Author Topic: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?  (Read 1298 times)

Offline LJ.

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Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« on: 06.08. 2018 09:59 »
For the benefit of those who do not use facebook...

I recently posted a picture and video of a failed magneto pickup, well it had not done bad considering it was likely a factory fitted part. Full of very faint hairline cracks and crazes, a spark had worked its way to the outside World. I was very lucky to notice this as the bike had been running...okay but lumpish. It just pays to look over the running parts now and then. Good Job Carby was not leaky!  *eek*

Short Video on my YouTube... https://youtu.be/lPST9ox2EnQ

Ride Safely Lads! LJ.
**********************
1940 BSA M20 500cc Girder/Rigid- (SOLD)
1947 BSA M21 600cc Girder/Rigid-Green
1949 BSA A7   500cc Girder/Plunger Star Twin-(SOLD)
1953 BSA B33  500cc Teles/Plunger-Maroon
1961 BSA A10  650cc Golden Flash-Blue
1961 BSA A10  650cc Golden Flash-Red

Offline duTch

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #1 on: 06.08. 2018 10:24 »

 Holy Crack-burners... *eek*
Started building in about 1977/8 a on average '52 A10 -built from bits 'n pieces never resto intended -maybe 'personalised'
Have a '74 850T Moto Guzzi since '92-best thing I ever bought doesn't need a kickstart 'cos it bump starts sooooooooo(mostly) easy
Australia

Online RichardL

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #2 on: 06.08. 2018 12:08 »
Good video. That would have been hard to detect with just a typical flashlight inspection.

Richard L.

Offline lawnmowerman

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #3 on: 06.08. 2018 12:40 »
I think those six sided cranked "universal" pick ups were not original. I have just binned mine and replaced them and the soft brushes with a decent set from Brightspark. I have heard that the wrong sort of plastic was used in the manufacture of the pattern pick ups which allowed tracking through the pick ups and erratic running.
A new set with some new BP7ES plugs certainly made a difference with my Super Rocket. Easy starting now and no more waiting for the second cylinder to wake up.

Jim
1959 A10 SR
1938 Wolseley 14/60
1955 Ferguson TEF20 tractor
1965 Ferguson 135 tractor
1952 Matchless G80 rigid
1960 BMW R60
1954 Matchless G80S
1955 Ariel 500 VH
1951 Sunbeam S7DL
1960 Matchless G12 with Watsonian Monza
......and loads of lawnmowers

Too old to Rock and Roll but too young to die  (Jethro Tull 1976)

Online Black Sheep

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #4 on: 06.08. 2018 12:54 »
Agree. I avoid these universal 6-sided universal pickups. They are very prone to tracking. Definitely not original Lucas items.
2 twins, 2 singles, lots of sheep

Offline LJ.

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #5 on: 06.08. 2018 13:23 »
Blimey, you guys know how to get me to spend money!

Just made an order from Brightspark for a couple of new pickups along with acorn nuts and brushes... £36.50  *eek* but the quality is second to none, I'll give them that. I seem to remember also Jim, that there was incorrect quality plastic used in the aftermarket six sided pickups, but these are old ones which is why I thought they were original.

The brushes used at the moment are soft as there is a lot of carbon dust around the slip ring and there is an erratic running as you mention, even had to sometimes a wait for second cylinder to 'wake up' so to speak which I always put down to carb induction bias. The bike has been good admittedly but looking forward now to possible further improvement.  *wink2*
Ride Safely Lads! LJ.
**********************
1940 BSA M20 500cc Girder/Rigid- (SOLD)
1947 BSA M21 600cc Girder/Rigid-Green
1949 BSA A7   500cc Girder/Plunger Star Twin-(SOLD)
1953 BSA B33  500cc Teles/Plunger-Maroon
1961 BSA A10  650cc Golden Flash-Blue
1961 BSA A10  650cc Golden Flash-Red

Offline lawnmowerman

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #6 on: 06.08. 2018 13:57 »
You will not regret your investment LJ. As I mentioned in an earlier post, if you have manual A/R you will need a 90 degree pick up at the top and a 45 degree in the bottom, for auto A/R a pair of 45s will do the job.
And don't forget to give the slip ring a good clean.

Jim
1959 A10 SR
1938 Wolseley 14/60
1955 Ferguson TEF20 tractor
1965 Ferguson 135 tractor
1952 Matchless G80 rigid
1960 BMW R60
1954 Matchless G80S
1955 Ariel 500 VH
1951 Sunbeam S7DL
1960 Matchless G12 with Watsonian Monza
......and loads of lawnmowers

Too old to Rock and Roll but too young to die  (Jethro Tull 1976)

Online JulianS

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #7 on: 06.08. 2018 14:25 »
Lucas did make a cranked pickup. Part 459190. It fitted on manual mags, around the boss for the a/r cable allowing the ht to exit at 45 degrees and avoid the drip tray.

