So I am having a few issues with my 1943 Matchless G3L.
The bike has always been a good starter since I have owned it, some 4 years, but as of late it's not so. Whilst cold it starts ok, but soon as it gets hot, or been ridden and cooling down, it impossible to start it by kicking it over. In this instance the only way to start it is by bumping it.
It's been a fairly gradual decline, I have checked the spark, which is strong but slightly fragmented.
Once running, hot or cold it does not miss a beat and rides well.
I have checked and cleaned the whole of the carburettor, always used fresh fuel in the tank and I have changed the plug to a know good one but still no improvement. My feeling after reading some posts on the forum is a faulty condenser but I welcome opinions.
It has a busy season coming up so I would like to get her starting nicely again.
Sounds as if the magneto is slowly dying. When running the magneto will spin fast enough to produce a spark. Try closing the plug gap down to say 10 thou then see if it will kick start from hot. If so its a good indication of a failing magneto
I have a matchless g3l 1943 also and have the exact same problem it won't start once warm!does anyone know the part number of the condenser for the g3l? Or where to get one? Thanks.
You can't just buy and fit a condenser. It's a job for a magneto expert. It will require a rewind of the armature and well worth the money spent......Probably around £200. Ron
The condensers only cost a pound or three. But the armature winding has to be cut off to fit one. It's the cost of the rewind and general overhaul of the rest of the magneto that costs the money. But the magneto is the absolute heart of your bike. I never restore a bike without sending the mag to my guy for overhaul. Ron
Anyone who rebuilds a magneto without fitting a new condensor is not a 'specialist', not in magnetos anyway.
It's a bit like rebuilding an engine and putting the old oil back in...
Unless it a original Mica one ! I had my 32 Enfield sloper magneto armature rewound and told the guy if the original Mica condensor didnt leak and checked out ok to leave it in place, glad to say it was good after 85 years and still is good and bike runs and starts perfectly.The mag on the Enfield was still sealed with the Lucas lead seal which I managed to prise out of screw head and refit once I had rebuilt magneto...Dave
