trispark fire box

bill · Jan 4, 2020

Who on here has direct experience with the fire box ignition? the longer term the better. I have been done with the classic twin after 3 failures and am currently running a boyer micro digital. it runs and idles fine but it is hard to start with kickbacks. I don't want to go with the elektronic sachse as i would need the more expensive one for electronic tach and not sure of it having the idle stabilization.

TIA

maylar · Jan 5, 2020

The only discussion I've seen here was by @auldblue

I'll sell ya my spare classic twin if you want it

bill · Jan 5, 2020

thanks for the offer but i am sure you will be needing it one day so be sure you keep it close by on the bike.

maylar said:
The only discussion I've seen here was by @auldblue

I'll sell ya my spare classic twin if you want it

ILLF8ED · Jan 5, 2020

Hi Bill

Had to look up TriSpark fire box ignition as I was not aware. No experience, but I’m using the cheaper TriSpark now on my ‘72 750.
Pretty expensive for the fire box at $450 then another $150 for the programming kit. Kickback isn’t usually a problem except on MkIII electric start. Is that what you have?

I’m impressed. You registered for this form before me. I got on here in Dec 2003.

Fast Eddie · Jan 5, 2020

I had what I think must have been an early version on a hot rod triple a few years back. Which is interesting cos they don’t sell them for triples now it seems.

I bought it for the adjustability, the lesson for me was that this was a waste of time!

The system I had worked well, it’s a dedicated spark system so I fitted 3 x 12v high output dyna coils. I replaced an ageing Boyer and saw a 5 BHP increase on the dyno, much better starting and low speed running and lack of kick backs.

I thought it was a good system.

I sold the bike a while back, but last I heard it was still running the same ign, albeit with an e start.

auldblue · Jan 5, 2020

Bill, I bought this as a alternative to the Elektronik sachse for my 750, unfortunately I popped the ES a day before our testing and the Trispark was fitted on the day of Elvington. The bike had been set up using the ES , however the bike ran ok with the trispark but nothing like as well as it ran with the ES . The timing light was not giving an accurate reading so I cannot be sure it was at 30 degrees . It was more difficult to start than the ES but we had no time to play with it as we were late and the BBC were filming top gear and Zef the mad max guy took priority also, which was fine, but we only managed two runs.
I paid about £250 for it but to alter it it has to be done on a computer whereas the ES has all the ignition curves pre set as you want them so it’s a turn of a dial.
Sorry I can’t be of much help , if you want to try it let me know as I don’t think I’ll be using it again. It’s set at 30 deg full advance. The cables etc belong to Phil Barge LP Williams and will need to be returned. A friend has videos of the bike running but probably no use for comparison.
As Nigel said it was using 2 12 trispark coils on a dedicated spark.

bill · Jan 5, 2020

I have a 72 combat. After buying 3 replacement stators the fire box is cheap if it works as good as the classic but with out the reliability issues i had than it would be worth it to me. Yea i have been here for a little while

illf8ed said:
Hi Bill

Had to look up TriSpark fire box ignition as I was not aware. No experience, but I’m using the cheaper TriSpark now on my ‘72 750.
Pretty expensive for the fire box at $450 then another $150 for the programming kit. Kickback isn’t usually a problem except on MkIII electric start. Is that what you have?

I’m impressed. You registered for this form before me. I got on here in Dec 2003.

Yep

ILLF8ED · Jan 5, 2020

bill said:
I have a 72 combat. After buying 3 replacement stators the fire box is cheap if it works as good as the classic but with out the reliability issues i had than it would be worth it to me. Yea i have been here for a little while
Yep

The fact that you went through three classic TriSparks doesn’t sound good for me. I’m on TriSpark number two on my ‘72 combat. Just hope it doesn’t pack it in somewhere in the Sierras with no cell coverage.

Triton Thrasher · Jan 5, 2020

It’s noticeable (to me) that the happy riders appear to have Boyer Mk4, or the cheaper type of Pazon, or Wassell, although Wassell users appear to be a smaller sample.

bill · Jan 5, 2020

thank you very much for the offer to try it. the killer i am afraid would be the post back and forth as you are in the UK and i am in the US. another thing is you are set up as single fire and i need wasted spark, i am not sure it could be reset as wasted spark. i would not have an issue with the computer part to set it up if all that was needed to do that was included but it is still a cost of post issue.

the pic you posted the other bike looks like one of the gas turbine bikes. if it was what was your thoughts on it?

