New Programmable Ignition from Tri Spark

Tri-Spark has just announced their new, programmable ignition box for British twins, including our beloved Commandos.

http://trispark.blogspot.com.au/

Ken

Looks like more shake and bake electronics to me.

Why don't you buy one and let us know how it goes.

This looks like an excellent product yet decently priced.

I think I want one!

So now only the pickups are under the points cover, and all of the electronics are in an externally mounted unit.
That should eliminate the heating problems with the previous units.

BritTwit said:

So now only the pickups are under the points cover, and all of the electronics are in an externally mounted unit.
That should eliminate the heating problems with the previous units.

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I didn't get that impression looking at the picture.

That would be a big improvement. jim

the top pic looks like the control box so maybe no more shake and bake

comnoz said:

Looks like more shake and bake electronics to me.

Why don't you buy one and let us know how it goes.

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bill said:

the top pic looks like the control box so maybe no more shake and bake

comnoz said:

Looks like more shake and bake electronics to me.

Why don't you buy one and let us know how it goes.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

As Martha Stewart would say:

That's a good thing.

Electronics violently shaking around in high heat applications are bad news. This sounds better.

comnoz said:

Looks like more shake and bake electronics to me.

Why don't you buy one and let us know how it goes.

Click to expand...

Thought about it, but already have two of the regular Tri-Sparks, one in a bike and the other for a spare. And the new one is also pretty pricey. This one doesn't look like it has the low speed retard/advance curve for easy starting that is one of the good features of the regular Tri-Spark, and it doesn't look like it has enough programmability to tailor it to that. I'm still considering what to use in my current MKIII build, but I don't think I really need programmability for my street bike.

Ken

Tri-spark have offered a simpler programmable unit for triples for some time.

As some will recall me saying before, I had a 988cc BSA R3 motor that was running a Boyer with 4 volt coils and a wasted spark. The dyno chart looked like something was holding it back at the top end. With everything else being quite well sorted, I suspected the sparks.

So I fitted a Tri-spark (non-wasted spark) with 3 12 volts high output Dyna coils that delivered a HUGE fat spark (I could've welded with it). I set it up with the same timing and a stock advance curve and headed back to the Dyno. It showed an immediate (almost) 5bhp gain. I was well chuffed!

I then spent the best part of a whole day on the dyno playing with different permutations of advance curve and timing. Basically, I didn’t improve on that initial figure all day, and had to go a surprising amount away from initial settings before it got any worse.

My conclusion was that the inefficient combustion chamber design was very responsive to the big fat spark, but very unresponsive to changes to advance curve and seemingly not that responsive to changes to ign timing either.

I know the Norton has a better combustion chamber design than the R3, but its still quite poor by modern standards. I imagine that one set up with a high CR and tight squish should, in theory at least, respond better to such changes that the R3 motor did. But I’d wager the gains will not be huge.

Therefore I’m with Ken, if I were in the market for a new ign system I’d seriously consider this option. But there’s no way I’ll be buying one to replace my current one whilst it’s still functioning so well.

IMHO I would have thought that marketing a system with a knock sensor function would be the way to go these days to allow 'hassle free' use of whatever fuel is available no matter what engine tune you have.

No problem with mine. Five years so far.
I ride pretty hard so lots of heat, rpm and vibes.
Love the simplicity of the configuration
Programmability would be nice

Three Trisparks in my three Nortons, two multiple failures in two years, good support but don't like the waste of time spending hours on the road side waiting for a tow, and sending head units to Oz and back for replacement. Especially when you think you're replacing an outdated ignition system for a better, modern, reliable alternative that's not cheap.

freefly103 said:

Three Trisparks in my three Nortons, two multiple failures in two years, good support but don't like the waste of time spending hours on the road side waiting for a tow, and sending head units to Oz and back for replacement. Especially when you think you're replacing an outdated ignition system for a better, modern, reliable alternative that's not cheap.

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What does "two multiple failures" mean freefly? Is that two failures... Or multiple failures? I'm not trying to be a smart ass here, just trying to understand.

And what were the failure modes that you experienced, what were the symptoms and what warnings did you get prior to failure?

What diagnosis did you get from Steve?

And were the failures on the old Tri Spark system or the new one?

I've only had one Norton Tri Spark, plus two others. And I've had zero issues of any kind (there's tempting fate) on any of them.

So I am (currently) a confirmed Tri Spark fan, and am therefore very interested in your (and others) failure rates. And very interested in why some have failures and some do not.

Now I have REALLY tempted fate...!

lcrken said:

This one doesn't look like it has the low speed retard/advance curve for easy starting that is one of the good features of the regular Tri-Spark, and it doesn't look like it has enough programmability to tailor it to that.

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Looking at the text and image "The advance curve can be set with 11 points by simply dragging the dots on the curve or by entering the values in the boxes", I wonder if you couldn't dial in your own idle stabilization. If you can, in fact, enter in your own values, you should be able to make the curve look like anything you wanted.
So, who's going to pony up and take one for the team? I'm broke, and also madly in love with my Altair (which does have idle stabilization built in)

Nathan

I wonder if the programmability is worth the time to experiment on a dyno and the extra cost?? On a relatively stock 750 or 850 what could you expect to gain in HP or torque? I'm certainly glad that Tri-Spark is continuing in development; signs of a healthy company. I have "standard" Tri-Sparks on two Nortons and one 76 degree Triumph and 'am very pleased.

I am aware that Ducati uses (in part) the advance curve to tame power delivery, could this become a factor if one has a high-performance Norton? Or is this a solution to a problem that no one has? Don't know.

Most engines' mid range power is better with more advance than is best for redline power. They need to have that advanced spark point delayed, or "pulled," as engine speed rises, as combustion events speed up, and ignition too early results in too much pressure before the piston reaches top dead center.

lcrken said:

This one doesn't look like it has the low speed retard/advance curve for easy starting that is one of the good features of the regular Tri-Spark, and it doesn't look like it has enough programmability to tailor it to that.
Ken

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Does it stop timing advance on low battery voltage startup to prevent kickbacks?
Don't see anything related in the write up.

Did anyone read anything about being able to drive twin plugged heads? My BBconnection is faulty until at least Monday, I only get a few minutes at a time.


The RITA was allegedly not up to it and the Pirana has always been fragile - to the extent it has now lost a cylinder.







I am waiting for the guzzi version.

If you want sequential ignition that will drive twin plugged singles or twins google secu 3, this with 1 crankshaft cks looking at the engine sprocket and a second looking at a camshaft cks with a camshaft wheel with 1 or 2 gaps depending on single or twin . This will give you sequential ignition or you can go hall sensor on cam and wasted spark. Programmable on the fly via PC or android, fires digital coils, inputs from MAP in inlet manifold, temp sensor, knock sensor, 2 selectable curves via simple 2 way switch of 4 via rotary switch.

For the sake of discussion, I recently swapped my Joe Hunt for the Pazon Smartfire.
This unit offer a hotter spark like the Maggie yet offers a curve where as the Maggie did not.
The Smartfire is also programmable although you need to send it back for this service.
I am oh so very pleased with the performance and the response is dynamic and smooth throughout the entire rev range.
I believe Comnoz'z issue may be with the pick up delivery system. If it is like a Smartfire, then it is a Hall effect unit. Jim is sensitive about Hall effect units. I feel he may have trust issues.

Anyhow, it sure seems to me that the new Trispark system is their answer to the Smartfire. If it throws a spark anything like the Pazon, and holds up like the Pazon, then it should be a good alternative with the home programming available.