It was frought with problems when used with Boyer Micropower setup but worked OK with Boyer Mark4 setup.
I also found Boyer Micro Power to be awful.
The Wassell/Vape and (I think) Boyer MkIV have a “sleep” function which means you have to force it through two compressions with one kick. That’s not as bad as you might think, but I wouldn’t say it starts easier than with a magneto.
I gave up on the magneto because the new points sets and baseplates are too badly made.
Had 2 Mk IV Boyers and they worked OK, on a 700 Oilfield café-racer that had been 'Interceptorised' quite a bit (and was quick), and on a P11 (they're all quick - for the day). Stayed with it on the Oilfield as I'd upgraded the alternator etc, it was all 'of a sort' with Power Box etc and it worked very well as long as the battery was maintained. Swapped out for a mag on the 750 Norton engine though, which still had its mid-'60s Lucas alternator, to get rid of the various points of potential failure. All of which went into a box labelled '
potential points of failure' and went to the current owner along with the K2FC that was on it.
No moral to the tale - both systems worked well, the Boyer guaranteed the timing with the wasted spark, but the mag guaranteed reliability in the event of leccy trouble (which arose in due course when the rectifier and associated wiring self-combusted). The mag got me home.
My 650SS had a hissy fit last month when the still-quite-young regulator/rectifier decided not to bother any more and boring things like bulbs all blew and the ammeter went berserk. But - with a mag - got home without the lights that are obligatory hereabouts, after disconnecting the alternator leads at the side of the road.
Ref the replica points assemblies and backplates . . . it's worth refurbing any original brass bits, and the 'low inertia' steel ones too if that's what there is - but whatever happens don't chuck them away. One of mine runs with BTH points, which are in some respects better than Lucas, and I've grafted Bosch on before now - also excellent. Key dimensions were standardised 100 years ago, and for the Resourceful Owner there are good options despite the lack of half-decent Lucas bits, even if it sometimes means a bit of thoughtful effort in the shed.
Things aren't going to get any easier I don't think, with prices treading water and expertise dying out after 30 or 40 years of 'growth'.
All I need is another 10 years or so! Like many of us of a certain age . . . .
Thank the stars there are people still up to sorting out a spot of mayhem caused when an oil line split on one of my AMCs last week and the crank seized at speed . . . (I might post a pic in 'What have you done with . . .' when the depression lifts!)