BSA A10 - ignition leads and spark plugs?

[twr7cx]

I have a BSA A10 Goldenflash (1961 originally sold in South Africa) that has been in storage for the last thirty years. Currently putting back together and have no spark. I assume the magneto would have some issues after such a long time, but also I have noted that the ignition leads are shot (one of them does not conduct from end to end).

I have looked through the service parts catalog that I have and the leads are not listed in there. Any ideas where I could purchase new units?

Also require spark plugs to suit. NGK don't list this in their catalogue.

[bsa-bill]

Welcome to the Forum twr7cx.

HT lead is bought by the metre or foot (depends where you are) from many of the usual dealers (Google BSA suppliers for a list) or wait for some more replies as we have people on the Forum who will sell you some, go for copper cored rather than the modern black thread type)
The same people here will advise you re your magneto, they can lose magnetism if sat for a long while also windings insulation can breakdown, capacitors give trouble too,but quite a few simpler things can be the cause.
best of luck with the Flash I have a 1961 and a 1959 blinged version, great bikes

[duTch]

 G'day twr7cx, are you related to C3PO and R2D2...?

   Also clean the points and the slip ring/carbon pickup brushes.
 Rough Spark plug equivalent of 'recommended' Champion N3 in NGK is roughly B7ES,BP7ES or B8ES,BP8ES (more rellies?),which ever works best.
 I tried BP6ES as a bit hotter, worked fine but changed jets and went back to the 7's for now. The 'P' just means 'protruding electrode'.
  There's a spark plug cross reference table I found with a search, but I can't locate it since my hard-drive died last week after I bashed the macbook in the wrong place
 Don't want to give false hope, but that may help....?
 Cheers,duTch

[muskrat]

G'day twr7cx,  .
NGK B7HS for iron heads, B7ES for alloy heads.
Give us an intro in Bikes, Pictures & members. I see your from the apple isle.
Cheers

[1959superocket]

Hello there.

I have used Denso W22ES-U 3093 spark plugs in my Super Rocket for last 3 years and they work well no issues.

Bike was restored by SRM and they put the plugs in so they are not something I have selected.

Regards

Stuart

[twr7cx]

Rough Spark plug equivalent of 'recommended' Champion N3 in NGK is roughly B7ES,BP7ES or B8ES,BP8ES (more rellies?),which ever works best.

Would I be correct in reading from your statement that Chamption N3 the recommended spark plug then?

I believe that this has been superceeded by Chamption N3C. Is there any preference to run the NGK or Chamption units?

[twr7cx]

Thanks for all the replies.

G'day twr7cx, are you related to C3PO and R2D2...?

Nah, it's just a randomly generated username from about 15 years ago that I have stuck with now.

Give us an intro in Bikes, Pictures & members. I see your from the apple isle.

Will do.

[terryg]

NGK or Champion?  I've had much better experiences with NGK, which I've fitted to overcome issues with Champion plugs.  I suspect you may find others whose views are just the opposite.  Nonetheless, my vote goes to NGK.
Regards

[trevinoz]

If it is an iron head, N3 is no good. You need a short reach plug. Champion is L82, I think.

Trev.

[twr7cx]

Checked and it is an iron head, so short reach plug is required.

The most commonly quoted plug to use seems to be: NGK B7HS, I will try that first!

[bobandbec]

I use Champion L82C in my 1960 A10 with good results.

[duTch]

Aah yeah, I've only had ally heads, and forget
that iron ones are a bit different, N3 equivalent
is what the Haynes book says (I think)
And yes, it seems what you said about the N3C....!
All in all is just a recommended starting point- good luck, cheers

[twr7cx]

Thanks all for the suggestions. After wasting an afternoon trying to source the parts locally at the auto stores, motorbike stores and autoelectricians, I ended up turning to eBay USA:
Champion non-resistor spark plug leads - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171122887167?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
7mm HT copper core - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171122883769?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Lucas grommets to cover the pickups acorns - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171122886344?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Built up the leads this afternoon with the old pick-ups.

Also bought some new NGK B7HS spark plugs which were easy to source at the local Repco.

Fitted all this afternoon, kicked her over and surprisingly I had spark! Not bad for a magneto that hasn't been used in almost 30 years!

[trevinoz]

Hopefully it keeps sparking when it's hot!