Another Tri-spark Complaint

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I have a suspicion that early Boyer failure rates were pretty high but given there was no way to gather feedback (like forums or Facebook) we’ll never know.

If one of you guys don’t want your Trispark I’ll send you shipping funds...
 
if there was so many problems with his systems them why has he not tired to fix that problem for good, no good traveling long distants to be worring about a unit failing without warning.
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curious why you are so certain the owner of TriSpark has not tried to fix the problem?
By all accounts people, including myself, who reported problems with the early units are now reporting
no issue with the replacements, isn't that a good indication he cares and has solved the early mostly heat related problems
 
1up3down said:
if there was so many problems with his systems them why has he not tired to fix that problem for good, no good traveling long distants to be worring about a unit failing without warning.
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curious why you are so certain the owner of TriSpark has not tried to fix the problem?
By all accounts people, including myself, who reported problems with the early units are now reporting
no issue with the replacements, isn't that a good indication he cares and has solved the early mostly heat related problems
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I have no dealings with trispark or any other EIs but so many people complain about them on this fourm, but if he has fixed the problems then all good, its like anything that fails we fix them if we can or try to find out what caused the problem in the first place, remember we now live in a throw away world these days, I am old school and like simpliaty and things that can be rebuilt or fixed on the side of the road if need to.

Ashley
 
There seems to be a fair bit of bad press for trispark in this thread , I wonder if it is really justified .
I had 2 failures of the early model , both replaced cost free & with good intent .
The later model has & still is giving good service , I keep a spare as backup , but have not needed it .
I have found Steve to be very genuine , it would be a shame to see unnecessary bad press being spread if the original problem has indeed been resolved & we now have another good product available to choose from for our bikes .
 
In post #35 of this thread I wrote I’d had 4 Tri Sparks and zero issues.

It’s now 5, still zero issues.

I think we forget sometimes that nothing is 100% perfect. I wonder if this forum had been alive in 1975, how many threads there’d be about failed points or condensers etc?!

And in 1980, how many threads about failed Boyer or RITA units (ok, I’m pushing my point there I guess as I’ve never had a RITA fail on me on road or track).

If I get any issues with a Tri-Spark I’ll likely quickly reconsider my position, but currently, 5 units, zero failures, and noticeably improved low down running and starting mean that it’s still my ‘go to’ choice.
 
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Cliffa
I did try using foil shim which was tricky to install , the taper is short and steep but having spoke to two experienced engineers and Norton people they both said in engineering terms that is a bodge and i would be better off machining the timing case . the foil size needed did not really sit well on the cam taper ,still we live and learn , thanks for the input , Colin
 
Fast Eddie said:
In post #35 of this thread I wrote I’d had 4 Tri Sparks and zero issues.

It’s now 5, still zero issues.

I think we forget sometimes that nothing is 100% perfect. I wonder if this forum had been alive in 1975, how many threads there’d be about failed points or condensers etc?!

And in 1980, how many threads about failed Boyer or RITA units (ok, I’m pushing my point there I guess as I’ve never had a RITA fail on me on road or track).

If I get any issues with a Tri-Spark I’ll likely quickly reconsider my position, but currently, 5 units, zero failures, and noticeably improved low down running and starting mean that it’s still my ‘go to’ choice.
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As these failures seem to comes in 2's or 3's on the same bike it does suggest there is an outside influence, but until this outside influence is identified it is a risk and people have a choice as to whether they want the risk. Could be zeners with voltage spikes but that is just speculation. For me it's a risk I will not take, have been using Boyers for years and the only issue I have experienced is the low voltage kickback. I have DC voltage step up bucks to cure that one.
 
After nearly 11 years with the same unit, the TS on my Commando has just disappeared into the background as something that just works and which I pay no attention to whatsoever. I had the OPPOSITE experience with Boyer and removed it and wen't back to points/AAU until the Trispark came out.

I suspect we all have some personal experiences that contradict others' personal experiences. Frankly, the fact that TS remains in business, is distributed by well-known purveyors of Brittbike parts, and continues to release new products (Guzzi ignition recently) make me believe that their general failure rate (and probably Boyers as well) is within the normal and acceptable rate (whatever that is) for such electronic products.
 
colin davie said:
Cliffa
I did try using foil shim which was tricky to install , the taper is short and steep but having spoke to two experienced engineers and Norton people they both said in engineering terms that is a bodge and i would be better off machining the timing case . the foil size needed did not really sit well on the cam taper ,still we live and learn , thanks for the input , Colin
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I had the same problem attempting to shim the rotor, I ended up turning down an aluminum spacer to get the clearance correct
 
swooshdave said:
I have a suspicion that early Boyer failure rates were pretty high but given there was no way to gather feedback (like forums or Facebook) we’ll never know.

If one of you guys don’t want your Trispark I’ll send you shipping funds...
Click to expand...
I fitted a Boyer to my Interstate back in 73, it was the only reliable thing about that bike.....
 
