Fitting the DMC2 electronic ignition (750)

NB: These instructions are given for guidance only and cannot engage the author's liability in the event of misinterpretation, failure to assess the vehicle's actual condition and/or non-conformity, unsuitable mechanical practice or the use of inappropriate tools.

Installation manual for the DMC2 electronic ignition on the Laverda 750.

Prerequisites

  • A battery with enough capacity not to drop below 5 V during fitting.
  • A pair of plug caps with a built-in 5 kΩ resistor to limit interference.
  • A general electrical system in good condition.

Mechanical installation (sensor and rotor)

The DMC replaces the original contact-breaker ignition with an optical sensor and rotor fitted on the advance-mechanism carrier, plus an electronic box. Precise sensor positioning and precise timing checking are essential.

  1. Remove the original ignition system in the left-hand cover.
  2. Fit the new rotor on the advance mechanism (see diagram).
  3. Fit the optical sensor on the back of the new stator with two M3 screws (remove the key).
  4. Gently fit the stator with its sensor onto the primary cover: the sensor must not touch the rotor (it would be damaged).
  5. Bring the screws up but do not tighten, so the stator can rotate for adjustment.
  6. Route the sensor wires through the primary-cover hole (where the original contact-breaker wires ran).

Electrical installation

The supplied harness already includes all connections. The +12 V is generally taken from the + terminal of the ignition coil (or, if interference is too great, from the + terminal of the key switch). Earth to a perfectly clean point on the frame, preferably the battery – terminal.

Function test

  • Ignition Off. Remove the plugs, connect them to the caps and earth their bodies on the head.
  • Set the box potentiometer to 0.
  • Set the engine to 40° advance (sensor slot open).
  • Switch On (never touch the HT leads — risk of electrocution).
  • There should be uninterrupted sparks (only when the slot faces the sensor).

Adjustment and timing

Laverda 750s are sensitive to the timing point. The maximum value of 40° is already very high: never exceed it.

  1. Check the 40° mark on the starter freewheel.
  2. Remove the left camshaft cover; set the left piston to exact TDC.
  3. Measure the exact distance between the top of the plug well and the piston (as vertically as possible).
  4. Add 10.6 mm to this value → measurement X.
  5. Turn the engine by hand (normal direction) until the piston is at distance X: it is then 40° before TDC. Check that the freewheel mark is correct.

Pre-timing before starting:

  1. Potentiometer at 0 (test), plugs still earthed, pistons at TDC.
  2. Turn the stator fully clockwise, then switch on.
  3. Turn the stator very slowly anticlockwise to the exact point where the plugs spark continuously.
  4. Then turn slowly clockwise until the sparks stop: tighten the stator screws at this exact point.
  5. Switch off, set the potentiometer to 1 (curve no. 1, 40° advance), refit the plugs.
  6. Start, warm up, hold ~5000 rpm and check the 40° advance with a strobe light. Gently adjust the stator by hand if needed.

NB: this timing must always be done on position 1.

Potentiometer positions

0 = test program; 2 = switch pos. 2; 4 = pos. 4; 6 = pos. 6; 8 = pos. 8; 10 = pos. A; 12 = pos. C; 14 = pos. E. The odd positions (1, 3, 5, …, 15) are the intermediate "between" values. Curves 1–5: max 40°; curves 6–10: max 37°; curves 11–15: max 34° (see diagrams).