Hottest neato magneto spark

Magnetos put out the hottest spark by far. This is a Joe hunt mag with the new style rare earth magnets. Don't try this at home with your fingers in the wrong place.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/embed/0SBilLjtJVM[/video]

Hi Jim

As you know I am a true beleiver of the Joe Hunt maggies, had one on my 82 Triumph Thunderbird for over 9 years of trouble free riding and have one of the newer Joe Hunts on my Norton for nealy 5 years now, trouble free, I only take the front cover off every so often just to put a few drops of oil on the felt pad to lub the point cam and check the point, thats the only maintenace I have done so far, yes I wouldn't want to put my finger near that spark, I have been zapped by the older Joe Hunt and I can tell you it wasn't good feeling.

Ashley

MAGNETOS ! there those things you use at the begining of a Conga Chain at Partys , Id heard . :twisted:

There is a magneto on my Howard Rotivator which is powered by a twin cylinder Wisconsin engine. It lit off first rotation after sitting for a year. There is a 1/8 hose plug on the inlet of the updraft carburetor that I remove and squirt a spritz of lighter fluid into and away she goes. She ticks over like a swiss watch and will dig to China running at a mere tickover RPM. I would like a mag to try on my Norton. I have been eyeing the one on the Wisconsin thinking it would adapt up to the Norton. Two cylinders and all. AH, the name just came to me Fairbanks-Morse. PS I was bitten by a MSD equipped Firebird and I think my arm was numb for an hour or more.

Jim
How exactly is it affixed to the cases and what happens if the bike is dropped?

J

On a Commando,these Joe Hunt magnetos stick out like a sore thumb , and I wonder what happens in case you drop the bike.
They may perform well, but I hate the looks.
Did anyone try to mount these mags behind the timing cover, at the location where the mag was fitted on the older Norton twins?
Probably not one of the easiest modifications, but I wonder if it has been tried.

I noticed recently that Joe Hunt make a 3 bolt adapter plate for mounting in the stock location.

I got a BTH magneto for my featherbed project, but had I discovered this before, I would have gone for the Joe Hunt!

Well I like mine sticking out the side and I don't care what you think, I have droped mine twice now and haven't hurt it yet so you can say what you want about it hanging out it does it job better than any ohter ingistion system and I have use a few, if you are going to drop your bike on that side hard you are going to do more damage to your bike other then the Joe Hunt maggie.

Ashley

PS don't fall off

jseng1 said:

Magnetos put out the hottest spark by far. This is a Joe hunt mag with the new style rare earth magnets. Don't try this at home with your fingers in the wrong place.

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Do those have a spark advance mechanism added now?

Great vid, impressive output. I'd love to run a magneto one day, but not whilst it needs to be bolted onto the points housing. I know it requires major rework to move it, but It's ugly as sin sticking out the side. imo.

Old Bloke said:

but It's ugly as sin sticking out the side. imo.

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Like a supercharger sticking out the hood of a 427 1965 Chevy Nova type of ugly? Yes, my wife thinks such thing as ugly too.

I guess the point is, is that it is hard to appreciate the form unless you have experienced the function.
Quite frankly there Old Bloke, I can't see what you mean.

Less common view


More common view

pete.v said:

............ I can't see what you mean.

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You're funny Pete Nice photo's, I like those Mirror extensions that you made, is the image clear & can you see in the them without moving your elbows in ? I think if you put bar end mirrors on it they would stick out past the Magneto

pete.v said:

Old Bloke said:

but It's ugly as sin sticking out the side. imo.

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Like a supercharger sticking out the hood of a 427 1965 Chevy Nova type of ugly? Yes, my wife thinks such thing as ugly too.

I guess the point is, is that it is hard to appreciate the form unless you have experienced the function.
Quite frankly there Old Bloke, I can't see what you mean.

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No, I didn't expect you would, they are the "Marmite" of the Norton world. Frankly, I do appreciate the Form and function, it's the fit I don't like.

Ok, I understand from the claims that a magneto produces a "hotter" spark than either points or an EI ignition

so what?

what is the advantage?

does it start with first kick all the time versus first or second otherwise, is that it?

does the magneto hotter spark produce more hp or torque, is this a power benefit thing?

given the high cost and hanging off the right side negatives(to most people) then why a mag?

