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Tech. Advice: Series 'B' / 'C' 500cc/1000cc Bikes
No Sparkage
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<blockquote data-quote="davidd" data-source="post: 39737" data-attributes="member: 1177"><p>Dan,</p><p></p><p>It looks to me like you have a 12 volt Lucas RITA ignition. The device that looks like a distributor looks like a Mistral unit. You have a 6 volt Miller generator, which should have not much to do with the ignition other than supplying the battery charge. The battery needs 12 volts so there may be a regulator, like a Gardner regulator that is changing the 6 volt to 12 volts. If anything that I have just said is true, then my previous statement may also be true: this ignition needs an on/off switch of some sort, which is probably in the headlamp switch. If the switch is left in the "on" position the power transistor in the silver rectangular box that says "Lucas" will have burned up. It will need replacing. </p><p></p><p>The RITA ignition is popular, so it may be good to ask around for some help from someone who has used one. If you are tracing wires, you can pop the headlight out and see if the terminals on the left side (facing the headlamp) of the miller switch are being used as an on/off switch. You can then trace the wire or wires back to the silver box and/or the battery.</p><p></p><p>The unit that I have called a "Mistral" is the distributor or maybe more accurately the actuator. It determines when the spark will happen and to which cylinder it will go. This bolts right to the engine case and has a gear on it inside the timing chest. Mistral is the name of the manufacturer, but there were several manufacturers over the years. I hope that others on the Forum have more details that may help.</p><p></p><p>David</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="davidd, post: 39737, member: 1177"] Dan, It looks to me like you have a 12 volt Lucas RITA ignition. The device that looks like a distributor looks like a Mistral unit. You have a 6 volt Miller generator, which should have not much to do with the ignition other than supplying the battery charge. The battery needs 12 volts so there may be a regulator, like a Gardner regulator that is changing the 6 volt to 12 volts. If anything that I have just said is true, then my previous statement may also be true: this ignition needs an on/off switch of some sort, which is probably in the headlamp switch. If the switch is left in the "on" position the power transistor in the silver rectangular box that says "Lucas" will have burned up. It will need replacing. The RITA ignition is popular, so it may be good to ask around for some help from someone who has used one. If you are tracing wires, you can pop the headlight out and see if the terminals on the left side (facing the headlamp) of the miller switch are being used as an on/off switch. You can then trace the wire or wires back to the silver box and/or the battery. The unit that I have called a "Mistral" is the distributor or maybe more accurately the actuator. It determines when the spark will happen and to which cylinder it will go. This bolts right to the engine case and has a gear on it inside the timing chest. Mistral is the name of the manufacturer, but there were several manufacturers over the years. I hope that others on the Forum have more details that may help. David [/QUOTE]
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Tech. Advice: Series 'B' / 'C' 500cc/1000cc Bikes
No Sparkage
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