They were not marked "Lucas"

Unfortunately it does not seem that a quality reproduction item is being made.

Offline BSA_54A10

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #8 on: 06.08. 2018 15:51 »
Lucas did make a cranked pickup. Part 459190. It fitted on manual mags, around the boss for the a/r cable allowing the ht to exit at 45 degrees and avoid the drip tray.

They were not marked "Lucas"

Unfortunately it does not seem that a quality reproduction item is being made.

Quite right which leaves you with the six sided aftermarket ones.
The brushes in them were not good but you could pull them out & put Lucas one in.
There is no real alternative as the originals foul on either the drip tray or the advance cable
Bike Beesa
Trevor

Offline lawnmowerman

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #9 on: 06.08. 2018 18:24 »
The 90 degree non-cranked pick up from Brightspark just fits between the A/R and the drip tray - I put one on last week.

Jim
1959 A10 SR
1938 Wolseley 14/60
1955 Ferguson TEF20 tractor
1965 Ferguson 135 tractor
1952 Matchless G80 rigid
1960 BMW R60
1954 Matchless G80S
1955 Ariel 500 VH
1951 Sunbeam S7DL
1960 Matchless G12 with Watsonian Monza
......and loads of lawnmowers

Too old to Rock and Roll but too young to die  (Jethro Tull 1976)

Offline BSA Biker

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #10 on: 06.08. 2018 19:58 »
The original ones on my A7SS were straight out of the magneto and just missed the A&R cable fixture and the drip tray which for manual A&R models had a slightly narrower tray. But stupidly I bought the six sided replacement type and that was the start of all my magneto troubles, which have only recently been sorted. The carbon pickups are too soft and rubbish! This caused the slip ring to be contaminated with carbon all the way round it and arching took place making starting or running impossible.  *eek*

 Thanks to help from this forum it is now cured. So get the correct ones from Brightsparks, what price reliability!.  *smile*

Offline muskrat

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #11 on: 06.08. 2018 20:50 »
G'day all.
Andrews is cheap compared to a NOS Lucas @ $65US. http://www.klempfsbritishparts.com/PICK-UP--MAG--LH--K2F--ANTI-0
Cheers
'51 A7 plunger, '57 A7SS racer now a A10CR, '78 XT500, '83 CB1100F, 88 HD FXST, 2000 CBR929RR ex Honda Australia Superbike .
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Offline LJ.

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #12 on: 10.08. 2018 12:22 »
The new pickups arrived this morning from Brightsparks, nice quality. I do like to see brass inside rather than alloy. Fitted to bike and runs nice, now need a good blat.

Question though.... I had to reuse the old gaskets, they seem okay, but do any of you seal around between gasket/pickup/magneto body? (As arrowed in picture) I've used a smear of vaseline, I believe it just helps to keep water out. Any other ideas?
Ride Safely Lads! LJ.
**********************
1940 BSA M20 500cc Girder/Rigid- (SOLD)
1947 BSA M21 600cc Girder/Rigid-Green
1949 BSA A7   500cc Girder/Plunger Star Twin-(SOLD)
1953 BSA B33  500cc Teles/Plunger-Maroon
1961 BSA A10  650cc Golden Flash-Blue
1961 BSA A10  650cc Golden Flash-Red

Offline lawnmowerman

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #13 on: 10.08. 2018 12:41 »
Great idea LJ. I suppose one could also use a smear of silicone - I put mine on dry being a fair weather rider  ;)
I also use the rubber shrouds over the acorns to stop water (and oil  *sad2*) running down the leads into the pick ups.

Jim
1959 A10 SR
1938 Wolseley 14/60
1955 Ferguson TEF20 tractor
1965 Ferguson 135 tractor
1952 Matchless G80 rigid
1960 BMW R60
1954 Matchless G80S
1955 Ariel 500 VH
1951 Sunbeam S7DL
1960 Matchless G12 with Watsonian Monza
......and loads of lawnmowers

Too old to Rock and Roll but too young to die  (Jethro Tull 1976)

Offline muskrat

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Re: Magneto Pickups - Time to replace!?
« Reply #14 on: 10.08. 2018 17:48 »
G'day LJ.
I used lanolin grease on mine. All weather riding no problems in the rain (bucketing down). Vaso should be just as good but both won't like too mush heat.
Cheers
'51 A7 plunger, '57 A7SS racer now a A10CR, '78 XT500, '83 CB1100F, 88 HD FXST, 2000 CBR929RR ex Honda Australia Superbike .
Australia
Muskys Plunger A7