Starter Kickback!!

Hi,
I have just added a Boyer electronic ignition to my 1968 Commando I am now experiencing kickback...a new, and unmistakeable experience. I never had the problem with the old points system.

The timing is spot on with a strobe. I am told the kickback phenomenon could be due to low voltage. Is this possible.

My voltage is normally low with this bike. The battery is good but the charging system is below par & its difficult to run a headlight during the day without discharging the battery.

All suggestions are welcome!
Stephen

It shouldn't hurt to retard the ignition a couple of degrees and see if that cures it.

I have experienced the same issue with my 1970 Daytona. The battery would drop down to about 10v and then I would start to see the problem and could not get the bike to start. I put the charger on the battery got a good 12v and it started without an issue. I discovered that my alternator had been failing and replaced it with a new one, and I have not had the problem since then. If you try retarding the timing and that still does not help, you may want to consider a new alternator. There are some nice new ones with higher outputs then the old Lucas that would do the trick, but a new Lucas alternator should do the trick also.

Yeah, if the timing is set properly, it's probably a low voltage issue with the Boyer. Points/mechanical advance, of course, don't change their timing when voltage changes... I took a Boyer off my Commando for several reasons, starting being one of them and went back to points which worked better in every way. I used the points for 4 years until about two months ago when I switched to a trispark. It will fire properly at much lower voltage than the boyer and has more retard than the boyer (like points) at kickstart speeds. The Boyer has too much advance at kickstart speed, even with proper voltage, and too little advance in the midrange for best power/efficiency. Based on my personal experience, I'd go back to points if the only electronic choice was a Boyer. HOWEVER, I realize most folks disagree with me on that.