Hitchcocks Forum

Hi wondered if any one has any ideas on this:
I have a 1960 Crusader Sports 250 single which has been running faultlessly until recent misfire appeared this happens atn exactly 12 miles from home every time I go out on it it seems its just a irritating intermittent misfire that after another few miles clears away completely until the next ride odd but just as I have described it , my engine is in vgc and all relevant electrical parts including spark plug are brand new a bit confused as the engine runs so nicely for 12 miles then turns into a mechanical Kangaroo, today I rode the bike twenty five miles and checked the spark plug twice for gap and burn colour but all seems fine no obvious sign of any problems or noises from the motor and isn't over heating any ideas would be welcome . thankyou all.

Sounds like coil (or possibly) capacitor failure.

REgards, Mark

My first thought was capacitor failure, probably the cheapest component to replace as well.

I would check for wayer in the tank and carb.

That should read water!

by draining the carb float bowl, blobs of water are easy to spot

I vote for coil, junction with HT lead. Once had the same trouble on a Commando. 12 miles or thereabouts warm, pop, spit etc. Bad contact, worse when warm. Inside of coil oxidised a nasty blue colour.

Hi Top Draw>br> Could it possibly be that the petrol tank filler cap breather hole is blocked? and it takes 12 miles to create a vacuum in the tank! Worth checking methinks.
REgards Dick.

H'i I had a similar thing with my crusader after 12/15 miles it would stutter and then cut out, it was ok after changing the condenser for about the same distance. In the end I fitted a pazone electronic system and it has been ok ever since about 5 years now. Steve