Author Topic: Boyer units for the '49 A7  (Read 421 times)

Offline Devlin

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Boyer units for the '49 A7
« on: 27.04. 2023 10:29 »
I have decided to park the magneto issue for now as I am now considering an electronic kit, one site offers an upgrade kit for the full Bhoona @ £500 ,,,not happening, so weighing up a conversion to 12V battery and coils seems praciticable as it uses the mag shaft as a drive spindle and I suppose the auto AV will need to be made redundant like I said I am at the pondering stage with this..........Thoughts ?
Devlin   
Isle of Arran 49 A7 LS

Online groily

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Re: Boyer units for the '49 A7
« Reply #1 on: 27.04. 2023 17:34 »
There are a few choices out there Dev, but I guess one at the more affordable end of the spectrum is the Thorspark kit from https://www.sussexmotorcycles.com/

Seen a few of them working fine, but have also heard  gripes from people who find them hard to set up, and there are reports of misfiring. No idea as to the merits of the gripes, however.  Available in 6v as well as 12v.
Thorspark systems retain the magneto's advance and retard ; most (or all?) others have programmed-in curves.

Some systems require more power than others, but they all need an external supply.  So in whatever case you'd need to know the dynamo and regulator were up for it.

Pazon has a very good name, but I don't have any experience so can't comment.

All require an external coil or coils putting somewhere discreet; the magneto's HT leads become redundant (but can be retained, going nowhere, for the 'look').
I think all of them use a wasted spark system on 360° twins - so both plugs fire at once. An advantage, as the potential problem of an uneven firing interval is eliminated.
I think you need to strobe them all too, to set them up - which is a good thing but nonetheless not everyone's favourite where it involves removing the primary chaincase for proper access to the crank.

I've had Boyer Bransden kit on 2 bikes. It was OK - but they were both alternator machines. I've not personally had any other electronic ignition system on classic bikes.

Would I go there in your shoes rather than sort the magneto?
Don't think I would for an early A7 to be honest. It's probably even-stevens in terms of money by the time you're done, and if I had a nice 1949 bike like that I'd want to keep it original I think, although I would conceal a decent modern voltage regulator in the old Lucas box, regardless.
Bill

Offline Devlin

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Re: Boyer units for the '49 A7
« Reply #2 on: 27.04. 2023 17:41 »
Thanks once again, another question back on the mag topic post thos *conf*
Isle of Arran 49 A7 LS

Online Rex

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Re: Boyer units for the '49 A7
« Reply #3 on: 27.04. 2023 18:16 »
I had a Thorspark kit on an old G2 Enfield. The previous owner had given up trying to get it to run even half-decent and stuck it on Ebay. It was indeed a PITA to set up, but once finely adjusted it was OK in use.
According to the accompanying paperwork, the unit only "switches on" ie consumes current when needed, so were your dynamo go belly up the battery would take a long time to expire if just running the Thorspark unit. Allegedly.
I wouldn't buy another, far preferring to put the money towards a mag overhaul, if that's what was needed.

Offline muskrat

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Re: Boyer units for the '49 A7
« Reply #4 on: 27.04. 2023 21:26 »
G'day Devlin.
I agree with groily, get your mag rebuilt.
I love the Boyer on both my A's but their a complete unit looking nothing like a mag.
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

Offline Devlin

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Re: Boyer units for the '49 A7
« Reply #5 on: 28.04. 2023 09:48 »
Agreed now I have it stripped and for the sake of sub £100 quid for parts from brightsparks and adding in the cost of a new soldering iron it's a easy choice,
Devlin
Isle of Arran 49 A7 LS