Mark, presumably you've fitted the longer post war 60W dynamo with an MCR2 regulator? Even so with that bulb and the tail lamp and the occasional use of a 21W stop light. It will struggle to keep up.

LED's are the way to go, if indeed they can give a correct pool of light for night riding.....Which I avoid like the plague.

https://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/led-bulbs-especially-for-motorcycles-shop.php


Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Due to peer pressure I have become a reluctant anorak Ron. (please excuse the pun)
So I decided to use the short dynamo with the MCR2.
I was happy with the rebuilt magneto, so I sent most of a short dynamo to Armoto to be fully rebuild as 12volts.
I'm running the lighting on a 12volt lithium battery with no charging.
I've ran for over an hour now, and still a bright headlight.
If I can find a new original lens and reflector I might try an LED again.
The Wassell (cree) was very bright, but light everywhere other than my direction.
Still the compact rear LED is not bright enough either.
I'll have a good look at the link you posted Ron, as it's not clear to me as to what I require.

Mark

email (option): pes.sales@btconnect.com

I've ordered wrong bulbs from his confusing array of bulbs before. But he's more than happy to talk you through what you need.
Click on the Ariel Sq 4 link for our classic bikes. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Last night I tried the snow run at night test.
The snow was a disappointment, slush was more interesting around corners.
Deep unexpected flooding no problem, I managed to get the throttle shut as the wave went over me.
It coughed a bit, but soon recovered.
Going slower at night exceeded my lighting range, so I had to phone home for recovery.
Conclusion, it was happier in the cold and wet than me!

Mark

email (option): pes.sales@btconnect.com

Now using a rebuilt 40W Dynamo by Armoto.
What is a surprise is that the 40W Dynamo is this charging with a 55W halogen headlight bulb.
So I'm very happy with that.
I managed to find a little time to advance the ignition timing.
Still not happy as the timing light is so sensitive that the slightest pressure changes the light.
It's a bit more responsive, but I'm not happy.
Any more that half throttle make no difference.
I think the answer is to put a TDC mark on the crank sprocket and use a digital strobe to check it.
Big shock was how much water was in the engine.
I had no idea it could get in so easily.
I noticed this morning that a drip I think was from the gearbox was also gray.
Better drain the gearbox and chaincase.
Lets hope the water resistant grease I used is doing it's job.
So a warning, the M20 is not amphibious!

Mark

email (option): pes.sales@btconnect.com

I just use a marked pencil to get the timing right and then adjust by feel if needed, but then this is my third M21 [and came with the timing out]. Having knackered four batteries using a far east regulator, due to a reverse bleed; I now use an English made DVR and one of Goff's excellent 6v LEDS. I got a 12v LED from him for my Enfield 535 and that was a vast improvement too.

email (option): jeremy@clogmaker.co.uk

Not such a good trip to the local BSAOC Thursday.
All seemed ok and I set off with it still light.
I ran with the sidelights on and the led in the front is very bright and white.
The last section through some trees I never noticed if anything happened when I switched the headlight on.
In the darkness I found I had no lights!
As the rear brake light is on a different circuit I just swapped fuses and I had lights again.
Not charging though?
As I've been used to riding without a functioning dynamo I thought I'd get home on the battery.
I didn't get very far and I lost my lights!
Fortunately a club member stopped and had some fuses with him.
Lights again.
Friday, work was suspended whilst I searched for the fault.
No signs of any shorting, no wiring damage?
No life from the dynamo either.
By lunchtime I had given up, Anita phoned Armoto and they agreed for me to visit in the afternoon.
Confirmed, no life from the dynamo.
It seemed like the armature was open circuit.
Stripping it confirmed this, though no sign of the windings overheating?
The Armature had thrown all it's solder!
Armature repaired, dynamo rebuilt and tested. All good.
Armoto's thought were that it suffered a short circuit and recommended using a DVR3 that has current limiting.
Sadly since being taken over the lowest current limiting device was 8 amps.
This morning I fitted a 5 amp fuse in the dynamo.
That should protect it from a short between it and the regulator.
The wiring in the battery box was scruffy and not easy to work on in the dark.
A simple and quickish solution was required as we're off to Cassino in Italy next week.
This is the result and it seems to work.
Again the brake light is on it's own fuse.



Mark

email (option): pes.sales@btconnect.com