Current quality of the Pazon ignition systems.

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samsmc1

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Sep 8, 2018
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Can anyone advise me if the current Pazon ignition systems are reliable. I searched this in the old forums and saw both reliability and installation problems. Are these history now or should I go elsewhere?
Thanks
Sam
 
I have Pazon smart fire for twin plug Vincent heads.
It's flawless. I like the adjustable rev limiter.

Andy custom built the ignition for this particular engine. He went to the trouble of arranging a 3 way phone conversation between Bob Dunn in the UK, Andy in NZ and me here in Canada to discuss the ignition requirements.
Bob Dunn was the top Vincent engine builder in the UK. In addition to rebuilding scads of standard Vincent engines, Bob had built many high performance and big displacement Vincent engines for racing.
On learning the spec of the engine, Bob's suggestions were quite different from what Andy and I had in mind.
We followed his advice though and it worked out really well.
Bobs advice was to use a very low overall advance amount but to have it all in at a very low rpm.
Andy suggested using twin ignition drivers to double the spark energy.
I was just there to nod my head and say yes to all. :)

Glen
 
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My 2p Trispark best but pricey. Pazon Surefire best for the price. Did one Trispark and 3 Surefires. The idle stabilization on the Trispark produced a bit better idle, only difference I could tell.
 
I have the basic Surefire. I like it.

No problems now I properly understand the pickup electrical screw fittings, the one problem I had was me not the Pazon! I suggest that for those who do have problems, it probably isn't the product itself.
Check the pick up screws are tight on bare copper cable before assuming you have problems! And remember how to test it, it's a good confidence builder to see it spark on demand.

I forgot how to test it when at a race meeting and the poorly tightened (by me) screws mentioned came loose, and it cost me the rest of the weekend because I didn't work it out till I got home and I had it up on the bench!

Preferable to the dreaded Boyer and it's dicky pick up connections and low voltage issues.

Cheaper than most everything else. And I don't do idle.

Posh digital kit with crank pick up and rev limits etc might be nice, but won't make me quicker. Imposable rev limit might be good if I let someone else ride the bike!
 
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The Surefire has a sleep function that is too aggressive, all EI's (not sure about the old Lucas Rita) have a sleep function where the box turns on with the ignition but if they get no signals from the stator plate turn the box off, typically after 5 secs. To turn back on they await signals, Boyer need to receive one before they then fire on the next signal. The Surefire's need 2 signals and then fire on the 3rd, that's an extra 360 degrees of cranking, so on a big single like a B50 or a tuned 850 Commando you better have strong legs for a big enough kick, kick before it sleeps or bump start the bike.
 
Fitted a pazon Surefire to a customers 2a 850 along with a new custom made wiring harness so moved all the undertank connections into the headlamp shell, neatening up the wiring hugely. Started first kick (and i hate kickstarting, much prefer to push a button) If it has a sleep function it didn't make itself known. IMHO nothing to worry about.
 
kommando said:
The Surefire has a sleep function that is too aggressive, all EI's (not sure about the old Lucas Rita) have a sleep function where the box turns on with the ignition but if they get no signals from the stator plate turn the box off, typically after 5 secs. To turn back on they await signals, Boyer need to receive one before they then fire on the next signal. The Surefire's need 2 signals and then fire on the 3rd, that's an extra 360 degrees of cranking, so on a big single like a B50 or a tuned 850 Commando you better have strong legs for a big enough kick, kick before it sleeps or bump start the bike.
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and that is an engineering fail.

My Pazon Altair exhibits this EXACT SYMPTOM.

I hate that.

The old Boyer started so very much easier/more reliably.
 
concours said:
and that is an engineering fail.

My Pazon Altair exhibits this EXACT SYMPTOM.

I hate that.

The old Boyer started so very much easier/more reliably.
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On my bikes I have an effective kill switch.
( something every bike should have).
By switching it on and off a few times, I make the plugs spark just before kicking.
This makes the sleep function a non issue.
 
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htown16 said:
My 2p Trispark best but pricey. Pazon Surefire best for the price. Did one Trispark and 3 Surefires. The idle stabilization on the Trispark produced a bit better idle, only difference I could tell.
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Are you a BMOA member? I recently sold a Norton to a friend, JR who lives in Magnolia
Sam
 
I had a 750 that ran well with a Pazon but had a small tuning problem I couldn't resolve for about 2 months. Finally, after trying everything else several times I discovered the two set screws that hold the wires in place had loosened. I snugged them down and all was right. Not Pazon's fault, I'm very cautious about tightening the set screws.
 
seattle##gs said:
I had a 750 that ran well with a Pazon but had a small tuning problem I couldn't resolve for about 2 months. Finally, after trying everything else several times I discovered the two set screws that hold the wires in place had loosened. I snugged them down and all was right. Not Pazon's fault, I'm very cautious about tightening the set screws.
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Yea same here.
check it every once in a while.
Cheers,
Tom
 
seattle##gs said:
I had a 750 that ran well with a Pazon but had a small tuning problem I couldn't resolve for about 2 months. Finally, after trying everything else several times I discovered the two set screws that hold the wires in place had loosened. I snugged them down and all was right. Not Pazon's fault, I'm very cautious about tightening the set screws.
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This is exactly what I was alluding to. The screws loosened. No spark.

Tightened. End of. I check them occasionally. Normally fine.
 
I have had an Altair on my Mk3 for over 2 years never had a problem, I chose the Altair as it supposedly works down to 6 volts which is a bonus for the electric start,
 
SteveA said:
This is exactly what I was alluding to. The screws loosened. No spark.

Tightened. End of. I check them occasionally. Normally fine.
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Do Pazon include ferules for the cable ends, or is it bare wires into the terminal block? If not, it's probably worth fitting them as they are less likely to crush and therefore become loose.
 
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cliffa said:
Do Pazon include ferules for the cable ends, or is it bare wires into the terminal block? If not, it's probably woth fitting them as they are less likely to crush and therefore become loose.
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They didn't, no. I had forgotten, but actually I added my own as part of my fix. 👍
 
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