The BSA A7-A10 Forum

Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Lucas, Ignition, Charging, Electrical => Topic started by: Stephen Foster on 26.12. 2011 10:53

Title: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: Stephen Foster on 26.12. 2011 10:53
After browsing a couple of specialist suppliers for H.T lead for the K2f Magneto I notice they have the above in several colours / fabric wrapped , etc ?
Is there any practical difference and would Anyone know which type would be original equipment on the A7 / A10 please ?

Steve...
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: bsa-bill on 26.12. 2011 11:14
I have some of that Fabric wrapped HT lead Steve, looks quite nice.
I stand to be corrected here but I think original leads would be of the rubber type not commonly sold now as there's more of the hard plastic stuff around.
Something makes me think the I've had rubbery type from Draganfly or SRM.
Mostly I look for a good thick stranded copper inner
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: beezermacc on 26.12. 2011 19:34
Original lead colour for A7 A10 was 'boring' black! Don't forget to use zero resistance plug caps and make sure you put rubber sleeves over the acorns at the magneto end to prevent water puddling in the pickups and crudding up the contacts. The correct length of lead is sufficient to go up the frame rail which carries the pump then along/under the crossbar and down onto the cylinder head at right angles to the cross bar.
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: bsa-bill on 26.12. 2011 20:38
Quote
The correct length of lead is sufficient to go up the frame rail which carries the pump then along/under the crossbar and down onto the cylinder head at right angles to the cross bar.

Now that I didn't know, useful bit of info I have been cutting mine way too short, probably looks neater as well.
A job for this coming week
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: trevinoz on 27.12. 2011 20:25
Bill,
           Where did you get that bit of rubbish?
At least on the swinging arm bikes, both leads go straight up from the magy through a plastic sleeve, along with the cut-out wire.
They then go to their respective plugs.
Trev.
   
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: bsa-bill on 27.12. 2011 20:38
Right enough Trev one of my flash's had a bit of plastic tube that the leads ran through, I took it that was wrong and a PO addition also the cut out wire on both my Flash's run to the frame tube that runs up to the battery and on via the top tube to the handlebars.
so that's the right way then.
I do have both leads long enough that they go to either plug and swap them if leaving the bike for any length of time
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: beezermacc on 27.12. 2011 21:37
Sorry, forgot to mention the bit of plastic tube which also accommodates the cut out cable. About six years ago I was given (yes, given!) a 1958 A10, one owner from new with genuine 18000 miles on the Smiths chronometric. It had been languishing behind a garage since the death of the owner and was given to me on condition that I restored it faithfully and sympathetically. I tried to use as many of the original parts as possible. The Ht leads on that bike were as I previously described, not tight on the pump rail, but parallel to it - following its line, then under the crossbar and down onto the head. I'm not saying they were all like that but this arrangement looks much tidier than some other arrangements. Flicking through a few pictures this evening confirms that this arrangement was used on some bikes but not all and of course not all the pictures are official BSA factory shots; and of course the route of HT leads on pictures will be according to where their owners put them! I'm not that fussed about originality, just happy take and offer advice based on experience; I do like to see a tidy bike though. It's OK to contradict posts left by others but to describe somebody's post as 'a bit of rubbish' would offend the more sensitive amongst us and maybe deter us from using the forum.
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: kiwipom on 28.12. 2011 01:28
hi guys, Beezermacc can`t comment on your post of ignition leads buy since i did inquire as to what engine you had in your Avatar Picture could you please let me know what it is? never thought of anything else going in the A10 frame but what ever you have in yours fits very well,food for thought,cheers,Bob
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: RichardL on 28.12. 2011 05:52
Beezermacc (is it actually,  "Andy"?),

I don't recall having said "welcome",  so please accept it belatedly.  It's always good to have new voices in the mix.  I don't think you should take Trevor's comment personally. He was probably just having some fun with Bill. Some of us have had hunreds of exhanges with eachother and are comfortable tweaking, just a bit. I don't think your earlier post was seen, but for the nameless quote. Hey, Trevor might have thought it was from the likes of myself, who is often caught in confusion and happy to learn it. There are so many permutations of the way things are done that you have to be a master of equivocation to avoid stepping on your tongue (at least in my case).  Please keep on sharing, and the same goes to you Trevor, and all.

Richard L.   
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: beezermacc on 28.12. 2011 08:15
My friends call me Andrew! Thanks for the kind welcome and 10/10 for your efforts at diplomacy. The hybrid has a 500cc Rotax engine fitted. It was reviewed by Tim Britton in Classic Bike Guide in October 2003 and also by Back Street Heros in July 2005. I love riding it. It's very noisy and reasonably fast.
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: LJ. on 28.12. 2011 10:19
Well said Richard... *yeah* I think we can now relax pistols or swords at dawn!  *fight*
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: trevinoz on 28.12. 2011 21:38
I stand by my statement.
If one of us makes a statement regarding originality and it is patently incorrect, it should be brought to our attention.
I am quite happy to be corrected by anyone about anything that I state, providing the corrector is correct.
Andrew, even though your bike had a low mileage showing on the odo, does that make it exactly as it came from the factory? Some of us like to get our bikes as close to factory specs as possible and others are happy to make them rideable and nothing like the original. Which is it should be.

I think the term "sensitive" would not apply to any BSA owner, maybe to owners of the inferior makes but not BSA!
If you are offended by my use of the word "rubbish", then I apologise, but it was not the word that initially came to mind which may have really p'd you off!
Is this politically correct? I seem to be doing that word to death!   *smile* *smile*

Trev.
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: beezermacc on 28.12. 2011 23:59
Apology accepted!
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: RichardL on 29.12. 2011 00:08
Well,  this is getting interestinger and wierderer still.  I am really looking forward to the slough of photos and original advertisements that might be spawned by this debate. 

By the way,  we're having a get together at my house tonight with food and drink and you are all invited.  Starts in an hour here in Naperville,  IL.  Let me know if you're coming by and I'll forward the address.  Trevor,  Andrew,  can you make it?  We could discuss the differences over single malt.

Richard L.
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: trevinoz on 29.12. 2011 01:59
Sorry Richard,
                          I have to go train driving as I did all over Christmas.
Trev.

When I get some time I will scan some photos or better still have a look at Mr Bacon's resto book.
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: beezermacc on 29.12. 2011 06:49
A very kind invitation, Richard! Whether or not I attend would depend on what's on the menu!
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: trevinoz on 01.01. 2012 00:59
Here's some pictures scanned from original road tests.

  Trev.
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: trevinoz on 01.01. 2012 01:01
And some more.
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: beezermacc on 01.01. 2012 09:03
Very interesting. Have you noticed how the plunger plug leads seem to go over the head to the crossbar yet the swinging arm ones go along the top fin (and look very untidy in my opinion!). Also some of the rocker oil pipes are different, some sag down towards the plug, others bridge over the plug.
Happy New Year!
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: BearKat on 04.01. 2012 15:19
Hi Trevor,
       I reckon we should somehow put our bikes side x side for a photo shoot,they look very much like twins!! ;).
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: RichardL on 04.01. 2012 15:33
Are the versions with heat-shrink tubing original? The top plunger picture appears to show a solid tube. Regarding running next to the head or down from the crossbar, I wonder if it was based on the running temperature of the iron head versus the alloy. I plan to copy this wire bundling for my SA alloy head this weekend.

Richard L.
Title: Re: Different coloured H.T leads ?
Post by: trevinoz on 05.01. 2012 02:37
All original, Richard.
Scanned from the road tests of the day.
The tubing isn't heatshrink but good old PVC.
Trev.