Joe Hunt Magneto for Atlas
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texasSlick
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I have given up on my Lucas K2FC, and I am in the process of fitting a Joe Hunt behind the cylinder type. I agree with Jim Schmidt that the JH is superior. I talked with Jim regarding the tales about the JH losing its magnetism from heat behind the cylinders. He says that he does not know how that myth got started and he has not had any problems. Jim is in a hot environment.
I do not think you will be wasting money by going with a JH.
Slick
I do not think you will be wasting money by going with a JH.
Slick
texasSlick
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I had mine rebuilt. The technician did a fine job. The problem arises from the armature rewind guy who doubtless does not use the same fine gauge wire as the original Lucas. It is my understanding that Lucas had many production problems with wire breaking during the winding process. A rewind shop will not fuss with such breakage, and will go to a larger gauge wire, which results in fewer turns on the armature, which results in lower spark energy at kick over rpm, which equals harder starts.
I too prefer the original look of the K2F, but I gave up on it.
Slick
Matchless
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If you have the K2F rebuilt by someone who knows what they are doing, you will be very happy with the result. I was out on my Atlas today & it started first kick from cold, & also on leaving the petrol station when hot after a serious thrashing. When people moan about Lucas mags it's either because they are knackered from years of use, or because they have been "rebuilt" by a moron.
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ashman
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I love my Joe Hunt maggie, mine hangs out the side (850 Commando motor) but in 14+ years haven't had any problems at all always starts on first kick even when cold, easy to maintain although I haven't touched mine yet, the 4 rare earth makes for a big spark, its independent to all electrics and they are so reliable, if my 1960 Manxman project bike maggie craps its self I would happily replace it with a JH and my 850 with Amals work so well together, I have owned my Norton since new and been through points set up, 3 EIs and by far the JH has been the best of all, this is the second British bike I ran a JH maggie and never had any problems at all.
Mine runs at full advance and have never had any problems with kick back when starting, first kick of the day is a big swing on the kicker, but for the rest of the day it will fire up 1/2 way through the swing on the kicker and have no problems firing my motor up while sitting on the seat.
Ashley
Mine runs at full advance and have never had any problems with kick back when starting, first kick of the day is a big swing on the kicker, but for the rest of the day it will fire up 1/2 way through the swing on the kicker and have no problems firing my motor up while sitting on the seat.
Ashley
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I installed 3 ignition systems on a highly modified Atlas within a period of two months. A rebuilt K2f, a Pazon and a Joe Hunt. All worked well but the Joe Hunt was the clear winner.
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Devil's advocate here:
You could put a TriSpark ignition in a small magneto housing, get rid of the AAU, and replace it with a gear RGM sells to drive the rotor shaft in the housing for the TriSpark EI with your current timing chain setup. You would also need a small dual coil, and a reg/rec. A very small battery is enough to power the TriSpark and with an alternator you will have good lights. All that will not only cost less than a JH magneto (if you know how to shop), but also weigh less if you already have an alternator installed in the Atlas. In addition, less fiddly to tune.
One kick starts also apply to EI.
My K2F magneto is still good and worked for a batteryless setup after the magneto was rebuilt in the 70's. The lights were crap at idle though. LED lighting for Nortons didn't exist then. I took it out of my ignition path for other reasons than the lights. I don't miss using it for ignition. However, it did work.
You could put a TriSpark ignition in a small magneto housing, get rid of the AAU, and replace it with a gear RGM sells to drive the rotor shaft in the housing for the TriSpark EI with your current timing chain setup. You would also need a small dual coil, and a reg/rec. A very small battery is enough to power the TriSpark and with an alternator you will have good lights. All that will not only cost less than a JH magneto (if you know how to shop), but also weigh less if you already have an alternator installed in the Atlas. In addition, less fiddly to tune.
One kick starts also apply to EI.
My K2F magneto is still good and worked for a batteryless setup after the magneto was rebuilt in the 70's. The lights were crap at idle though. LED lighting for Nortons didn't exist then. I took it out of my ignition path for other reasons than the lights. I don't miss using it for ignition. However, it did work.
Matchless
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That's very interesting. What was it about the Hunt mag that made it the winner?
jms
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The Tri Spark is an option I hadn’t considered. Good thought worth considering! Thanks
Fast Eddie
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Way too close to the price of a brand new one to be worth the risk IMO…
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I use a similar setup to what Schwany mentions on my N15CS. I mounted a Tri-Spark dual lead (single) coil under the fuel tank with a simple homemade bracket. That plus a small battery and the gear from RGM (PN 1269A). It fires one kick and the lights are bright.
Search for "WASSELL MICRO-MK2 ELECTRONIC IGNITION W/ HOUSING TRIUMPH NORTON BSA PRE UNIT", it's $389 currently.
All up it was about $500. Many like the magneto and I thought about it quite a bit, and went with what I thought would meet my needs and budget. I was able to sell my clapped out mag on eBay for $100 and may get around to selling my AAU unit on there as well, to defer the cost a bit.
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All in one, Good option.I'd take the TriSpark route if I were doing it and get the housing from Eurotrash Jambalaya. TriSpark has integrated smarts (no external brain box), less wiring, and is incredibly easy to set timing statically.
Lucas K2F Magneto Housing
Dime City Cycle sells the same dual lead coil for $39.95.
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It starts easier and runs better
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Yes setting timing is a hassle with the Wassell because you are eyeballing the lines that are tricky to see, using a mirror. I think Tri-spark has a light or beep, can't remember. I got it done by hook and crook, and verified with strobe.
I'd take the TriSpark route if I were doing it and get the housing from Eurotrash Jambalaya. TriSpark has integrated smarts (no external brain box), less wiring, and is incredibly easy to set timing statically.
Lucas K2F Magneto Housing
Dime City Cycle sells the same dual lead coil for $39.95.
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Interesting I've never used a Wassell. I have used a couple of Boyer EI products. Eyeballing without mirrors was done. Boyer Mk3's had a nice cold start kick back. The MkIV was better.
Red LED lights up when the coils should fire on the TriSpark I use now. Easy to get static timing in the ball park using a degree wheel.
ashman
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With my side mount JH I don't use an AAU at all set at full advance, my bike starts first kick every time and runs from low RPMs to full throttle without any problems at all, so many make a big deal about retarding the timing for start up, if the timing is set right I never get any kick back, this is the second British bike I have had with side mount JH, If I run a JH on my Domie behind the motor I would also set it up without the AAU, the JH fires up pretty easy without it.
The newer Joe Hunts with the 4 rare earth magnets are so much better than the old 2 rare earth JHs, but my old Triumph ran well with the older one, 9 years without any problems at all with it and never failed to start on first kick at full advance.
In my own opinion the Joe Hunt is worth ever $$$ and for me the best my Norton has ever ran with very little maintenance and very reliable, I haven't touched mine since its been on my Norton in over 12+ years ago.
But of course will always get the knockers from people who have never ran one before.
Ashley
The newer Joe Hunts with the 4 rare earth magnets are so much better than the old 2 rare earth JHs, but my old Triumph ran well with the older one, 9 years without any problems at all with it and never failed to start on first kick at full advance.
In my own opinion the Joe Hunt is worth ever $$$ and for me the best my Norton has ever ran with very little maintenance and very reliable, I haven't touched mine since its been on my Norton in over 12+ years ago.
But of course will always get the knockers from people who have never ran one before.
Ashley
jms
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When talking about Wassel are you referring to the housing, the electronic ignition, or both? I know that the Tri Spark kit with housing that RGM sells includes a housing by Wassell. How is the the housing that Joe at Eurotrash sells different?
