Joe Hunt Magneto for Atlas

seattle##gs · Jan 29, 2025

They lost their main guy in the shop and believe that timing for a single is beyond a mortal man. My JH is behind the cylinders. Purchased from JS.

gpzkat · Jan 29, 2025

seattle##gs said:
They lost their main guy in the shop and believe that timing for a single is beyond a mortal man. My JH is behind the cylinders. Purchased from JS.

Somehow my little crap-box 79 Honda ATC110 still fires first pull running a points & coil ignition and a magneto, and lights up the little DC 6V headlight and taillight with its AC power too, no reg/rec in sight. Maybe I'm missing something complicated though. Same as many lawn mowers I've owned (sans lights generally speaking though).

jms · Jan 30, 2025

Schwany said:
So what did you end up doing for ignition? Still thinking about it?

I went with the Joe Hunt. I liked the fact that it is stand alone and has a really strong spark

annajeannette · Jan 30, 2025

jms said:
So here’s a question fir all. Looks like my Lucas K2F mag requires at total rebuild. Anybody here have any first hand experience with the Joe Hunt mag. E mailed Jim Schmidt and he says the Hunt mag is far superior. Just trying to not waist $ !!!

well in my 52 year of doing motorcyle restorations you cannot beat the lucas K2FC see my one is the orinial to the bike and nearing 65 years old and still in working condintion and spare parts plentyful and easy to rebuild and understand there are vidoes out there that gives you all the info you need the Lucas K2Fc was made for competion racing and reliable today there just feeling there age and need a good magneto guy to give it a rebuld it should then last you out or in to you late 80s electronics are fine but you relie on the battery even a rolls royce is as good has its battery but a Norton with Lucas fitted is better as you only need a battery for lighing only i would soon invest in a rebuid the a JOE HUNT witch is no better

Fast Eddie · Jan 30, 2025

seattle##gs said:
I like the jh mg very much and would like to put one on the Goldstar but I would like to talk to someone who has done it already. JH is reluctant to build a mag for a single...I know the have a coil with a single output as well as one for twins but it's difficult to talk to them. Perhaps it's better now. Keeping the coil boots on the mag has been a problem.

If it’s difficult to talk to them when ordering, imagine what it’ll be like when trying to get answers to problems !

If it’s not a proven off the shelf offering, I wouldn’t proceed any further with them IMO.

A mag was stock on many beeza singles back in the day, so a reconditioned original mag would be the best option IF you wanted a mag IMO.

marinatlas · Jan 31, 2025

Joe Hunt mag

Has anyone put a Joe Hunt magneto on a Goldstar? Mine's a 1955 CB. I realize some fabrication is necessary and within my abilities...anything I need to know?

www.britbike.com

May be some info there ...? but I just realize it was you who start the post

My post should reply to Seatle GS oups !!!!

jms · Jan 31, 2025

annajeannette said:
well in my 52 year of doing motorcyle restorations you cannot beat the lucas K2FC see my one is the orinial to the bike and nearing 65 years old and still in working condintion and spare parts plentyful and easy to rebuild and understand there are vidoes out there that gives you all the info you need the Lucas K2Fc was made for competion racing and reliable today there just feeling there age and need a good magneto guy to give it a rebuld it should then last you out or in to you late 80s electronics are fine but you relie on the battery even a rolls royce is as good has its battery but a Norton with Lucas fitted is better as you only need a battery for lighing only i would soon invest in a rebuid the a JOE HUNT witch is no better

I get it. I’ve kept the K2F and do intend to rebuild it. Was wondering what people think of the Brightspark Easycap approach

Schwany · Jan 31, 2025

jms said:
I get it. I’ve kept the K2F and do intend to rebuild it. Was wondering what people think of the Brightspark Easycap approach

The K2F does put out one hefty spark with non-resistor plugs, copper or stainless core plug wires, and standard rubber plug boots. When I had one installed on my P11 it wasn't difficult to start with the AAU, but kind of a PITA to setup initially. I have no idea how easy it would be to start locked at full advance without the AAU. I know what has been said about starting the JH without the AAU, but I'd have to do it myself to verify. The Brightspark caps would/could be worth doing if you are going to rebuild the K2F anyway.

