Silent Hektik Ignition

I wouldn’t imagine that nowadays anyone fits electronic ignition expecting a performance boost but you do get consistent maintenance free performance (right up to the moment when it all goes silent :slight_smile:)

I’ve got a Newtronic system along with Electrex World HT12 coils on my Cali III FF

Having broken down only twice on Guzzis since 1980, both caused by electronic ignition, would recommend keeping points or having them available if it all goes TU. One was the LT wires on a Piranha breaking internally and the other was a Lucas taking out a coil on the Round Britain Rally. Would definitely recommend getting original points if possible, they last 10 times as long as the cheapo copies.Cheers, Gerry.

Had points on the S3 for 22 years, never a problem. Got Lucas Rita on the T3 California, came with the bike, not a problem - but - I wouldn’t pay out good money to replace points. What’s the point(s)?

My distributor shaft was so pitted with rust that it wore out the points heel in a few miles. Fitting Dynatek has got over that particular issue!

I’m with the fit and forget brigade.
I had the standard contact breaker system on my T3 when I started dispatch riding on it in 1985.Doing a thousand miles a week, keeping the timing Ok was a pita due to points wear, wear in the bob weight slots, and weakened springs.
I soon fitted Lucas Rita and never once regretted it and it must have done 100,000 miles in all weathers with no problems. Just silicon grease on all the connections.
I was Delighted to find a Rita system on my recently acquired Spada/G5. Whether they suffer at all, just due to age, I dunno. I’ll never be doing those sort of mileages again, but its one less thing to have to fiddle with.

Electronic is just better than electro-mechanical. Just is. Stays accurate, better spark, minimum maintenance.

Is the idea of easy to fix points a bit optimistic?
No more/less difficult to fix points in the yard/garage/shed at home but wouldn’t call it an easy roadside repair.
Equally if a standard coil fails you still have to find somewhere selling them.
Car parts outlets are getting more focused on modern and parts. Coils, condensers etc are becoming special order items.
have to say that failures in retro-fitted electronic ignitions seem to be early in their life. Once fitted it’s good for a few years.
Annual checks of the kit can help too; integrity of connections, resistance of wiring components, bits coming loose etc.
Just a thought
Steveguzzibrat2013-11-02 14:20:16

Of course nothing is infallible, that’s what AA/RAC recovery is for

Ah Steve, that’s why a man needs a stash, just in case…

True, true. A complete Rita kit and a box of points, condensers, plates etc waiting for the day
Or a Johnny Cash Guzzi build!
Have fun
Steve

Still probably easier than any bespoke bike system failing.

Good point, I was thinking of the mass market stuff like Rita rather than bespoke kit
Have fun
Steve

I included Rita, you won’t get a spare part from an AA man will you? Can’t really call it a mass market item.

Relative term I guess.
Guzzi points (or any points) are becoming less and less of a mass market item (although possibly easier to obtain). AA (and other similar organisations) don’t carry much in the way of parts.
Some breakdown organisations used to carry known fragile crank sensors but don’t tend to now due to the emphasis on recovery to a safe place.
I did start by asking a simple question. Certainly not saying that Rita etc are infallible
Steve

I remember on a Land’s End JoG trip in about 1988, an 850 Lemans with us had its contact breaker fall apart. The recovery man, even then, couldn’t do anything about it.

Without doubt, if I took a long trip on my bike like to Italy (sadly haven’t done for a while), I’d definitely carry spare contact breakers.

As we are now getting more support for electronic ignition (my default position), and it claims to be the best on the market, I am tempted to ask my original question again: has anyone fitted Silent Hektik ignition, and are you prepared to share your experience?

I suspect you may have to look elsewhere for reviews in service. May be worth a note in Gambalunga as it reches a wider group of people.
Be interested in your findings,
All the best
Steve

I have also considered the silent system, though that may have to wait a year or two, I do have a newtronic to fit my LM2 project

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