MexicoMike said:
After nearly 11 years with the same unit, the TS on my Commando has just disappeared into the background as something that just works and which I pay no attention to whatsoever. I had the OPPOSITE experience with Boyer and removed it and wen't back to points/AAU until the Trispark came out.

I suspect we all have some personal experiences that contradict others' personal experiences. Frankly, the fact that TS remains in business, is distributed by well-known purveyors of Brittbike parts, and continues to release new products (Guzzi ignition recently) make me believe that their general failure rate (and probably Boyers as well) is within the normal and acceptable rate (whatever that is) for such electronic products.
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Add to those positives on TS (esp for us in the USA) the fact that Matt @ CNW uses and sells them.
After mine failed unexpectedly (not hot) and completely, Matt shipped me a replacement stator no questions asked and no charge.
I assume he returned the failed unit to TS for eval.
 
i also think some of the negative comments are a little unjustified Tri spark now seem to have overcome any design issues / heat problems with early production
the tri spark British twin kit is a well put together system that said it does cost more than alternatives on the market and this may be the route cause of the anger towards tri spark
posts on forums are based on an individuals experiance and as we know anyone who has experianced a failiure is always little pissed off and more so if they have paid top dollar
prelific keyboard warriors and thier freinds can quickly tarnish the reputation of a good product
 
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Frankie17 said:
i also think some of the negative comments are a little unjustified Tri spark now seem to have overcome any design issues / heat problems with early production
the tri spark British twin kit is a well put together system that said it does cost more than alternatives on the market and this may be the route cause of the anger towards tri spark
posts on forums are based on an individuals experiance and as we know anyone who has experianced a failiure is always little pissed off and more so if they have paid top dollar
prelific keyboard warriors and thier freinds can quickly tarnish the reputation of a good product
Click to expand...

Typically people who have no issues with a product tend to not have much to say as opposed to those who have had problems.

Regardless, it's not helpful to dismiss the complaints either, which is why I think it would be useful to collect data about the various set ups people are using (failure and non failure cases alike). FWIW, I'm in the camp (knock on wood) who have not experienced problems.
 
In theory, I agree, just as Alton alternator rotors for the Norton E-start shouldn't have disintegrated as some did with the first iteration of the rotor (as did two of mine). But the reality of a tiny market like ours - "upgrades" for old Nortons - is that these suppliers are not large companies with the resources to put thousands of hours of testing on a test track to sort out issues with parts being developed. So I think it's only realistic to realize and accept the fact that like it or not, early purchasers are also beta testers! There is no other way for some of these products to be developed because there is no financial incentive for any large company to do so. So it falls to small, individual "companies." In many cases the "factory" consists of a large room in a farmhouse or garage and 2-3 guys to produce these parts! It would take them 20 years to do that amount of testing that Honda can do in a month.

So we finish the real world testing. ;)
 
L.A.B. said:
But, they should have been like that from the very beginning.
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And E-start Nortons should have worked faultlessly and reliably from the beginning, Lucas should not go up in smoke, etc. etc. etc. It seems TS has successfully addressed many of the problems. I for one have a TS and not one problem from it. But then I haven't installed it yet. :rolleyes:
 
I was also an early supporter and buyer of the Tri-Spark Classic Twin. Considering the dire warnings by some at the time that putting the electronics in the points cavity wasn't exactly good for reliability I thought such a bold move by Tri-Spark to market that type of ignition and considering it was quite expensive, it would need to be basically bombproof to avoid getting itself a bad name, however, the apparent failure rate of early units was significantly higher than one would reasonably expect for a new ignition and why this thread is here.

I removed the early Classic Twin from my Commando last year not because it failed but because I didn't trust it any longer. I suppose I could have carried a spare module. If they were £50 each instead of £180 I might have done.
 
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L.A.B. said:
I was also an early supporter and buyer of the Tri-Spark Classic Twin. Considering the dire warnings by some at that time that putting the electronics in the points cavity wasn't exactly good for reliability I thought such a bold move by Tri-Spark to market that type of ignition and considering it was quite expensive that it would need to be basically bombproof to avoid getting itself a bad name, however, the apparent failure rate of early units was significantly higher than one would reasonably expect for a new ignition and why this thread is here.

I removed the early Classic Twin from my Commando last year not because it failed but because I didn't trust it any longer. I suppose I could have carried a spare module. If they were £50 each instead of £180 I might have done.
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L.A.B , What are you running now?
 
They also appear to have their failures per the listing for a couple of Pazon products in the CBS catalog. By the wording, it sounds to me like "failed" and "fried" Pazons are not unusual... ;)

"If your Pazon ignition box has failed or fried on you, you can replace it with this new Pazon ignition replacement box. Now there is no need to purchase an entire electronic ignition set. Works with all 12 volt Pazon Sure Fire (PA2) electronic ignitions - suited for Triumph, BSA, and Norton twins and singles that are 12 volts with points in the side casing."

and

"*Just Arrived!* New Genuine Pazon Surefire PAT2 Replacement Trigger Plate. Missing your Trigger Plate? Or it accidentally got fried?"



Heck, never heard of a fried breaker plate/AAU! :)
 
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