My K2F has been sitting in a box for 3 decades. The slip ring needed to be cleaned and that was all it took to get a good spark out of it turning it by hand. I won't be reinstalling it, but I know it is still good. Anyway, the K2F can hold up to time. Mine was rebuilt in the late 70's.

Is your project running yet with the Joe Hunt magneto?

jms · Jan 31, 2025

Schwany said:
The K2F does put out one hefty spark with non-resistor plugs, copper or stainless core plug wires, and standard rubber plug boots. When I had one installed on my P11 it wasn't difficult to start with the AAU, but kind of a PITA to setup initially. I have no idea how easy it would be to start locked at full advance without the AAU. I know what has been said about starting the JH without the AAU, but I'd have to do it myself to verify. The Brightspark caps would/could be worth doing if you are going to rebuild the K2F anyway.

My K2F has been sitting in a box for 3 decades. The slip ring needed to be cleaned and that was all it took to get a good spark out of it turning it by hand. I won't be reinstalling it, but I know it is still good. Anyway, the K2F can hold up to time. Mine was rebuilt in the late 70's.

Is your project running yet with the Joe Hunt magneto?

No it’s not running yet but could be. I was coming down off a step ladder and thought the next step was the floor but I was one step up. Over I went and tore my quad ligament right off my knee cap. Ouch. 5 weeks ago I had surgery to repair it. 1 hour procedure. 6 month recovery. Problem is I can’t kick it over

Fast Eddie · Jan 31, 2025

jms said:
No it’s not running yet but could be. I was coming down off a step ladder and thought the next step was the floor but I was one step up. Over I went and tore my quad ligament right off my knee cap. Ouch. 5 weeks ago I had surgery to repair it. 1 hour procedure. 6 month recovery. Problem is I can’t kick it over

Ouch!

Don’t rush things dude. If you do, you’ll no doubt pay later. Follow the recovery advice / plan and enlist the services of a good physiotherapist.

After 7 broken bones and numerous tears / sprains etc… I consider myself quite the uneducated expert in these matters !

ashman · Feb 1, 2025

annajeannette said:
well in my 52 year of doing motorcyle restorations you cannot beat the lucas K2FC see my one is the orinial to the bike and nearing 65 years old and still in working condintion and spare parts plentyful and easy to rebuild and understand there are vidoes out there that gives you all the info you need the Lucas K2Fc was made for competion racing and reliable today there just feeling there age and need a good magneto guy to give it a rebuld it should then last you out or in to you late 80s electronics are fine but you relie on the battery even a rolls royce is as good has its battery but a Norton with Lucas fitted is better as you only need a battery for lighing only i would soon invest in a rebuid the a JOE HUNT witch is no better

A modern Joe Hunt with the 4 rare earth magnets well out perform a Lucas K2FC any day, easier to work on if need too, point, condenser and coil all under the front cover and a bigger spark than the rest.

jms · Nov 16, 2025

So I'm finally getting around to starting the engine of my Atlas project and, as some of you are aware, I installed a new Joe Hunt mag. The engine is completely new. Mains. rod bearings, valves , guides, 20+ pistons but is really stiff to kick over. To date no smoke! No life when trying to bump start it down a hill in 4th. When I pull the plugs and kick it over no spark. A few weeks ago I pulled the mag and bench tested it with a drill motor and it did spark so I put it back in, re-timed it, checked the correct AAU chain slack. Checked that the points were opening at exactly 28 degrees BFTDC with a degree wheel, checked the valve clearance. and made sure that the idle circuit on the 930's where all clear. Plugs are getting gas.
So here's the question, how fast does an engine need to spin to produce a spark on the JH? There's no spark showing with both plugs removed and one grounded out. Kinda weird considering how strong of a spark they are supposed to produce. Not even a pop? What could it be?

t ingermanson · Nov 16, 2025

jms said:
So I'm finally getting around to starting the engine of my Atlas project and, as some of you are aware, I installed a new Joe Hunt mag. The engine is completely new. Mains. rod bearings, valves , guides, 20+ pistons but is really stiff to kick over. To date no smoke! No life when trying to bump start it down a hill in 4th. When I pull the plugs and kick it over no spark. A few weeks ago I pulled the mag and bench tested it with a drill motor and it did spark so I put it back in, re-timed it, checked the correct AAU chain slack. Checked that the points were opening at exactly 28 degrees BFTDC with a degree wheel, checked the valve clearance. and made sure that the idle circuit on the 930's where all clear. Plugs are getting gas.
So here's the question, how fast does an engine need to spin to produce a spark on the JH? There's no spark showing with both plugs removed and one grounded out. Kinda weird considering how strong of a spark they are supposed to produce. Not even a pop? What could it be?

