Tri spark timing again !

The yaki

The yaki

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Not wanting kickbacks and also being able to kickstart it I have been looking at options. I won't need top speed, or full on acceleration. So then, if I get the kickstart, sorry , old story, working what mark is best. I have now been told that at 750 rpm, tri spark will fire at 2 degrees after tdc. Perfect sounding ? Anyone tried this setting and then at 3000 rpm after ?? Roy. Ps can't check it till gearbox back together !!
 
And then check it's at 2 degrees after tdc at 750rpm? Roy. Ps I have a 350 yr5 for occasional lunacy !
 
Last edited:
Not quite sure what you’re asking to be honest.

Tri Spark has an excellent anti kick back function. Also an excellent LED timing light for setting the ign timing when static.

All you gotta do is follow the instructions, set it statically and then check with a strobe when running.

There’s no need to check anything at 750rpm. I don’t even know how you could do that !?
 
The yaki said:
Not wanting kickbacks and also being able to kickstart it I have been looking at options. I won't need top speed, or full on acceleration. So then, if I get the kickstart, sorry , old story, working what mark is best. I have now been told that at 750 rpm, tri spark will fire at 2 degrees after tdc. Perfect sounding ? Anyone tried this setting and then at 3000 rpm after ?? Roy. Ps can't check it till gearbox back together !!
Click to expand...
Everything I say assumes for this you have the degree scale set accurately and most things I say are approximate:

Tri-Spark has a advance curve very close to the standard Lucas AAU and points. The AAU provides 12 degrees of camshaft advance (24 degrees of crankshaft advance). Norton standard is 28 degrees of crankshaft advance. So, if set normally, then at low RPMs you fire 4 degrees BTDC. Tri-Spark standard is 29 degrees BTDC at full advance and is at 5 degrees BTDC at low RPMs. Tri-Spark has anti-kickback protection.

Since adjusting any EI one crankshaft degree is difficult. With Tri-Spark I shoot for 30 degrees and accept 29-31. I'm not worried about a little extra advance since I run E10 gas exclusively. I have never had a kickback with Tri-Spark and even today in my weaken state where my kicks are less than robust, they do not kickback Neither do my Triumphs set to 38 degrees.

So, I recommend 29-31 degrees but to answer your actual question, you can set to 22 degrees at full advance to achieve 2 degrees ATDC. However, I consider it a really bad idea.
 
The yaki said:
And then check it's at 2 degrees after tdc at 750rpm? Roy. Ps I have a 350 yr5 for occasional lunacy !
Click to expand...
Idle might be a little weak if set that far retarded. I only static time the TriSpark for my kick start 750 and it doesn't ever kick back. I'm fairly certain I don't do it like anyone else here though, because I have no degree scale in the primary.

What does "I have a 350 5yr" mean? Is that secret code for those in the know? :)
 
Before I bought my Tri Spark, and wanting anti kickback, I emailed Stephen Kelly at Tri Spark and he emailed me the advance curve. It is clear from the curve that if you set maximum spark advance on the Norton to be 28 degrees BTDC, the ignition will be sparking at a few degrees ATDC under (if forget exactly) about 750 rpms.
When I put it on my bike, it idled much better (with no adjusting the carb). In addition, it could idle without stalling after cold start. I recommend it
Dennis
 
Schwany said:
Idle might be a little weak if set that far retarded. I only static time the TriSpark for my kick start 750 and it doesn't ever kick back. I'm fairly certain I don't do it like anyone else here though, because I have no degree scale in the primary.

What does "I have a 350 5yr" mean? Is that secret code for those in the know? :)
Click to expand...
I'm guessing he means a 350 yr5 Yamaha
 
If you reduce the total timing to reduce the intial timing ,your chrome pipes will get excessive heat , and go black .maybe someone knows of a special ignition box that will help with the retard you want .
 
My experience with manual advance and retard bikes is that if you retard the ignition too much they are quite difficult to start, particularly when cold. I have never actually measured the timing on my ES2 when it's fully retarded but it won't start if it is fully retarded and it kicks back if fully advanced.
 
Nortoniggy said:
if you retard the ignition too much they are quite difficult to start
Click to expand...
Correct, the riders handbook for manual advance retard always recommend having the advance lever 1/2 way for starting. Look at the idle stabilisation curves on the EI's with this feature and they all advance the timing as the revs drop to keep the revs stable. Just time the Trispark as recommended and let it do its thing.
 
Schwany said:
Idle might be a little weak if set that far retarded. I only static time the TriSpark for my kick start 750 and it doesn't ever kick back. I'm fairly certain I don't do it like anyone else here though, because I have no degree scale in the primary.

What does "I have a 350 5yr" mean? Is that secret code for those in the know? :)
Click to expand...
As Baz said, A Yamaha 350 twin….

Tri spark timing again !
 
cliffa said:
As Baz said, A Yamaha 350 twin….

View attachment 116967
Click to expand...
I had one of these back in the day
The gearbox locked up at around 90 mph on a dual carriageway in the outside lane
All the cars I'd overtaken were now overtaking me on my inside whilst I was stamping on the lever trying to free the gearbox off
When eventually I got to 20mph it did break free
And I managed to cost to the side of the road
I sat there thinking about it for several minutes
 
baz said:
I had one of these back in the day
The gearbox locked up at around 90 mph on a dual carriageway in the outside lane
All the cars I'd overtaken were now overtaking me on my inside whilst I was stamping on the lever trying to free the gearbox off
When eventually I got to 20mph it did break free
And I managed to cost to the side of the road
I sat there thinking about it for several minutes
Click to expand...
Hold the line and live to talk about it. At least you didn't have to push it a few miles, or did you?
 
Schwany said:
Idle might be a little weak if set that far retarded. I only static time the TriSpark for my kick start 750 and it doesn't ever kick back. I'm fairly certain I don't do it like anyone else here though, because I have no degree scale in the primary.

What does "I have a 350 5yr" mean? Is that secret code for those in the know? :)
Click to expand...
Yamaha yr5. Possibly just R5 in America. Roy.
 
The yaki said:
I asked tri spark and it was them that said 2 degrees after tdc at 750 .rpm Roy.
Click to expand...
I have no idea why you are focused on 750 RPM. Kicking speed is much less than that and warmed up idle speed is higher than that! I've seen several advance curves, and none drop below 5 degrees BTDC and I've checked the timing at cold idle of about 750 RPM and it was at 5 degrees as best I could tell - hard to see at an angle and with the scale not extending that far.

If you have an advance curve chart from Tri-Spark that shows it closer to TDC than 5 degrees to BTDC or ATDC, please post it so I don't have to bother Steve.
 
DennisMo said:
Before I bought my Tri Spark, and wanting anti kickback, I emailed Stephen Kelly at Tri Spark and he emailed me the advance curve. It is clear from the curve that if you set maximum spark advance on the Norton to be 28 degrees BTDC, the ignition will be sparking at a few degrees ATDC under (if forget exactly) about 750 rpms.
When I put it on my bike, it idled much better (with no adjusting the carb). In addition, it could idle without stalling after cold start. I recommend it
Dennis
Click to expand...
I would have thought the tickover stabilization advance spike would taken care of that?
 

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