T140 odd behaviour!

[grandpaul]

There you go.

I used to think that there were more failed Boyers than any other, but as the years progress and all of these newer brand ignitions get miles racked up, I'm seeing that there is no particular brand aftermarket electronic ignition that has a relatively spotless record.

I really believed Tri-Spark were flawless, but I've been seeing the odd report of them failing recently.

 

[Magno]

I had this problem on a Bonnie many years ago and it turned out that the replacement battery I had fitted was shorting out on the metal underside of the seat because the terminals were too high.
It's a long shot but could it be that?

Magno

 

[Sea Dog]

There you go.

I used to think that there were more failed Boyers than any other, but as the years progress and all of these newer brand ignitions get miles racked up, I'm seeing that there is no particular brand aftermarket electronic ignition that has a relatively spotless record.

I really believed Tri-Spark were flawless, but I've been seeing the odd report of them failing recently.

On another forum an intermittent brief cut out of the ignition when using a Tri-Spark has been traced to the wires from the sensor plate to the trigger box had been run alongside or taped to the alternator wires causing inductive interference. Separate them and problem solved. From my experience, Steve Kelly , owner of Tri-Spark, offers excellent service.

 

[gumpt1oo]

The replacement Tri-spark has arrived and it is the latest 2013 model with integral test facility.
It is now fitted and the bike runs great.
The customer service from Steve Kelly at Tri-spark is spot on!

 

[Bonnie79D]

Great result.

 

[CarlS]

That is good news. Glad the problem is solved.

 

[Sea Dog]

Terrific news Steve. Your baby will now purr

 

[Magno]

Went out on the old girl yesterday to take her for an MOT test. She started up 2nd kick, and off we went.
500 yards down the road she started missing and cut out. I tried to re-start her, and she was trying to fire, but it took 6 kicks until she fried up properly. I set off again, and 1 mile up the road, exactly the same again! It was as if the ignition had been turned off. I turned the ignition off and on again, made sure the plug leads were secure, kicked her over and she fired up and ran great all the way to Kendal and back, approx 20 miles.
So I have done a thorough check on all the electrical connections, battery has 13 volts, checked the Tri-spark ignition, (it sparks at both plugs every time the led lights, but they do not seem very strong even with new plugs, right side slightly stronger). I have drained the carbs, checked that fuel is flowing ok, checked the tappets, checked the fuel cap is venting, and have not found any definite reason why it stopped!
As the sparks did not seem too strong, I have tested the coils as per the Triumph manual,
removed the w/b wire from coil 2, turned on ignition then tested each coil terminal with voltmeter, and all read over 12 volts.
I then re-connected the w/b wire as per the manual and tested for voltage on the negative terminal of coil 2 and it reads over 12 volts, but according to the manual should be zero!
Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?

Hello Gumpt,

Definitely sounds electrical.
Could this be a shorting out problem. I had something very similar and it took me ages to realise that the battery terminals were shorting against the underside of the seat. I cured it with a bit of old tyre innertube as an insulation.
It sounds odd that it got you 20 miles without trouble after having cut out a couple of times. It leads me to think that it isn't a major electrical problem but something less obvious.

Hope that may help and good luck with it

Magno

 

[triumph david]

Electronics are always a bitch.