Thorspark or Easy-cap (Bright Spark) - anyone had experience?

[Fraz]

My '54 B31 has running faults (as you're all probably aware by now)

Many people have suggested that the problem is my condenser failing.
The turn-around to get the magneto overhauled is around 6 weeks (and by then it'll be winter again)

I've found the "Easy-cap" (by Bright Spark) and Thorspark - both claim to be work-arounds for failing magnetosphere / condensers.

Has anyone out there, had any experience of using either product and any recommendations or/advice would be welcome.

They both seem to offer a quicker & cheaper solution to my issues, leaving ne'er to have the magdyno over hauled I'm winter.

Many thanks

[Dan_B33]

Hi Franz,
I have been planning on using that and already have materials to make 10 of this. ( Total cost 10 condenses 2quid + pbc another 2). There is some chance for it to work plug and play....but low .
Depends of the magneto. If you have MO1 you will still need to strip armature to disconnect old condenser (as per instructions).
I will take chance to use what I have now untill sparks...
I hope other will share their experience with that SMD condenser

[neil1964]

I have the Easy caps on both of my MO 1 magnetos, but Dan is right you need to remove the original caps first.  To strip down the magneto you need a suitable bearing puller which can be a faff (I bought one in the end).  There are also good reasons why you might use a pair of modern Vishay Polypropylene 0.082uF caps whilst you have it apart.  Had I known the values of the caps prior to builds I would have used those.

Confess that I have also contemplated the Easy Spark, but you need to consider that you need to mount a coil somewhere and have facility to be able to strobe the  timing (albeit only once) as well as a reliable charging system/battery, on a B series you have to remove the shock absorber nut (always a right PITA) to fit the disc and then remove it.

However, since learning how to put a magneto together properly, I have decided to stick with a mag. for now.

ps Just as I write this it strikes me I could make a metal disc to fit under the shock absorber nut, suitably marked for the correct timing point that is big enough to have accurate marks but small enough to fit under the chaincase bulge.

[KernowPete]

As mentioned elsewhere I have a thorspark type on my B31. It was on there when I bought it. Faultless so far. Happy to get some pictures etc if you need them.

[neil1964]

Edit- Oops - I meant contemplated the Thorspark shame no edit button!

[V500]

I inherited a Thorspark on an Enfield I bought, and I wasn't impressed overall.
EasiCaps are excellent though; always worth trying one first before paying for a full mag overhaul (rewind etc) and they've been very useful for me in bringing supposedly dead mags back to life. A cheap and easy solution.

[Rog1]

I fitted a Thorspark to my M33 last year after the HT side of the magneto went very high resistance; probably a break in the windings with a carbon track between the ends. There was a bit of head scratching required finding a place for the coil, but the installation was quite straightforward. To work out the correct angle of ignition advance, I just made a drawing with a ruler, protractor, and compass; see diagram below. I drew it on A4 paper at 3X life size for accuracy and came up with 41.5 degrees BTDC. I got my brother (the hard sums expert) to work it out and he came up with a more accurate 41.63 degrees. But as the mark on my timing disc (made from some white card) moves over a ten degrees arc when the bike's running, I'd say I was spot on.

You'll need a switch to turn the ignition off and on; see my other diagram. I wired it so that the lights are switched off, too; unlike a magneto setup, the bike will not start with a flat battery! The bike starts easily and it's all been reliable so far.

[Rog1]

I've just been out to the shed and measured my Thorspark coil so that you can work out if you have room.

It's about 1.5" in diameter and 5" long, but to allow the HT lead to curve round nicely you'd need to add another 1.5-2" to the length. The coil comes with a bracket, but I had to make a clamp to attach that bracket to a frame tube.

[KernowPete]

On my B31 with thorspark the ignition coil is under the top frame tube.

[Derek996]

Seems like I may have go Thorspark or strip my magdyno and fit a new condenser. I was out on the ZB32 today and after about 10 miles it was misfiring a bit when pulling away after slowing down. I was on a single track road and about a mile from home when I came on a car stopped on a bridge right in the middle of the road which showed no signs of moving. I tried to keep the bike running but of course it stopped at which point the old geezer drove away and I was left stranded at the bottom of a hill.
I tried to get the engine going to no avail. There was plenty of fuel and compression. I took out the plug with looked clean enough and tried to check for sparks. It was bright sunshine and even keeping the plug in the shade it was hard to see although there did seem to be a somewhat weak spark there. Every 15 minutes or so I tried again, pushing bike a bit further up the hill between times. Typically, when I got to the top of the hill it fired up as if nothing had happened. That was after about 45 minutes and me pushing the bike for near ½ a mile. I would prefer to keep the mag and fit an Easy Cap though

[neil1964]

That behaviour sounds like your points gap has closed up.
Have you checked the gap?

[Derek996]

Good point Neil. I'll check that first.

[Derek996]

Mag points were still at .014" as I set them so it looks like the condenser is failing. Fortunately I've been lent a good working magneto that can fit while I strip mine down and fit an Easycap.

[neil1964]

Just a thought.
I had aTriumph that did just that when points gap narrowed - I got fed up and went RITA.