Electronic ignition

[simonmurphy]

I'd like to fit electronic ignition to my 1963 G12 CSR, which uses a magdyno. Is this conversion straightforward? And what is the best bit of kit to fit? Thanks in anticipation

[Reynard24]

I’ve just junked a thorspark unit and had the magneto rebuilt instead on my 1963 G12. Dynamo output is critical for electronic coil ignition so it would be better with an alternator equipped bike but even then, to my mind, coil ignition bikes never run as smoothly as those fitted with a magneto

[dodger]

Fit a BT-H electronic magneto, all the benefits of electronic ignition and a magneto, what's not to like except the price.

[spookefoote1956]

I also dumped the Thorspark, went back to mag and fitted a lecky leg.

[Pharisee]

When I built my '54 G3/LS from a garagefull of assorted bits, I used the cams and timing covers from a '61 short stroke engine. That allowed me to use coil ignition as I didn't have a working magneto. I ran it that way for a couple of years before reverting to a magneto. It wasn't electronic ignition, just the normal points system. I have to say, I feel that it starts and runs better with the magneto.
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How It was...

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How it is now...

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[Left Coast]

Hi Spookefoote1956 and Raynard 24. Why did you junk the Thorspark?

[spookefoote1956]

Morning Lefty. The Thorspark was great for a while. First boot and start. Then, about a month before the warranty ran out it died. Chap sent me another one, insisting it couldn't fail, he tested it, it had! Second one wasn't having it, but to be fair I discovered that the piston had been badly paired and a rebore was required. Sent it back, it can't fail, it had. He sent me another but told me he wouldn't send me any more so I flogged it to someone in the club who was making a bitsa.

At that point I decided to make a lecky leg for the Beast using a Dynastarter. No more kicking until my type 1 diabetic leg shrivelled up required.

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Do you know Tony in B.C?

[Reynard24]

Mine also failed and I very narrowly avoided the “walk of shame” pushing it home - thanks Pete for the use of your shed.
I’d only bought the bike last October with the setup already fitted and had intended to restore it to magneto ignition eventually but hoped to get a few miles on it before then but I’d only covered around sixty miles and with no setup instructions or diagnostic information from either the PO or the Thorspark website, my plans were brought forward somewhat.

[SPRIDDLER]

I'd like to fit electronic ignition to my 1963 G12 CSR, which uses a magdyno. Is this conversion straightforward? And what is the best bit of kit to fit? Thanks in anticipation

There's quite a lot of info and videos on fitting the Thorspark on the web if you Google it.
See link here:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=thors ... nt=gws-wiz

I live 3 miles from their (Sussex Motorcycles) rather uninspiring premises in a farm silo so if you ave any specific questions/problems I'm happy to call round there, although he isn't often open.

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[Groily]

It's a shame there are starting to be a few tales of woe with these units (quite a few of which have been reported on here in recent times), because it's the most affordable modern option really. I've come across a couple of set-ups on twins, which seemed to work well . . . but the owners reverted to magnetos after a bit all the same.

As with all electronic systems, from the expensive stand-alone BT-H spark generator through the other clever gizmos, mending them is a job for the makers or by substitution/ replacement, not a DIY fix unless it's just 'a wire off'. Which means 'stranded = well stuck'. With decent alternator power on hand, the Boyer Bransden kit seems good long term (I've had a couple, on a Notrun and a big Oilfield), as does Pazon, and RITA was in the past. But for our dynamo bikes it's hard to beat a mag in the end. My ha'pence worth.