auldblue said:
Bill, I bought this as a alternative to the Elektronik sachse for my 750, unfortunately I popped the ES a day before our testing and the Trispark was fitted on the day of Elvington. The bike had been set up using the ES , however the bike ran ok with the trispark but nothing like as well as it ran with the ES . The timing light was not giving an accurate reading so I cannot be sure it was at 30 degrees . It was more difficult to start than the ES but we had no time to play with it as we were late and the BBC were filming top gear and Zef the mad max guy took priority also, which was fine, but we only managed two runs.
I paid about £250 for it but to alter it it has to be done on a computer whereas the ES has all the ignition curves pre set as you want them so it’s a turn of a dial.
Sorry I can’t be of much help , if you want to try it let me know as I don’t think I’ll be using it again. It’s set at 30 deg full advance. The cables etc belong to Phil Barge LP Williams and will need to be returned. A friend has videos of the bike running but probably no use for comparison.
As Nigel said it was using 2 12 trispark coils on a dedicated spark.
View attachment 13878

bill · Jan 5, 2020

I still have a few more things to try to fix my issues with the boyer so I am not going to bin it just yet.

still looking for feedback in the tri spark though but it looks like users are pretty slim on the ground.

bill · Jan 5, 2020

My advice is to ALWAYS carry a spare with this POS. my last one went out before a rear tyre was used up

illf8ed said:
The fact that you went through three classic TriSparks doesn’t sound good for me. I’m on TriSpark number two on my ‘72 combat. Just hope it doesn’t pack it in somewhere in the Sierras with no cell coverage.

auldblue · Jan 5, 2020

Bill , well it’s there if you want to try it.

The gas turbine bike was loud, smokey on start up and was pretty rapid. To be honest I didn’t pay much attention to it as I was preoccupied with my commando running as slow as it did. Here’s the days time sheet, we were expecting better but lost 13 mph.

ILLF8ED · Jan 5, 2020

bill said:
My advice is to ALWAYS carry a spare with this POS. my last one went out before a rear tyre was used up

You mean a spare TriSpark amplifier. If you have purchased a spare what did it cost? The whole unit is $399. Maybe I’ll just see if my Lucas RITA still works. I don’t think so but I kept it in case.

arch · Jan 5, 2020

bill said:
My advice is to ALWAYS carry a spare with this POS. my last one went out before a rear tyre was used up

Soon I will need to decide on which ignition system to use. I got to wondering if the electrical spikes caused by auxiliary relays some use to control their headlights and horns could cause problems with the Trispark’s electronics.

MexicoMike · Jan 5, 2020

I've had my Trispark since 08. Totally trouble free. Basically I've forgotten it was there for the past 11 years. The ONLY ignition system I would replace it with if it ever fails is the OEM points/AAU.

bill · Jan 5, 2020

Yes the stator. IIRC it was about $150.00. S when you look at my total cost it was a pi$$ poor experance and why I through in the towel. Contact dyno dave on the RITA, I ran one for years and had NO trouble with the unit BUT it did not play well with the twin tower HD type coils but is fine with the stock ones.

illf8ed said:
You mean a spare TriSpark amplifier. If you have purchased a spare what did it cost? The whole unit is $399. Maybe I’ll just see if my Lucas RITA still works. I don’t think so but I kept it in case.

bill · Jan 5, 2020

I don't have the relays but most good relays have a diode internally to stop the back charge. I doubt that would be much of an issue anyways causing the stator failure.

arch said:
Soon I will need to decide on which ignition system to use. I got to wondering if the electrical spikes caused by auxiliary relays some use to control their headlights and horns could cause problems with the Trispark’s electronics.

bill · Jan 5, 2020

the trouble with that is finding good quality points and AA units. also IMHO the camshaft harmonics beats the AAU to death so it is a high maintenance item.

MexicoMike said:
The ONLY ignition system I would replace it with if it ever fails is the OEM points/AAU.

ILLF8ED · Jan 5, 2020

bill said:
Yes the stator. IIRC it was about $150.00. S when you look at my total cost it was a pi$$ poor experance and why I through in the towel. Contact dyno dave on the RITA, I ran one for years and had NO trouble with the unit BUT it did not play well with the twin tower HD type coils but is fine with the stock ones.

Dave and I are well acquainted. He said the only way to really know if the RITA amplifier is good is to run it. Think I will try it this month. I hate not being able to rely on the Commando due to the TriSpark. I’m using Emgo 6 volt coils that are fairly new.

trispark fire box

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