They aren't all in Museums just yet!

Back home again, fields to mow, lawns to mow and weeds to kill. But I am ready to be off the bike for awhile.
2,478 miles covered. It ran like a dream. Only problem encountered was the burned out voltage regulator which had no effect on operation of the bike once the big 18ah battery was in place. I am sure it would run two full/days or about six hundred miles without charging. I charged it each night to be sure.
The small Li battery died and would no longer take a charge after the first discharge to 12.6 volts. I disconnected it and will dispose of it. I met three other fellows at the rally who have tried Shorai Li batteries unsucessfully, one in a new KTM. My Li battery is/was a Ballistic.

They aren't all in Museums just yet!
 
[quote="Fast Eddie
I am actually a fan of magnetos though. The only reason I decided against one for my Vin was the theory that the second cylinder will never receive 'proper' spark as there is inadequate 'charge time' between the first and second spark.

Is that a theory that you agree with?[/quote]

And that is why you go and fit a modern BTH magneto with 2 x capacitors (mini coils) that charge up before the kick cycle.
 
My riding mate's bike , the other bike in the photos, has a new BTH. It starts reasonably well, but nothing like my one kick wonder with the dual point dual coil converted Commando ignition. It wows everyone, consistently starts easier than any of electronic ignition bikes or magneto bikes with reconditioned mags. Bikes with original mags generally are about useless, especially once warm.
I noticed my friend's bike with the new generation BTH generally took two or three kicks and sometimes , especially when left sit for an hour or so, took multiple kicks to fire up. It is my understanding that the new BTH is not really a magneto, but a small internal generator with an electronic ignition fired by that generator.
In any case, I will put up with tidying up and setting the points every 15,000 miles for the ease of starting and supersmooth idle. There is something about that great big fat blue spark at very low kick over speed that just makes the engine jump to life.

Glen
 
2500 miles on a Vincent sounds like a GREAT ride!
I am envious and not ashamed to admit it.

Old bikes and the pacific coast, not a bad combination.
Post more pics.
 
worntorn said:
My riding mate's bike , the other bike in the photos, has a new BTH. It starts reasonably well, but nothing like my one kick wonder with the dual point dual coil converted Commando ignition.
Glen

Can you divulge some more detail please, it is based on a 67 / 68 Commando distributor ?
Great Vincent report of course.
 
The bike came to me with this ignition. There is no distributor, just a set of points, a condensor and coil for each cylinder. Apparently this was the hot setup for Vincents back in the 1970s. I have seen one or two home built versions, which mine may be, though I think it is more likely a "Dolphin" unit. It uses the late model Commando dual points and backing plate, though the individual point set mounting positions on the backer plate have been changed to create the 50 degree timing for the Vincent. I'm not certain if the points cam is from a Commando or is custom made. The points and condensors are mounted in a three point magneto replacement housing.
I have a Series D distributor on my other Rapide. It gives a good spark but the Dolphin dual point unit appears to produce a hotter spark.
The bike with the Dolphin unit also outperforms my Distributor ignition bike, even though on paper it should be the other way around. So far it has out pulled every Vincent I have ridden with, even some that were highly modified for extra performance.

Glen
 
My apologies Dave.
We were travelling with a group and they wanted to stick to the 101. If I am on a solo run down that way next time I will stop in. :oops:

Glen
 
worntorn said:
My apologies Dave.
We were travelling with a group and they wanted to stick to the 101. If I am on a solo run down that way next time I will stop in. :oops:

Glen

Fair enough! We would have been glad to make a run to the coast, schedules permitting. Ain't that far!
 
Havin' a beer with the guys at Gregg's last Tuesday night and a guy rode in on a nice Vincent with a sidecar. Sorry, didn't get a photo. They are still out there.
 
worntorn said:
The bike came to me with this ignition. There is no distributor, just a set of points, a condenser and coil for each cylinder.

Glen

I was thinking it might be something that could be done to the Sunbeam and was thinking (incorrectly) that mechanism off the timing side on the early Commando was some form of distributor.
 
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