Power Arc brand electronic ignition vs ?

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westernjesus

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My cheap Sparx brand electronic ignition has failed on me, so I am going to upgrade. A mechanic friend of mine swears by Tri-Spark, Boyer is a well recognized name, my brother has a Pazon and has not had any problems. In my search and research I found a brand on Oldbritts called "Power arc". I could find no reference to them on this site. Does anyone have any experience with them? It seems pretty advanced, has a built in rev limiter and you can map out a custom power band. But that also means it its one more thing that could go wrong. I like the fact that it is made specifically for a Norton. But at $100 more than a Boyer, is it worth it? It is less than the price of a Tri-Spark. And more options. Anyone out there using a P A brand care to share their experience? Us there another unit not mentioned I should consider? Money is a factor, but reliability is the number one issue. Thanks, Dan.
 
Re: Power advantage brand electronic ignition vs ?

You are correct. My how short my memory is between flipping from one site to the next. I'll edit...
 
Re: Power advantage brand electronic ignition vs ?

westernjesus said:
I could find no reference to them on this site.
Click to expand...

westernjesus said:
I'll edit...
Click to expand...

....In which case, you should now find plenty of references to Power Arc by using the search. :)
 
I would love to have a Trispark, I would also love to have Joe Hunt unit.
I do have a Pazon sure fire which has proven to be simply outstanding particularly for the money. You just cannot go wrong with this 7.5 year warrentee, $125 delivered, simple install unit. Awesome power curve, solid idle.

I sure would love to have a Trispark though, or a Joe Hunt mag.
 
PowerArc is by far the most advanced and most expensive out there, IF you go direct to PowerArc site and get they top of the line programable units with up to 4 manual or sensor selectable curves. Old Brit sells one size fits all - universal dual curve for all Commando. Has kick start and idle stabilization and I think rev limiter.

Here's what's ya missing out on if not spending 1/3 more for DIY.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lJlUPEsL_c[/video]
 
rick in seattle said:
Steve,

I've not been able to find an example of an idle-stabilized PowerArc advance curve. Could you post one?
Click to expand...
PowerArc is also prone to kickback.
Good for race bikes, questionable for daily or every once in a while riders.
 
Oh bother, Things are not as simple minded as being discussed.

1. Fred at Old Brits Does Not Supply a flip/flog idle stabilization curve on Power Arc Because they do not need it d/t the 3 sparks per stroke below like 6000 rpm. The reason others kits need a fancy up/dn curve is their mere one spark fails to fire at times so slows engine then advances some to give poor ignition time to pressurize then over speeds so reatards to even out again. Not a bad thing at all, very good in fact, for lessor one spark misfiring kits.

2. FRed can program in what ever curve you like including Tri-sparks or other jig/jag initial curve up to pulling in some retard at top rpms the racers order up. Plus Fred's units have more than one curve to switch to - up to 4 he told me today. DAMIT I paid like $500 for this capability direct from Gary at PowerArc, so he'd selling a hi end bargain deal.

3. Fred and Gary both make a big point about 3 sparks per hit being whole 'nother ball park better running smoother. Gary sold me on tale of impossible to stop detonation hi CR Harley on race gas and best slections of other electronic wonders, till Power arc 3 sparker put in then ran best with most power on cheapest low octane fuel as burnt up quicker than hi octane.

4. Try to order special curves from any other ignition company.

5. Your Call and dime of course, Fred @ 253-735-2375 tell him hobot sent ya.
 
D/t desirability to retard some after 5500 rpm for hit throttle power [per comnoz] i stumbled on our Harley cousins mostly swearing by them and the attention by Gray. Apparently needs carbon HT leads or gets brain static or death stroke. Encouraging educational read to me. Oh yeah to get Powerarc retard at some rpm, program it to switch curves. About only ignition to run in 'reverse' for some engines or 2 engine boats and aircraft.

http://harleytechtalk.org/htt/index.php?topic=11934.0
 
pete.v said:
rick in seattle said:
Steve,

I've not been able to find an example of an idle-stabilized PowerArc advance curve. Could you post one?
Click to expand...
PowerArc is also prone to kickback.
Good for race bikes, questionable for daily or every once in a while riders.
Click to expand...

been using mine for 2 years now....kickback is not a problem if you are aware of it and follow the proper procedures
 
My `73 has a Power Arc installed by the previous owner and it has been working fine.
Last winter I removed it and sent it to Old Britt's to freshen-up the programming to eliminate kickback
caused by the start-up timing advance programming. The built-in LED timing indicator makes setup super easy.
Good stuff.
 
