The BSA A7-A10 Forum
Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Lucas, Ignition, Charging, Electrical => Topic started by: RGS Chris on 06.04. 2023 10:41
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I think I have trouble with the condenser on my magneto, goes to sleep when it gets hot, all good when cooled down.
Has anybody tried the magneto Brightspark Easy Cap Condenser on their bikes?
How easy was it to fit and more importantly how well does it work?
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If you put ‘easycap’ in the search function you’ll find answers to your questions quickly.
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I've fitted them to many mags and never a problem. If you're worried on a long trip, carry a spare in the toolbox as once fitted they're quick and easy to change.
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Not really for me to comment owing to vested interest, but just to say my A10 did 50K km on one and is still running with it - that's way over 10 years. My other magneto bikes over the years have had them, and the bikes I've got currently still have them.
Overall, over 100K km without packing up for me - but in all cases starting with rewound coils, new sliprings and pick-ups etc.
And annually monitored for capacitance and against leakage using an insulation tester on the 500v setting while I'm checking over the mags.
No condenser will help long-term in the case of a dying coil or other HT fault.
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If you put ‘easycap’ in the search function you’ll find answers to your questions quickly.
Thanks Terry,
Did the search, very interesting and helpfull.
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I like them a lot, but don't be tempted to do as an RC article advocated a while back, namely just fit the Easycap without disconnecting the existing internal capacitor. *eek*
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I like them a lot, but don't be tempted to do as an RC article advocated a while back, namely just fit the Easycap without disconnecting the existing internal capacitor. *eek*
Bad plan indeed Rex. Was tempted to send Frank W a note but held back.
One hears of folk who get away with it but dunno for how long.
If a condenser were typically to fail 'open circuit' it would be fine - but they very mostly don't.
The boring thing is disconnecting the old one, especially if buried in resin on a K series.
The less boring thing is being able to check by substitution in a heartbeat afterwards, if in doubt, without taking anything apart or off the bike except the contact breaker. That, for me anyway, was the holy grail - having suffered from premature rewound armature 'failures' which weren't.
Initially I and the late KenF thought maybe best to treat the green maggot as a regular service item, as we all used to with points and condenser sets for old cars back in the day. But haven't found it necessary in real life, so I don't even carry a spare on the keyring any more.