Starting in 4th is a tall order unless it's a crazy steep hill. 2nd? Ease the kickstarter over until right after the stiffest spot in the stroke, and try from there.

But really, it should spark at kickover speeds given you've got the correct leads and plugs, no matter what else is happening. Tried in the dark to make sure?

jms · Nov 17, 2025

Hmm. Good point on the gearing but it is a steep hill. Will try it in the dark. Thanks

Schwany · Nov 17, 2025

jms said:
So here's the question, how fast does an engine need to spin to produce a spark on the JH? There's no spark showing with both plugs removed and one grounded out. Kinda weird considering how strong of a spark they are supposed to produce. Not even a pop? What could it be?

My guess is it is grounded out somehow once installed on the engine if it does not make a spark. Sounds like you might already know that, but that is about the only thing that would prevent a good magneto from sparking. Check your kill button. It might be stuck.

I can spin my K2F by hand and get a spark, so you should not have to kick any harder than you would with any ignition unless you have high compression 10:1 plus. Also if the bike has been sitting with a full oil tank and you do not have a device for clearing the sump or preventing the sump from filling up, your sump could be full, which will make the engine harder to kick over. A low compression engine should be relatively easy to kick over.

ashman · Nov 17, 2025

My Norton will kick over on very slow lazy kicks, the biggest kick for the day is the first one when the motor has sat over night or longer after it has fired up it always fire on 1/2 a swing on the kicker, I be checking the earth wire to the maggie (kill switch) or the earth wire inside the JH as that be the only thing stopping the spark, my mate's Triumph had a bad misfire and hard to start with his JH after running with it for 20 years till it wouldn't fire up one day, was a bad earth wire behind the back of the maggie coil shorting out, fixed that and its back to running normal, just make sure the wires under the JH cover is not caught up on anything when the cover goes back on.

Fast Eddie · Nov 17, 2025

I assume your Atlas mag is behind the barrels?

JH also sell Norton mags to mount on the timing cover… which spins in the opposite direction.

I’d be wondering if yours perhaps had the wrong internals, cam etc, designed for the opposite rotation?

There was a guy on here some while ago who had a new JH mag that had inadvertently been fitted with a cam for a Harley… so mistakes do happen…

I ran a JH mag for a while, it was on a track bike so I only ever started it on rollers, but it always started INSTANTLY, so something ain’t right with yours…

jms · Nov 17, 2025

Schwany said:
My guess is it is grounded out somehow once installed on the engine if it does not make a spark. Sounds like you might already know that, but that is about the only thing that would prevent a good magneto from sparking. Check your kill button. It might be stuck.

I can spin my K2F by hand and get a spark, so you should not have to kick any harder than you would with any ignition unless you have high compression 10:1 plus. Also if the bike has been sitting with a full oil tank and you do not have a device for clearing the sump or preventing the sump from filling up, your sump could be full, which will make the engine harder to kick over. A low compression engine should be relatively easy to kick over.

jms · Nov 17, 2025

I would say your correct about the grounding. The kill switch is disconnected. Must be internal. But where?

jms · Nov 17, 2025

ashman said:
My Norton will kick over on very slow lazy kicks, the biggest kick for the day is the first one when the motor has sat over night or longer after it has fired up it always fire on 1/2 a swing on the kicker, I be checking the earth wire to the maggie (kill switch) or the earth wire inside the JH as that be the only thing stopping the spark, my mate's Triumph had a bad misfire and hard to start with his JH after running with it for 20 years till it wouldn't fire up one day, was a bad earth wire behind the back of the maggie coil shorting out, fixed that and its back to running normal, just make sure the wires under the JH cover is not caught up on anything when the cover goes back on.

Joe Hunt Magneto for Atlas

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