter . I have a dana 3000 icu that I haven't installed yet and was wondering should I change my trigger wheel to a 4 or 6 degree upgrade  I allways use premium fuel and ride solo any comments would be helpful

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[Grandpot]

My Lady beats HDs all the time. She's bone stock. Those Honda engineers did a great job; why mess with it?

[Patrick]

The 6º is supposed to be for the STD/Tour and the 4º for the IS. This is due to the different advance curve of the IS ICM. Base timing is the same on both bike models though, about 3.5º.
The 'tooth' is shaped differently on the aftermarket triggers than on the originals.
My experience has been that the aftermarket triggers make these engines start harder in cool weather and can cause a high pitched vibration felt thru the handle bars. Higher octane fuel also needs to be used in some cases.
Overall, I don't like them.
If I want to ever advance the base timing, I file an original wheel and I don't like adding more than 4º to any model.
Personally, now, I like to leave well enough alone. I now believe that Honda got it right.

[John Schmidt]

Murphy, if you're using hitest with a stock timing setup you're wasting a lot of $$$. I have an I/S ICM paired with a 4 deg. T/W and I/S carb springs. It gives me all the performance I need or want, but did find most of the time I have to use at least midgrade fuel.

[fudgie]

I like the ECT mod better then the trigger wheel.

[fantsybikr]

1 up on the ect mod..i had my carbs rejetted for my glasspacks, did ect mod..she starts without choke right off on all but coldest days..and she will fly...from a couple ive heard with their trigger wheels, seems they work out their starters..unless there was something else going on..

[98valk]

I use the OEM TW modified to provide  6 degrees with a dyna ignition using the retard function of 10 degrees. this gives the I/S curve and then adds an additional 10 degrees at hwy speeds for better mpg

http://timskelton.com/valkyrie/tech/trigger_wheel_plus_dyna3000.htm

FactoryPro.com recommends only a 4 TW be used for all Valkyries. Researching the beginnings of the 6 TW goes back to the GL1500 which has 0 degrees advance at idle whereas ALL valkyries have 3.5 degrees advance at idle.

[Regis]

I installed a 6* trigger wheel in 04" with 55k on the clock . Cobra pipes , stock Carbs and now have 97k miles on it . The bike runs and performs perfectly . Highway and backroad cruising averages about 41mpg on midgrade gas but have gotten as good as 48 with seafoam added and hi octane gas . Pulling a trailer or riding on Interstate hiway above 75 mph gets mid 30's mpg's . I like the mod ,but it was before I had heard of the ECT mod . It seems like take off was slightly affected but midrange power was noticably better with more torque about 3800 rpms . I could be wrong .

[Tx Bohemian]

I installed a 6* trigger wheel in 04"...

Wait!!  An '04??

I thought '03 was the last year Valks were made??!!??

[Brovietnam]

I put a 6 degree when La Monster came out them on my '97 tourer.   I run midgrade(89) and have about 105,000 on the odometer.  38 to 42 MPG.  Great throttle response and no trouble starting, ever.  I also have a 2000 IS and there is a noticeable difference in the two bikes.  I am thinking about a 4 degree for the IS.

[Regis]

I installed a 6* trigger wheel in 04"...

Wait!!  An '04??

I thought '03 was the last year Valks were made??!!??

.   It says "in 04" " not "on an 04" . Its a 1997 standard Daddy0 !

[Tx Bohemian]

I installed a 6* trigger wheel in 04"...

Wait!!  An '04??

I thought '03 was the last year Valks were made??!!??

.   It says "in 04" " not "on an 04" . Its a 1997 standard Daddy0 !

Ooops!!

Got it!

Not sure if it was bad reading comprehension, not the best eyesite, or a little of both.
For a moment I thought I learned something new today...

[Regis]

Probably just wishful thinking that they didnt stop making them ! I hope they dont start again because then I would be faced with having to buy a new 1 ! I dont think I will ever wear this 1 out .

[Tx Bohemian]

My TW story is:
On this '99 standard the OP had a 6^o TW installed and the bike ran good.
However if the temps was 50^o or lower it would not fire up.  It would crank to high Heaven but wouldn't start. That didn't bother me because I'm not a cold weather rider, but one time in 90^o weather it didn't start!
After many hours spent working on the suggestions from here on the common "choke adjustment", "bad/weak battery", "jumping the battery with a car" eventually the problem was narrowed to the aftermarket TW.
Thanks again Grumpy!!
I put a factory TW on it and it has started in 30^o temps. (didn't ride it, just went out there to see if it'll start)

Then one member (I think Patrick) came up with a method of gaining advance with the stock TW by filing so much of the crankshaft tab on the leading edge.
So I did that and got (I think) 4^o advance, which is what I need with the Interstate CDI.

I think I finally got all the annoying bugs/issues worked out of this bike to where my confidence is skyhigh and don't worry about it leaving me stranded somewhere.

Now all I gotta do is find more time to ride!!

[Chillerman]

I had the Dyna 3000 and sold it because I wanted/needed the money  I've had a 6 degree trigger wheel on my standard Valk before and it ran great, good fuel mileage, good power, etc.  I did the ECT mod with a potentiometer and now I can adjust the advance whenever I want! It is the best of both worlds IMHO.

[Momz]

I like the ECT mod better then the trigger wheel.

 The simple ECT mod is as good as it gets. My I/S has a 4 degree wheel and it is one of the original "Airlake" TW's and it works quite well, but my other two Valks have the simple ECT mod and I  prefer that over an aftermarket TW.

[Jess from VA]

Aftermarket trigger wheels.



Don Quixote windmill



Take your pick.  YMMV 

[Brian]

I have a 97 standard, factory pipes with the first baffle drilled, stock jets currently using a K & N air filter with a 4 degree TW. Regular or mid-grade, BP here sells the mid-grade 100% gas. I am getting 38 to 40 mpg on the highway, I have gotten as high as 45 mpg just cruising back country roads here in NC and SC. I have been thinking about filing my OEM TW to get 6 degree just to try it to see what changes.

[dubsider]

'01 standard
4* TW
Interstate ISM
Interstate carb springs
mid-grade NON ethanol
---------------------------
dont lug it
+2-3 MPG
more power than I need, except when I see a bike on the horizon I want to stalk and overtake
HD's have no chance

[SANDMAN5]

Thanks fer all the input. I plumb fergot about the
ECT mod. Looks like it's much simpler. I'll probably
give it a try first.

[Alien]

Murphy, if you're using hitest with a stock timing setup you're wasting a lot of $$$. I have an I/S ICM paired with a 4 deg. T/W and I/S carb springs. It gives me all the performance I need or want, but did find most of the time I have to use at least midgrade fuel.

I have the same setup on my 98 standard.  I'm very pleased and have no starting issues.  My mileage is slightly better but only slightly.  It's a cheap mod and easy to do.  Give it a shot, if you don't like it, you can swap back in about a half an hour.

Ride Safe,

Alien