Hotter spark, reliablity, first kick every time, no need for a battery, less wiring, does not need full advance to start or any advance/retard system, the faster your motor runs the more spark it produces, less maintenance, if you don't like the looks of it then you don't need to buy one so simple, but if you ever run one on your bike you will never go back to other systems, the Joe Hunts works so well, the bike can sit for months if you need to and it will fire up straight away, batteries can die without warning, what else can I say and if you are going to crash your bike on that side I know for a fact that you are going to do more damge to your bike other than the Joe Hunt, how much does it cost to repair and repaint a fuel tank these days as well as exhaust pipes, handle bars, M/C, the list could go on, so why worry about it, I love my Joe Hunt and I don't care what anyone thinks about it, I like it sitting out where it does as it gets nice freash air flowing around it and when someone ask whats that thing is you can give them a good bull shit story and they will beleive you or you could let them grab the plug lead and give it a kick and watch their eye balls pop out of the eye sockets.

Ashley

I suggest that fitting the magneto sticking out in the breeze is like fitting a nice new fairing onto a race bike. It makes crashes much more likely to happen.

What does the Hogslayer run on his drag bike.

acotrel said:

I suggest that fitting the magneto sticking out in the breeze is like fitting a nice new fairing onto a race bike. It makes crashes much more likely to happen.

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Is that what you really suggest or just a vague observation? Why discourage ones favor? Is it simply because it isn't yours?
Who in the hell gives a crap about racing anyhow? The .1 percenters, that's who!

Is this where you racers start chiming in and take over? Go ahead, I'm done, maybe.

Peter R said:

On a Commando,these Joe Hunt magnetos stick out like a sore thumb , and I wonder what happens in case you drop the bike.
They may perform well, but I hate the looks.
Did anyone try to mount these mags behind the timing cover, at the location where the mag was fitted on the older Norton twins?
Probably not one of the easiest modifications, but I wonder if it has been tried.

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INDEED . search here'd cover it .

Thinking the early cam & chain gears , the cam chains outer with the Mag . Cant see a overhung or spacer on the tensioer'd hurt . Its just a piece ofd steel anyway .
A Mag ( or the correct type ( J.H. ) ) would go straight in Aft , on a pre 71 ,Commando . The one with the funny ignition behind the cylinders .

Tried Dropping a Points Ignition Commando on the Timing Cover , at a T in the wop wops at Night . The cover goes back and knocks the points to U/S anyway .

The Mag advantage is you DONT NEED the electrics , its self contained . Inverse to coils , the faster the gruntier . The ' Comp ' mags ( K2FC ) were actually to Improve the Spark at Start Up .

Besides , the whole output of the Alternator ( No Battery) through the headlamp at the ton plus at night cuts through mist like a steam train lamp .Pay to fit a limiter so you dont blow the beam
if you redline the sucker . Though thats with a custom alternator on the Pre Unit Triumph . If you didnt wind it up so fast it wouldnt blow . CVapacitor in the C'do - never had a battery . C.B. Ign .

Cant see that'd work with tansitor Ign. or as they call ' electronic ' . couldve swoirn the Mag. and Points were both ELECTRONIC . Dunno if all the transitorised are transitorised these days .
The Wonders of Modern Tecnology .

Heres the old SRII Lucas , on a Triumph . The Hunts a similar Contrivance - ROTATEING MAGNET , rather than rotateing armature .
The Armatures fixed . Thus less vibration fatiugue , chaffing of windings etc . Post 56 K2Fs had larger output shafts & bearings .
The earlier ones sheared the shaft / armature ( brass ) join . The Porcipine and G-45 ran the SRII , as the K2F fell to bits - with
the inirtial forces / rapid acceleration & deceleration .
The SRII in SRI & SRIIII were fitted to BSA fire pumps and Tractors . a I per Cyl. IIII = 4 Cyl . HUNT is a extremely similar type .
Though this Rare Earth bit seems to be a new development . Aft of the Cyls a A. Adv. drops right in . Though manual Adv. was common .

Is this where you racers start chiming in and take over? Go ahead, I'm done, maybe.
72 Commando Combat"ish" Hybrid Roadster "Red Hot"
These are simple machines, don't over think it.

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Simpler the Better . Better they run the better , idle response & milage . And if somebodys got the restraint and maturity not to thrash it into the ground , Full Marks .