Thanks for that link L.A.B. It looks like a sensible way to go and the price is not unreasonable. What makes wonder a bit is the difference between Mikuni and Amal carburettor needles. I haven't checked Amals lately however in the 80s Mikuni always had more variety in the tapers available. To my way of thinking this stuff is always a balance between comp. ratio, ignition timing and jetting. Is there a programming manual for the Power Arc Ignition on the web ?
 
westernjesus said:
Sorry mods, I found advice on the "power arc" so this thread can be closed if you see fit.
Click to expand...

Closed? Are you serious?! It has to run another 35+ pages of debate first!

Don't know why the debate is needed tho TBH... It is an indisputable fact that Tri-Spark is best.

And that mags are for girls.
 
pete.v said:
I would love to have a Trispark, I would also love to have Joe Hunt unit.
I do have a Pazon sure fire which has proven to be simply outstanding particularly for the money. You just cannot go wrong with this 7.5 year warrentee, $125 delivered, simple install unit. Awesome power curve, solid idle.

I sure would love to have a Trispark though, or a Joe Hunt mag.
Click to expand...

Power Arc brand electronic ignition vs ?


Who's bad boy is this?
With the big single flatlside Mikuni and the Hunt mag?
 
jseng1 said:
Power Arc brand electronic ignition vs ?


Who's bad boy is this?
Click to expand...

Some girls, I guess. Some kinda wise, bad ass girl. Or is it a wise ass bad girl.

My opinion is just too darn harsh and will sure offend more than a few if I chose to expound.

To keep it simple and clean, my bike, the way it is, seems to demand the kind of spark and function that only a Mag can deliver. I have ran the Power Arc gammut to a degree where very few have, three separate units, multitudes of curves, multispark and single spark, advance and no advance. My SureFire has been a mainstay and It's no secret that it's the best bang for the buck, but even that does not bring out the best of what i have.
I will not say, nor profess, that what I have is the best for everybody, far from it, only that i went through a lot of time and money to get the best out of what i have. Period.
My cruising sweet spot is 87mph at 5000rpm but I must slug along at 80 just because it's practical.
Now I think I will slip on a skirt and go for a ride.
Debate away, but for me, it relative.

FWIW This thread is well over 2 years old.
 
I thought you chime in soon Pete!

It i sclera that you mag fans really are indeed fans of your mags, so they must be good in reality, even I realise that!

Can you tell us what aspects of it that particularly appeal over other systems?
 
Kelly George's flat tracker had PVL ignition that was magneto like & fit in normal area under sealed primary cover. Pete has a killer diller there, except for the hindrance of only a single carb, like I saw on a winning flat tracker. Powerarc seems good to most other brands, seeing Honda CB750 and other cycle model devoted forums loving em after searching Powerarc + problems/fualts etc. Still it may not be up to Norton twin needs - w/o the plasma feature added.
 
I like magnetos because you don't have to worry about maintaining batteries which on a race bike usually feed total loss systems. My very small battery lasts 4 races at a one day meeting and becomes doubtful on the next day. I hate rotating coil magnetos, their failures have cost me heaps in not being able to race when I've already paid the entry fees, fuel and food to get there. On the technical side, the magneto is probably good up to a point especially if you are using methanol which doesn't cause the motor to bog down if it is slightly rich. I still believe there is a lot to be gained in midrange power by playing with different carb. needles, and ignition timing curves. If you get out of the corners faster, your top speed at the ends of the straights is higher, especially if you can pull slightly higher gearing. If your bike tightens it's line coming through corners, and you've got a lot of midrange torque and decent gearbox, life can be bliss. All you need do then is avoid hitting other riders.
What happens to the Joe Hunt magneto if you chuck the bike down on that side ?
 
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