New improved tri-spark

I got an email form Tri-spark

http://www.trispark.blogspot.com.au/201 ... -2013.html

I think it is good news.

From your link:

What you get now is –
A new test mode that allows for easy testing at the press of a button, on the bike or bench.
Higher fault tolerance to high voltage spikes.
A robust module encapsulated for moisture, oil and vibration resistance using a new softer material (long exposure to water and oil is not recommended).
Tests have proved that the system is able -
To withstand 24 volts continuously for 10 minutes, at operating temperature.
To withstand up to 200 volt DC spikes on the power input.
To withstand reverse polarity continuously.
Some things haven’t changed.
Mechanical fitting is the same.
Same wiring colours and connections.
Same ignition timing, dwell control and idle control.
Same coil compatibility.
LED for static timing and testing has been retained.

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are these new changes solutions to problems that I do not have with my present Trispark?

seems so

And it's cheaper @ $295.00..... :mrgreen:

Good to know they are correcting problems! I have often been concerned that I might accidentally plug my Commando into a 200VDC power source or accidentally convert its' battery system to 24V without realizing it. With the new TS, that would no longer be a concern!

Seriously, nice that they are always looking to improve the system though I have to say that I haven't experienced anything but faultless operation from my trispark. I do recall reading a few years back of a instance or two where they allegedly overheated/melted the potting material but I don't recall the specifics. But I'll stick with the old, obsolete version until it gives me a reason to do otherwise.

mike996 said:

I do recall reading a few years back of a instance or two where they allegedly overheated/melted the potting material but I don't recall the specifics.

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It was traced to incomplete mixing of the uncured potting compound. As a result, the mixing procedure was changed, which, as far as I'm aware, completely solved the problem.

Some of us had problems. I went through three units. Finally the fourth unit (replaced brand new) went to the eBay gods.
Boyer thus far has had little to no problem with the unit itself just the ancillary items around it. Boyer is a stop gap between what I hoped would be amazing (trispark) and what I can't wait to get(Joe Hunt Maggie)

It was interesting to read that when Doug Mcrae's Joe Hunt Mag quit, he borrowed a Boyer unit from Kenny Cummings. Doug reported that the Boyer gave him a smoother running engine and a couple more horsepower. Boyer seems to have a bottom of the food chain rep but maybe not such a bad system afterall?
I have it on both Nortons, installed prior to my ownership. Both bikes start and run well on it, no problems to date.

Glen

When and where can we get the new version?

great - should i pull out my $125 pazon on my 2 commandos which have ran flawless for 5 years so i can get the "upgraded " tris-spark that apparently needs these things so it won't fail -

well after-all its more expensive so it must be better :roll:

worntorn said:

It was interesting to read that when Doug Mcrae's Joe Hunt Mag quit, he borrowed a Boyer unit from Kenny Cummings. Doug reported that the Boyer gave him a smoother running engine and a couple more horsepower. Boyer seems to have a bottom of the food chain rep but maybe not such a bad system afterall?
I have it on both Nortons, installed prior to my ownership. Both bikes start and run well on it, no problems to date.

Glen

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I agree whole heartedly that the Boyer has been a solution to ignition issues. It just concerns me that they are so reliant on other features on the bike like alternator battery etc that leave you on the side of the road.
The joe hunt is totally isolated from the rest of the bike. Carry spare capacitor and at least the exploding will keep happening in the bores to get home.
EI's on the other hand have had their being its, particularly the trispark. I got to know my local MC towtruck guy (Gary) real well. Even bought him a bottle of rum for Xmas!!!

A good friend& wife rode his 47 Rapide 16,000 miles from Vancouver, BC to Tierra Del Fuego, Chile. For the reasons you mention, he removed the EI he had fitted previously and re- installed the stock Lucas magneto. He also made a sealed cast alloy housing to attach to the front of the motor. It looks like part of the original engine and houses a spare magneto.
He had two emergency kits on the table at home, one fitted out with everything necessary to rebuild the top end, the other more extensive kit to rebuild the entire motor and gearbox. His daughter was at home, so she would get the request to send kit one or kit two.
Before the trip he practised his mechanics by dismantling the engine right down to crankpin and reassembling to running, just using the onboard toolkit.
In the end the only mechanical failure was the speedo cable, didn't even need the backup mag!

Glen

don't get me wrong, i love mag's - but wouldn't a replacement EI box take up less room for a long trip w/ extra gear then a second maggie in case of failure if one was really concerned about it?

worntorn said:

A good friend& wife rode his 47 Rapide 16,000 miles from Vancouver, BC to Tierra Del Fuego, Chile. For the reasons you mention, he removed the EI he had fitted previously and re- installed the stock Lucas magneto. He also made a sealed cast alloy housing to attach to the front of the motor. It looks like part of the original engine and houses a spare magneto.
He had two emergency kits on the table at home, one fitted out with everything necessary to rebuild the top end, the other more extensive kit to rebuild the entire motor and gearbox. His daughter was at home, so she would get the request to send kit one or kit two.
Before the trip he practised his mechanics by dismantling the engine right down to crankpin and reassembling to running, just using the onboard toolkit.
In the end the only mechanical failure was the speedo cable, didn't even need the backup mag!

