To me, it's very simple. If the engine is spinning fast enough when the spark happens to carry through TDC, then there is no kickback. If not spinning fast enough, then there is no convincing me that it won't kick back. The only way to stop kickback with the engine spinning too slow is to not spark - maybe the magneto simply does not spark when too slow?
Also, identical plugs with identical gaps in the same engine need exactly the same voltage to spark and once the gap breakdown voltage is achieved, the exact same current will flow. So, a magneto, no matter who makes it, will not provide more spark energy than points and coils with everything else being the same. At higher RPMs, larger plugs gaps, higher compression, and/or more fuel/air in the cylinder, then a Lucas (or other) coil can run out of potential voltage and a magneto increases potential voltage at higher speeds so the magneto can be better in those conditions. And, of course, the magneto system has less components so is likely to be more reliable (not reliable, more reliable).
A shorted condenser will stop your magneto from producing spark. An open condenser will soon cause points failure - no matter coil/points or magneto ignition. Points with the "mountain" on one side and "valley" on the other (caused by too much arcing) will cause no spark no matter the coil/points or magneto ignition. The wrong value condenser will cause too much arching at certain RPMs and again will cause no spark. If you have points that never need cleaning/filing then you have perfect condensers for all RPMs that never fail (not buying that, condensers are only perfect at a very small RPM range).
As I have said many times over the biggest kick for the day is the first kick when the motor is stone cold and has sat over night or weeks, a full on swing on the kicker so a faster kick over, but after the bike has ran I can ride all day with many stops in between and just sit on the seat and give a very lazy kick on the kicker, a slow kick over and my Norton still fires up and usually 1/2 way through the kick, the Joe Hunt will fire on a slow kick over without any kick back and no retard.
As for plugs I run the stock N7YC plugs but the gap is set different to the stock settings, JHs the plugs are set at 18thu and not the standard 25thu, the plugs run very clean and have out lasted all my plugs running other ignitions in all the 48 years of owning my 850.
As with any system that runs points need good condensers, I run the stock condensers that come with my JH, Jim on many occasions has had very short running life out of the JH condensers (maybe running behind the cylinders the heat does have some effect, but Jim always say no), so far I have only replaced my condenser once after taking a slide down the road and the JH cover taking some force squashed the condenser where it sits behind the front cover after 12 months on my Norton, I replaced with a new condenser and it has been in the JH since 13 years now and the JH is still running great I leave it alone, I have 2 spare tune up kits in my spare cabinet comes with new points, condenser and plug leads when I need to change and 2 spare covers just in case I slide down the road again but of course I never plan for that to happen, but being an ex boy scout I am always prepared lol.
So as I have been asking the question on comparing a Joe Hunt installed behind the cylinder to a Joe Hunt installed out the side of the motor where it sits in the cooler breeze than behind with a lot of heat coming off the motor as well using an auto advance system and extra magneto chain running behind the motor compared to running out the side with no auto advance system and still have no problems with kickback or retarding for start ups.
I am asking about Joe Hunt magneto's and nothing more here, seems I am the only one who like to compare the two styles of JH magnetos on a Norton or older Triumph for that matter, behind the motor or on the side of the motor, heat vs cooler running, points and condensers from both styles and I am not worried about looks or where each is positioned, just like a honest answer from both sides from people who have run each style in each position, to long life to short life of internal componence of each one.
Maybe I am asking too much lol.
Ashley
