Hi Guys,

Looked in the Technical bit but could find nothing.
Help with this one would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Paul

email (option): eastwood007@ntlworld.com

If the dynamo is still attached to the bike. Remove the two wires at the D and F terminals. put two separate wires in the D and F, join them together and fix them to the live end of a bulb. Earth the body/cap of the bulb to the machine and start the engine. The bulb should glow and get brighter as you rev the engine. Too many revs and you could blow the bulb.....Which is good Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Now, I have a dynamo that I can run as a motor by attaching a battery to the D-F connections and earthing to the body. BUT it won't generate any charge when fitted to the bike using the test as described by Ron. Any ideas? I'm bloody useless at this sparky stuff.

Cheers
Pete

email (option): petercomley@web.de

"Motoring" a dynamo simply tells you that the windings are ok, which is a good start, but it is not a guarantee that (say) the magnets have lost magnetism or there is some other fault.
REgards, Mark

Technicaly there are no magnets in a dynamo. A small residual magnetism is present in the iron field core which gets things going but if the dynamo is from a different bike that turned the dynamo in the opposite direction then this cancells out and there is no output. The "cure" is to flash the dynamo, do a search of this website for the details.

Thanks Ron,

Sounds easy enough so will give it a go (glow....hehe)

No output then it's dead I assume.

Many thanks,
Paul

email (option): eastwood007@ntlworld.com

Yes Paul and the first suspects are stuck or worn out brushes (make sure they are sliding in their retainers) or dirty commutator clean the black off with thinners or petrol. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Thank you again Ron,

Will do that.
Matchless G3L so not so easy access but....'who dares wins'

Many thanks,
Paul

email (option): eastwood007@ntlworld.com

Oh blimey! You have to strip one side or the other to get it out. As long as you're not riding at night a lot, you could do what others do and just charge up your battery before a ride out. Or carry a spare Cyclon gell battery up your jumper. Fortunately you don't need it to spark the plug. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Hi Ron,

Yep you hit the nail on the head.

A minor fault in design I'm sure by Matchless!

Not a two minute job so to say.
I'll commit to the basic test first eh and prey!

Many thanks,
Paul

email (option): eastwood007@ntlworld.com

A clear description of how to test a dynamo can be found here:

http://matchlessclueless.com/electrical/lucas/testing-lucas-dynamo/

Peter.

I switched over to LED and with a 9 AH battery, get about 8 hours headlight from a charge.

there's a nice chap over the pond who sells just about every possible bulb you would need in LED (even the little threaded one for the speedo)

http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/online-shop-for-led-bulbs-and-light-boards-etc.php

For the cheapskates among us (thats me!), I use 2 small sealed 6V batteries in parallel and tucked into a hollowed out battery box. Very reasonable at $15.99 a pair including priority shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380886953641?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

email (option): cas.vanderwoude@gmail.com

Good one, Peter! Have made a hard copy. Enough information here to become a pro

Wade

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

Installed in my WDG3L as a fully reconditioned dynamo, mine has never worked and until the bike needs a rebuild, it will stay that way! Its not a problem; I don't ride at night as it has a blackout mask fitted anyhow (I carry battery LED lights in case I get caught out) and a Cyclon battery holds enough charge to keep the brake light and horn working for weeks. Thank goodness for magnetos!

Regarding the Cyclon batteries, if your dynamo is working ok, are they compatible for putting in to the system? My limited knowledge of electrics suggests a charger is a charger, but can they be overcooked?

I've run Cyclon batteries in all my bikes for years, even the coil ignition Indians. The only problem I've had is the AO electronic regulator on my Indian special which I've now replaced with a DVR2. I won't fit AO's again Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Cheers Ron, that'll do for me. Dunc