Pazon vs. Magneto

Paul W. · Jul 5, 2018

I’m tossing the idea around of scrapping the magneto and going with a Pazon on my N15. Any cons with this setup? I ran a Boyer on my 69 Triumph and have a Pamco on my XS650 and I really like the setup and not having to tinker around with points and dwell. Just set it and forget it.

My other option I’m looking at is sending the Joe Hunt magneto to the factory and getting it rebuilt with neodymium magnets (rare earth). They are roughly 15X stronger, produce a hotter spark, and will start when the engine is warm.

Thoughts?

texasSlick · Jul 5, 2018

My preference (note that I am a magneto man) would be send the JH in for a rebuild.

With a magneto, no problems with a weak battery, or no battery if you prefer (I use a small battery to keep the lights up at idle).

I would love my Lucas K2FC to have the powerful magnets of the JH, but in lieu of a JH, I'll stick with the K2FC.

As I remember, your bike has the JH mounted behind the barrels, in place of the original Lucas. Be sure to ask if the new magnets are rated for the environment of that location.

Slick

Paul W. · Jul 5, 2018

Yes, it is behind the barrels, which makes it a real blister to work on. I’ll have to give JH a call tomorrow and see what they say about the heat.

I put a Sparx capacitor in where the battery should go. I got the bike with no battery. I replaced the headlight with a halogen bulb and it lasted all of twenty minutes before it blew. If that doesn’t cut it, I’ll install an exit light battery. It worked great for my old Triumph.

Thanks for the response, even if you are biased towards magnetos.

texasSlick · Jul 6, 2018

Back in the dark ages before Zener diode regulators, all bulbs would burn out in a heartbeat if the battery became disconnected.

Even with a modern rectifier, a battery helps to stabilize the system voltage. What kind of voltage rectifier/regulator do you have? You should check your system voltage with a volt meter ..... at 3000 rpm, it should not be more than 14.2 volts.

Slick

Paul W. · Jul 6, 2018

It still has a zener diode. I was getting voltage fluctuations without the capacitor. It settled down to 12.8v at idle. I didnt rev it up to 3K. Right now it’s running extremely rough after I installed new points and condenser from JH. I may put the other condenser back and see if that works. I also got a new set of plugsto see if that helps. The other possible issue is a hairline crack in the cap, but that was there before. I should just pull the whole works off the bike, bite the bullet, and send it in for a rebuild.

That’ll all have to wait until Sunday. Off to Pacific Beach to enjoy some cool, cloudy weather. I’ll be passing right through Elma, where the INOA rally will be in a couple of weeks.

ashman · Jul 6, 2018

Get the JH rebuilt or buy a new one with the 4 rare earth I have been running JHs on my old Triumph and now on my 850 for over 7 years now without touching it first kick every time and simple wiring for the rest of the bike, have run it without a battery but a small battery helps with all lighting but I ride mostly day time on it and only use barke light for day use no day time light, I have a battery eliminator if I need to use the head light and tail light if I get caught out at night.

Ashley

robs ss · Jul 6, 2018

I've got a Pazon Smartfire on my single and, although I'd rate it very good, it's not completely trouble free.
Occasionally when I kick it I can tell it's got "that sound". I need to lift the seat and press the reset button until I get the "fast blink" on the red LED. Starts first kick after that.
I suppose it's telling that I will keep the K2FC on the 650ss (yes Ash, I know the JH is superior but I'm not ready to go there yet.)

Rob

ashman · Jul 7, 2018

I suppose it's telling that I will keep the K2FC on the 650ss (yes Ash, I know the JH is superior but I'm not ready to go there yet.

Rob[/QUOTE

Rob I have a Lucas Competition maggie for my Manxman it works pretty good, but if it ever fails a new JH will go on it, I am not that rich but I have never had a JH fail and they have always been a one kick to start everytime.

Ashley

Paul W. · Jul 8, 2018

ashman said:
Get the JH rebuilt or buy a new one with the 4 rare earth I have been running JHs on my old Triumph and now on my 850 for over 7 years now without touching it first kick every time and simple wiring for the rest of the bike, have run it without a battery but a small battery helps with all lighting but I ride mostly day time on it and only use barke light for day use no day time light, I have a battery eliminator if I need to use the head light and tail light if I get caught out at night.

Ashley

Does your’s have the rare earth magnets? I did notice your mag mounted on the timing cover, whereas mine is behind the engine heating up. It can be a bear to start when warm. I do not have a retard lever on mine.

mdt-son · Jul 8, 2018

ashman said:
Get the JH rebuilt or buy a new one with the 4 rare earth I have been running JHs on my old Triumph and now on my 850 for over 7 years now without touching it first kick every time and simple wiring for the rest of the bike

There is a lot going for magneto ignition. The G/N15 series as well as the Dominators used them until earlý 1967. I wonder if it's possible to upgrade the anchor of the K2F with these earth magnets? I believe the anchors are still made?

-Knut

ashman · Jul 8, 2018

Paul W. said:
Does your’s have the rare earth magnets? I did notice your mag mounted on the timing cover, whereas mine is behind the engine heating up. It can be a bear to start when warm. I do not have a retard lever on mine.

Yes its a moden JH with 4 rare earth magnets and puts out such a big spark, the old JH on my Triumph was a 2 rare earth magnets and had it on the Triumph for 9 years trouble free running with over 200k kms on it, it was my only transport in them days and always started on first kick, but if mounted behind the motor they need to get cool air some how around it, sitting off my timing side its running in cool fresh air all the time and have had no problems with it in over 7 years use and so far the only thing I have done to it was to lube the felt pad that runs on the points cam.

Ashley

texasSlick · Jul 8, 2018

Paul W. said:
It can be a bear to start when warm. I do not have a retard lever on mine.

I would say your magneto has a problem ..... perhaps the magnets have succumbed to heat.

As your JH replaced the K2F, you likely have the auto advance unit on the drive end.

Slick

Pazon vs. Magneto

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