Experience with Thorspark electronic ignition kit

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Radovan Ch
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Experience with Thorspark electronic ignition kit

Post by Radovan Ch »

Hi all, what is your general experience with the Thorspark electronic ignition? As a replacement for the classic magneto. Is it worth using? For example in terms of reliability, engine startability etc.
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Roger Gwynn
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Re: Experience with Thorspark electronic ignition kit

Post by Roger Gwynn »

Cheaply made and poor instructions but they work. I wouldn't bother on a single as there is nothing wrong with a magneto in good condition and it is original.
Roger Gwynn, Membership Secretary, curator of the Machine Register and the works drawings. Director of Draganfly Motorcycles, Craven Equipment and Supreme Motorcycles mostly retired.
ralfpenkert
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Re: Experience with Thorspark electronic ignition kit

Post by ralfpenkert »

As Roger said, it is a very cheap quality. At the end it did what it should.
I fit it to my panther.
The mounting plate was too thin for the lucas magneto.
They promised to supply a packing piece but they never did.
So did it by myself.
Meanwhile i switched back to the magneto restored.
At least i have a backup.
Ralf
Colinbrindley
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Re: Experience with Thorspark electronic ignition kit

Post by Colinbrindley »

I fitted it to my Sq4 and it works well, however I had to ring them as the back plate needed filing to fit ! To be fair he said send it back to them and they would do it and send it me back. The risk of something going missing in the post was too much so I fixed it myself. Not ideal.
1947 Square four ironhead.1943 BSA WM20.1957 Matchless G80CS. 1948 Brockhouse Corgi in bits. A very patient MRS.
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robjameson
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Re: Experience with Thorspark electronic ignition kit

Post by robjameson »

I have a very similar experience to Colin. I fitted one to my square four and found that the backing plate was shorting out on the magneto and kept blowing the fuse as a result. I didn’t bother to contact them I just filed out the backing plate to have sufficient clearance and since then it’s been fine.

In terms of run ability, it’s great, bike starts first or second kick.
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1957 Ariel VH
1954 Ariel KH
1948 Ariel 4G with 1920's Ariel Sidecar/Triumph Chassis
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Roger.Baker
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Re: Experience with Thorspark electronic ignition kit

Post by Roger.Baker »

I've had one on my VB for 6000 miles now, I like it, reliable starting, once I sorted the carburation, easy timing adjustment ( I set it by feel, far to much bother timing it with a degree wheel )
Roger
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