Result of Tri Spark

bpatton · Jun 8, 2010

ludwig said:
Off topic , but I would not even START a bike without a kill switch ..

Ditto. But I wouldn't use the stock killswitch or trust the stock loom and switchgear without running the ignition through a relay. 'Many is the slip between the cup and the lip' has never been more true than describing all the potential problems between the battery terminal and the business end of the ignition on a Commando.

marinatlas · Jun 9, 2010

Hi , about that switch, could someone clarify something, as I imagine it can't be a simple earthing push button as on our magneto, especially with any electronic ignition? does it mean any relay? absolute beginner in electricity.........will consider any help with respect .

B+Bogus · Jun 9, 2010

marinatlas said:
Hi , about that switch, could someone clarify something, as I imagine it can't be a simple earthing push button as on our magneto, especially with any electronic ignition? does it mean any relay? absolute beginner in electricity.........will consider any help with respect .

It works to break the circuit, cutting the feed to the coils.
Well, it does on mine.....

dave M · Jun 9, 2010

B=Bogus is correct and this is the inherent weakness with the standard system, the power to the ignition has to come from the battery to the kill switch through it's contacts and back to the coils, the contacts and wire connectors corrode with age and it is often the case that if you measure the final voltage to the ignition it is far below the required voltage particularly for some electonic ignition sysyems, this is why some people (myself included) simply use the kill switch to trigger a relay that connects a full 12 volts from battery to ignition.

britbike220 · Jun 10, 2010

Not to get off topic or be disrespectful, but why are some people adamant about having a kill switch on a bike, Did you have a bad experience? I know there are instances when you may need one (road racing or possibly an accident), but in nearly 30 years of riding, quite a few bikes and a few accidents the only time I've used a kill switch is when I bumped one accidentally on one of my Hinckley Triumphs and that was at speed and it wasn't a welcome occurrence. The Norton is the only vintage bike I've owned with a kill switch and I bypassed it because it caused electrical problems. None of my other vintage bikes have had them and I've never come across a time when one was needed. On a trispark note, I had one on one of my 72 tridents and absolutely loved it, Excellent quality, worked fantastic and Steve was excellent to deal with, but the price is heart stopping compared to other ignitions that do the same basic job.

B+Bogus · Jun 10, 2010

Yes, I've had instances!
With the advent of chrome slides for Mk I Amals less of a necessity than previously, but I had throttles stuck open on me, and it wasn't amusing at the time.

marinecommando · Jun 10, 2010

Thanks for all your replies guys.... Will get on in the morning and try to find a fault.... any fault... Gonna rewire the ignition system and give the tri spark unit a chance. It really transformed a cantancorous old lady into a realy rideable machine. Will let you know the outcome .

plj850 · Jun 10, 2010

B+Bogus said:
Yes, I've had instances!
With the advent of chrome slides for Mk I Amals less of a necessity than previously, but I had throttles stuck open on me, and it wasn't amusing at the time.

Yes mine was a new Mikuni which stuck WOT luckily I was on a Motorway

and had just fitted brand new Avon Road Riders which I can confirm do not whiteline at speed in the wet.....................

marinecommando · Jun 18, 2010

Well the problem is fixed.... After rewiring the ignition, changing the coils and plugs and having no joy, I decided to remove the trispark from the loop and put back on the boyer unit..... Result started second kick.... And afrer an hour and 40 odd miles she's perfect. I will return the trispark unit to Steve in Aus and hopefully he will find out whats wrong with it.. Off to France next week for 7days of Norton fun. Should cover about 1500 miles. Gonna take plenty of cash for speeding fines!!!!! And yes the kill switch is now back on and working... 5 pieces of brittish iron ripping up the countryside, ranging from a Tiger to a trophy. Cant wait, and no girls. Have a good week I will!!

swooshdave · Jun 18, 2010

marinecommando said:
Cant wait, and no girls.

What do you have against girls?

marinecommando · Jun 18, 2010

Nothing at all... In the right place :wink:

mike996 · Jun 18, 2010

A Boyer in place of a Tri-spark? Oh the shame of it!

If my trispark fails or if I'm concerned that it might fail (I'm getting more concerned), the only thing I'd consider putting in it's place is oem points/AAU.

Foxy · Jun 18, 2010

Been talking to Steve of TRI SPARK about an ignition for my 90 deg offset crank. He tells me that work is currently being done for Dukes etc so in 6 months should have it sorted.

Foxy

plj850 · Jun 19, 2010

marinecommando said:
Well the problem is fixed.... After rewiring the ignition, changing the coils and plugs and having no joy, I decided to remove the trispark from the loop and put back on the boyer unit..... Result started second kick.... And afrer an hour and 40 odd miles she's perfect. I will return the trispark unit to Steve in Aus and hopefully he will find out whats wrong with it.. Off to France next week for 7days of Norton fun. Should cover about 1500 miles. Gonna take plenty of cash for speeding fines!!!!! And yes the kill switch is now back on and working... 5 pieces of brittish iron ripping up the countryside, ranging from a Tiger to a trophy. Cant wait, and no girls. Have a good week I will!!

Hmm my replacement is staying in its box and my 15 year old Boyer is staying on.

britbike220 · Jun 19, 2010

It would be interesting to hear the results from Steve to see if it is the unit. I can't say I'd trust an enclosed ignition that is prone to a lot of heat build up and heat exposure from the motor to work properly or remain reliable for a long period of time w/o air flow to cool it unless I heard a lot of customer testimonials. The non enclosed units are awesome.

plj850 · Nov 5, 2010

marinecommando said:
Well the problem is fixed.... After rewiring the ignition, changing the coils and plugs and having no joy, I decided to remove the trispark from the loop and put back on the boyer unit..... Result started second kick.... And afrer an hour and 40 odd miles she's perfect. I will return the trispark unit to Steve in Aus and hopefully he will find out whats wrong with it.. Off to France next week for 7days of Norton fun. Should cover about 1500 miles. Gonna take plenty of cash for speeding fines!!!!! And yes the kill switch is now back on and working... 5 pieces of brittish iron ripping up the countryside, ranging from a Tiger to a trophy. Cant wait, and no girls. Have a good week I will!!

Any news on the failure of your tri-spark???

marinecommando · Nov 5, 2010

Yeah. Sorry for not posting earlier... Steve told me that a diode had failed in the unit. He replaced it foc, but I have not refitted it as she's running fine on the Boyer.

highdesert · Nov 5, 2010

It would be unreasonable to expect ZERO problems with any electrical device.

I well remember returning Boyers after they first came out when they abruptly quit working.

Sure, they also were examined and found to be defective in manufacture, and replaced at no charge.

Just like now with Trispark standing behind what they sell.

I still like my Trispark a lot! Seven months with no incident in the enclosed points cover in well over 100 degree heat here in the desert SW, ridden daily.

xbacksideslider · Nov 5, 2010

So far so good; love that lumpity lump idle and if I let her, she'd pull past 7000 in 4th; I blame it on the Trispark and the PWKs.

aries · Nov 6, 2010

Hi All
Well I loved my Tri-Spark also. Unfortunately last week after replacing the timing cover seal, it wouldnt start. Of course I checked things over as one does, but no joy. It could be the coils possibly, so ordered a couple of Tr-Spark coils from LP Williams. Meanwhile contacted Steve Kelly who responded immediately asking me to send back the ignition unit anyway for testing and he would post me a new unit. The suspect unit also had the black sealing compound behind.
The bike has covered less than a thousand miles and in fairness it could be a coil. However, for the bike to suddenly die does unfortunately raise a potential question about the unit.

Result of Tri Spark

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