Accu Spark . . .

[restoman]

. . . seems a cheap solution - anyone had any experience of using this?

Ta

[nta16]

umm, little short on detail there but if you mean the igniter heads then generally I've used them for years, not Accu Spark though

the units do away with the nasty modern made CB points and condensers but still leave the rest of the old dissy which is possibly well worn, usually after only a few years and that was x years ago when new

Simon BBC units seem favoured by some Spridget owners as the less expensive choice - http://www.simonbbc.com/distributors

they also do a full dissy set or you could have your dissy reconditioned by the Distributor Doctor http://www.distributordoctor.com/

or you could go the more expensive route and have a fully electronic dissy from 123 (or alternative make) the option I took to replace my Aldon igniter head

if you mean the Colourtune things then many like them but I didn't get along with it or trust the results when I borrowed one but that might just be me

ETA: you can also buy reliable CB points, condensers and rotor arms from the likes of the Distributor Doctor if you want to stick (pun unintended) with points but I've always found improvements with using igniter heads despite what the traditionalist say (much more improvement still with fully electronic dissy but some of that improvement would have come if I'd have had a reconditioning dissy)

Edited by nta16 on Monday 15th April 17:57

[varsas]

Fitted a simon BBC system (dizzy body/head, the whole lot) to my old Landie and.....yeah. Fine. I must admit I'm not experiencing the huge power and economy gains most people seem to get, perhaps that's because my car was pretty well set up with the old points. It does start more easily from cold though. My Stag had a contact-less system (no idea what) on it when I bought it and it's been completely trouble free too.

[AceOfHearts]

We've got an accuspark distributor in the Morris and it has been very good. 2 years / 13,000 miles and has not needed touching. Very easy to setup as well. They are based not too far from me so I have had a few bits from them, and they always seem good quality and value for money.

This is what I bought:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Minor-AccuSpark-U...

[DocArbathnot]

nta16 said:

though

if you mean the Colourtune things then many like them but I didn't get along with it or trust the results when I borrowed one but that might just be me

Edited by nta16 on Monday 15th April 17:57

I thought it was just me! I just can't get it close with these things.

[Faust66]

I tried to fit an Accuspark kit (module to replace the contact breakers & condenser that came complete with a new coil) a couple of years ago to my Amazon and what a saga it turned out to be!

The first unit allowed my engine to run very badly for a few seconds and then it died. Refused to start again so, after I'd done all the usual checks (including the static timing etc), I got the module tested by an auto electrician I’ve used before... his opinion was "it’s st, send it back".

I contacted the ebay Accuspark shop, who, to be fair sent me a replacement out free of charge.

I fitted the new unit and once again, my engine ran for a few seconds on 2 cylinders and then died... at this point I swore quite a lot, refitted the original points & condenser and she fired up first turn of the key and has been fine ever since.

I should point out that I've fitted a couple of similar units (Aldon Ignitor) to other cars and never had a problem... I'm well aware of the dangers of fitting the module incorrectly; i.e. you'll burn it out, and I certainly didn't do this.

Maybe I was just unlucky and was sent 2 duff units, but I'd never go near this particular system again.

[lowdrag]

After 32 years of resetting points every spring, I've finally cracked and bought a 123 dizzy for the E-type. We'll see how it goes later.

[V8 FOU]

lowdrag said:

After 32 years of resetting points every spring, I've finally cracked and bought a 123 dizzy for the E-type. We'll see how it goes later.

So how will you spend the saved time? Adjusting the top timing chain??

[DocArbathnot]

V8 FOU said:

lowdrag said:

After 32 years of resetting points every spring, I've finally cracked and bought a 123 dizzy for the E-type. We'll see how it goes later.

So how will you spend the saved time? Adjusting the top timing chain??

A 123 is a good unit. If your dizzy needs replacing anyway, it's expensive but worth considering.
I notice the latest jobbies have the advance ajustment in a more sensible place so you can "play" with the presets without having to remove it each time.

[nta16]

lowdrag said:

After 32 years of resetting points every spring, I've finally cracked and bought a 123 dizzy for the E-type. We'll see how it goes later.

I'd recommend a rolling road set up with it as the unit it replaced may have had a lot of variances with it

best to do the rolling roads set up after a full service so other components, parts and settings aren't holding back on an optimum set up

[nta16]

DocArbathnot said:

nta16 said:

though

if you mean the Colourtune things then many like them but I didn't get along with it or trust the results when I borrowed one but that might just be me

I thought it was just me! I just can't get it close with these things.

I think you can get close with it but that the problem it's close but how close, from my very limited and non-mechanical experience when the setting looks good with the Colourtune you can still hear that it isn't as good as it could be

[Steffan]

DocArbathnot said:

nta16 said:

though

if you mean the Colourtune things then many like them but I didn't get along with it or trust the results when I borrowed one but that might just be me

Edited by nta16 on Monday 15th April 17:57

I thought it was just me! I just can't get it close with these things.

I first tried Colourtune devices back in the 1960's I think. I could not use them then and never have liked them. But they are still about so they must suit some. Not me!

[nta16]

I think it's a case of how precise you want or need to be, if all the items in the chain are worn to some degree or another then their multiplied variances are less like to give a sustainable exactly accurate results

[Noble P4]

I have always found PowerSpark units very good and well priced (look up PowerSpark on Ebay). They are based in Bromsgrove and are always happy to give advice.

[S0 What]

Fitted quite a few to fords, beetles and campers, maybe 1 in 20 were duff but all were better than points, of course they are only as good as the dizzy, if i had to replace a whole dizzy i'd probably go for a 123 kit, if the customer wanted to pay that much but they rarely do hense i've fitted ni-on 30 kits.

[restoman]

Thank you for your input and advice gentlemen.

Much appreciated.

[nta16]

one cause of complaint is bad installation or care in use - the thin wires are delicate and need strapping down inside the dissy cap so that they have movement but don't get the insulation cut through, this can be missed and blamed on a faulty unit (or if installed badly then the unit rather than the installation work is blamed)

there is a John Twist video with this in too