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Post by notamini on Oct 14, 2021 15:51:50 GMT
Does anyone have any ideas? My Red charging light slowly has been coming on at increasing idle levels until yesterday. It now stays on all the time. Where do I start? The battery is definitely not charging because every time I measure it the voltage is lower. Now it is down to 11.98V.
The system is of the old dynamo (generator) and regulator box. Should I start with the dynamo or the regulator or does it really matter?
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Post by jockduck on Oct 15, 2021 10:38:44 GMT
I had the same symptoms on my S8 Sunbeam motorcycle many years ago and found the dynamo brushes shot and commutator very dirty a clean and new brushes restored normal operation. Fairly easy to eyeball the brushes. Although the voltage control unit is fairly simple last century device fiddling with it needs care and knowledge. Jock.
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Post by notamini on Oct 15, 2021 20:30:40 GMT
Tested the dyno this afternoon with 'F' and 'D' connected. Nothing out. Removed the dyno after some hard work removing the pollution pump above the dyno and ignition coil and resistor attached to the dyno. You need very small hands and long wrenches. Dismantled the dyno and found the brushes badly worn. In fact, the one had worked its way out of place and still maintained contact until it became triangular in shape. Both brush wires were corroded off. I actually found a shop in farming country that can supply me with new brushes or, if that fails to fix it, a complete rebuild. thanks for your reply Jock. It helped. Mark
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Post by jockduck on Oct 16, 2021 10:10:01 GMT
I still run a Lucas C40 in my mini, I had the chance to replace it with an alternator some years ago but got a replacement C40 instead, I thought it was cheap at just over $100 AUS but I found out later it was an Indian copy and not a rebuild as I thought, worked OK for a few years until the drive bearing failed, easy and cheap replacement 6202 bearing, been fine since. I had a couple of S/H dynamos but on checking them the commutators were undersized from over enthusiastic amateur machinists. Jock
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Post by notamini on Oct 16, 2021 14:35:17 GMT
Have you seen the new Dyno styled alternators? It supposedly replaces the dyno direct. Approx. 125 BPS.
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Post by jockduck on Oct 17, 2021 10:21:48 GMT
Yes its a bit mind boggling the new alternators out now, the output can be three times that of the C40 plus a built in regulator, makes it one wonder why we persist with 70 year old technology except the rest of the car is also of the same era. I would not go back to the standard ignition the electronic ones do a far better job but where do you stop, fuel injection ? Jock
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Post by notamini on Oct 21, 2021 18:00:11 GMT
I went back to points because my gas mileage dropped noticeably. If you check the dwell on the electronics, you will find same as I did and it is way longer than for the points. Makes me wonder if this explains the mileage difference.
Got my generator fixed. I found a guy in St Jacobs, ON who had brushes just about 1mm too thick. I sanded them down slowly until they fit. I polished the commutator and put it all back together. Working like a charm. This guy also said he used to build Dynamators and could likely build one for me. Cool. Thanks for everyone's help. Cheers Mark
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