Hi Jim, I not sure why but I haven't had any problems with running the stock condenser on my JH maggie, I had to replace the original one in the first few weeks but not from it failing but from a slow speed drop that shatter the front cover and flatten the condenser, the replacement condenser has been in there since and the JH hasn't missed a beat, that was about 13 years ago and over 35k + miles on it, I have in stock 2 tune up kits at the ready when it does start to miss a beat but so far still starting on first kick every time and running from slow revs to flat out without any problem at all, I inspect the points every oil change and service and so far I haven't touched the point in the 13+ years the JH been on my Norton, but mine does hang off the side out in the fresh cool air.
Maybe sitting behind a hot motor does have an effect on the condensers and the reason you have to replace yours regularly, as I have said many of times I haven't had any problems at all with my Joe Hunt and my old Triumph riding mate with his JH hanging out the side of his motor has only replaced his points and condenser after 20 years on his Triumph just 6 months ago after hard starting, its always been a one kick to start as well.
I still recon set up behind a hot motor does play a big part in the running of any magneto whether JH or Lucas, you have said many of time it doesn't but then I don't or had any problems with condensers or point for that matter sitting out in the breeze where it runs nice and cool.
I have ran 2 JH maggies one on my old Triumph as well my Norton both hanging off the side of the motor and have never had any problems with points or condensers so with 23+ years experience with running JH magneto's, my old Triumph JH I brought off my mate who was running it on his Triton race bike after he had it fully rebuilt, I ran it for 9 years on my Triumph with over 200k km with the trouble free JH.
If set up right and tuned right, Joe Hunt magneto's are so reliable with that big huge spark and I don't care what people say about it hanging off the side of my motor, it's the best investment for a perfect running Norton and with troubles running stock point, 2 failed EI and numerous failed batteries in the 47+ years of owning my Norton from new, the Joe Hunt out performs anything else I have run, perfect idle, one kick to start every time, easy to maintain and even out of tune carbs it still fires up on one kick, even with one Amal with a blocked polit jet and the faster it spins the better it goes and it don't need to be retarted to fire up first kick every time.
Ashley
