Raiders of the Lost Spark |
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saultrader
Senior Member Joined: 12 Dec 2014 Location: Gloucesterhire Status: Offline Points: 267 |
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Posted: 22 Nov 2017 at 11:20 |
Having lovingly put my 1967 V700 to rest around three years ago, that is take the battery off, lean it against a piano and cover it with an ever increasing pile of sheets, blankets, bike jackets etc, I fully expected its recommissioning to be a reversal thereof. How wrong I was, there was no spark! Where had it gone? I had 12v at the coil and 12v at the points but nothing at the plug. I swapped the coil, changed the plugs, polished the brass and still nowt. The only thing I didn't have a spare of was the condenser. I got a new one from Gutsibits, fitted it and she fired up first time and ran like a watch.
I've had faulty condensers before which have affected performance but I've never known one to completely shut off the ignition. I was thinking of selling this bike as part of my Autumnal cull, I may have second thoughts now. |
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ranton_rambler
Senior Member Joined: 13 Feb 2015 Location: Stafford Status: Offline Points: 1147 |
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Mine killed the ignition completely. First time in the middle of a roundabout on the way to MOT, second time about 200 miles after fitting a replacement. I was out and about so bought a Mini condenser (in a Lucas box) and bodged it on. Ran fine straight away and has been fitted ever since.
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saultrader
Senior Member Joined: 12 Dec 2014 Location: Gloucesterhire Status: Offline Points: 267 |
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It's good to hear that I'm not completely alone even though there's now yet another device to clutter up my ready-use locker for when I venture into foreign parts.
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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Condensers can go like that and provide a dead short across the points, which would mean no spark.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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GUZZIPETE
Senior Member Joined: 29 Jul 2016 Location: Devon Status: Offline Points: 198 |
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Failing condensors' seem to be a common occurance Phil. I know Norm has had a couple suddenly fail too.
Likewise with oil pressure switches. I've had two fail in the last year or two, one of those after a lay-off as with your condensor. Why these parts should fail when dormant is a mystery. Last spring I had one condensor and two instrument bulbs to replace when I first wheeled the 850T out. They were fine when the bike was put away. It probably proves that they need to be exercised regularly and don't like being ignored?
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1971 Moto Guzzi V7 Special
1974 Laverda 750 SF2 1979 Laverda 3CL |
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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It's the Guzzi sense of humour.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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Amboman
Senior Member Joined: 05 Dec 2015 Location: Maryland, USA Status: Offline Points: 383 |
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Oddly enough, in the 20 years and 73k miles I've owned and ridden my '69 Ambassador, I've never experienced a failed condenser. <shrug>
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Charlie
'69 Ambassador,'71 Ambassador,'73 Eldorado,'75 Eldorado police,'76 Convert,'77 Morini 3 1/2 Strada,'81 Ducati 500SL Pantah http://www.AntietamClassicCycle.com |
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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Guess what's going to happen now.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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red leader one
Senior Member Joined: 07 Oct 2014 Location: Cullercoats Status: Offline Points: 4466 |
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Never antagonise the Gods.
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saultrader
Senior Member Joined: 12 Dec 2014 Location: Gloucesterhire Status: Offline Points: 267 |
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I'm going to get a spare condenser to carry in my Guzzi tool roll. Is it the same part as used on the Tonti bikes? I know that it's outnumbered 3 to 1 but I don't want my G5 to feel left out.
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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A condenser is a condenser is a condenser.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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cyclobutch
Senior Member Joined: 08 Sep 2015 Location: Essex Branch Status: Offline Points: 750 |
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Yeah - though a lot of those available these days do seem to be quite short lived.
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Butch
V50 II - 'The Black Pearl' T3 - 'Blue' Eldo Loop - 'Jug' |
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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But I doubt the specific source will affect that. Many that you buy from specific shops are old stock, they degenerate from age as much as use. Best thing would be to get one from an electronics supplier, that way you get something new. But it would probably have to be altered to fit the connections.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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Amboman
Senior Member Joined: 05 Dec 2015 Location: Maryland, USA Status: Offline Points: 383 |
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Charlie
'69 Ambassador,'71 Ambassador,'73 Eldorado,'75 Eldorado police,'76 Convert,'77 Morini 3 1/2 Strada,'81 Ducati 500SL Pantah http://www.AntietamClassicCycle.com |
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saultrader
Senior Member Joined: 12 Dec 2014 Location: Gloucesterhire Status: Offline Points: 267 |
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Thank you all for your input on this. I seem to have got away with knowing very little about coils and condensers for over 50 years of riding bikes and I've certainly never considered a condenser to be a bike stopper. I've limped home with a faulty coil but that was on a two coil system and I might not have been so lucky on an old loop frame. I was once told that there is no easy way of testing coils and condensers off the bike, is that so?
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