Glen

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Dan doesn't think like a normal person does, but it works for him.
He built this in his basement from chunks of raw material, took about 18 months. He built every piece, made moulds, even made the carbs.
http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/class ... plica.aspx
I've ridden this bike, it is smoother than a Commando, amazing.
Then he built a replica Series A Rapide twin, now he almost has his Velo Roarer done, fabricating the Supercharger at the moment
He likes to replicate things that there are none of or very few of. So if he says a mag is best, no point in arguing!
I like the EI a lot though, just ordered a Pazon super duper double hot custom advance curve setup for the project bike.

worntorn said:

Dan doesn't think like a normal person does, but it works for him.
He built this in his basement from chunks of raw material, took about 18 months. He built every piece, made moulds, even made the carbs.
http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/class ... plica.aspx
I've ridden this bike, it is smoother than a Commando, amazing.
Then he built a replica Series A Rapide twin, now he almost has his Velo Roarer done, fabricating the Supercharger at the moment
He likes to replicate things that there are none of or very few of. So if he says a mag is best, no point in arguing!
I like the EI a lot though, just ordered a Pazon super duper double hot custom advance curve setup for the project bike.

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Holey Dooley!!!
This guy is amazing. Read the story from the link. It amazes me the level of engineering and creativity some people are blessed with.
Would love to see the velo

Dan is quite amazing. A few years ago, He and two other club members were a couple of hundred miles from home when his trans started making frightening noises. Rather than call for help , or try to make it home as most of us would, he took the gear cluster out of the bike at the side of the road, all laid out orderly on a clean rag. He identified the problem and decided he could put it back together a safely have 3rd gear only. It took him labout 30 minutes from pulling over with busted gearbox until ready to ride in third gear.
Since his bike was wounded, his buddies let him ride ahead. He was taking it easy, doing about 55 mph. The other two riders decided to pull back a bit then blitz him by ripping by either side of him at well over 100 mph, big joke as Dan is normally pretty quick and would not be too happy about his predicament. As the two pranksters were riding along in front, now slowed down and chortling to themselves, Dan went up the middle ofthem at about 110 mph, just a nice speed for a Vincent twin wound out in third!
:mrgreen:

I'm still running points on my Combat and have been thinking about upgrading to a TriSpark this summer. Are you guys implying thatbis a bad idea?

Some people love em, swear by em and swear at em.
I was the latter.
My local norton parts supplier agreed with me. He reckon on a trident or rocket 111, nothing come near the trispark but the commando had to much vibration. I don't know if this is correct or not, his opinion not mine but he stocks both trispark and Boyer (heaps cheaper) and recommends Boyer units to his v
Customers.
I didn't get to the bottom of the issues with my three dead units as they were all replaced under warranty. As I said before, sold the fourth one (brand new) on fleabay. Didn't even take it out the box.
Having said all that, on my way to work, my ignition starts backfiring this morning. EI Should not be spoken about when they are running is my conclusion. I am leaving this topic now and hope my Boyer works when I go home this arvo. I shall never speak of it again!!!

First thing is to realize that none of the e-ignitions are going to out perform your oem points/AAU if it is properly maintained/adjusted. None of them are going to function at a low voltage level that the points will with no issue at all. OTOH, the e systems don't need adjustment or maint. If you are OK with maintaining the points/AAU, I wouldn't hesitate to leave it alone. I took a Boyer off my bike which was there when I bought it and ran oem points for 5 years. Removal of the boyer/installlation of the points made the bike a one-kick starter and improved the midrange response (due the the oem's LESS advance at kickstart speed and greater advance at mid-range RPM compared to the Boyer. I had no intention of ever going to e-ignition but when the TS showed up, I read a lot of favorable reviews and saw the published advance curve, which pretty much duplicates oem, and decided to give it a try. It has been great on my Commando but apparently, some folks have had trouble with it. In any case, If you are really wanting an E-ignition, I recommend you get one that duplicates the oem advance curve as closely as possible. The addition of some retard at kickstart and idle speed is also a good thing; the TS has that and I'm sure some other newer E-systems do as well.

But none of them will outperform your oem system on the road.

I have had one failed Tri spark , which as previously explained may have been my own fault .
It was replaced promptly , no argument , no cost , since then the new one has done many miles under all conditions , and functioned faultlessly, starts and idles perfectly .
I for one am a fan of both the product and the service .
Others may be as good , but in my experience , not the boyers I have had .

mike996 said:

First thing is to realize that none of the e-ignitions are going to out perform your oem points/AAU if it is properly maintained/adjusted

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Main reason to go to EI vs points is that the characteristic will not change in time : Maybe current quality of points have improved but in the 80s Lucas was delivering points that needed to be tune every 500kms . Performance was perfect on day 1 , but wear happens very quickly then synchronization was gone and starting becoming a PITA.
The Boyer was fine then , they now deliver more than one flavor of it and newer EI are better than old ones.