Today in the workshop .....

[Cato]

I know I've only been back two minutes, so interfering in the forum with a new topic like this may promote a "cheeky b*******" response, but ..

I thought there was a gap in the threads of the 'what I've done/bought/seen type. So this one is for interesting work related stuff, i.e. things you don't own but are working on (hopefully) for reward. If it doesn't run then I guess it'll die on its own, and if it doesn't fit with the ethos then it'll get booted. We'd have to respect commercial and data sensitivities.

I'll kick it off with a couple of interesting things that have been through recently.

A pretty (but typically leaky) 3TA in for charging issues.

 

[roofman]

lets go Larry

 

[Cato]

lets go Larry

You've got popcorn ready for when it all kicks off over something that should or shouldn't have been done haven't you?

 

[Rannsachair]

I know I've only been back two minutes, so interfering in the forum with a new topic like this may promote a "cheeky b*******" response, but ..

I thought there was a gap in the threads of the 'what I've done/bought/seen type. So this one is for interesting work related stuff, i.e. things you don't own but are working on (hopefully) for reward. If it doesn't run then I guess it'll die on its own, and if it doesn't fit with the ethos then it'll get booted. We'd have to respect commercial and data sensitivities.

I'll kick it off with a couple of interesting things that have been through recently.

A pretty (but typically leaky) 3TA in for charging issues.
View attachment 512479

the original lucas rectifier or the alternator windings breaking down? I seem to recall if I turned the key backwards mine used the coils on the stator like a magneto and allowed batteryless running ( Energy Transfer Ignition it was called from memory).
Great wee bikes, I did tens of thousands of miles on mine, paid £200 for it when I was 16.

I had a bit of an altercation with a reps cavalier that pulled out onto a 60mph country road in front of me:

and rebuilt on another frame better:

 

[Robotstar5]

the original lucas rectifier or the alternator windings breaking down? I seem to recall if I turned the key backwards mine used the coils on the stator like a magneto and allowed batteryless running ( Energy Transfer Ignition it was called from memory).
Great wee bikes, I did tens of thousands of miles on mine, paid £200 for it when I was 16.

I have something similar on my Bantam, a 3 position switch "I - Off - E" where I is normal ignition, but if the battery goes flat you can switch to the E (emergency) position and it uses the lighting coils to generate enough power to run the HT coil.

 

[Cato]

the original lucas rectifier or the alternator windings breaking down?

In this instance he had some issues and got an "auto electrician" out who proceeded to make an utter balls of the thing. Feel sorry for the bloke as he's a decent chap but unfortunately engaged the services of someone who knew nothing about old bikes and did rough, cheap work to boot.

I've only found half of the bodgery but it's frankly shockingly poor work. A £5 chinese reg/rec allowing nearly 17v to the battery, but it can't keep up when the headlamp's on. Turns out that the stator wire that should go to the headlamp switch is just taped up in the cowl. Cheap insulated terminals, blobbed solder, random connections being shared. It's going to take a while to work out and sort that's for sure.

The customer said "he joined some wires in there" pointing to the stator case so I can only imagine what horrors lurk in there.

 

[Rannsachair]

In this instance he had some issues and got an "auto electrician" out who proceeded to make an utter balls of the thing. Feel sorry for the bloke as he's a decent chap but unfortunately engaged the services of someone who knew nothing about old bikes and did rough, cheap work to boot.

I've only found half of the bodgery but it's frankly shockingly poor work. A £5 chinese reg/rec allowing nearly 17v to the battery, but it can't keep up when the headlamp's on. Turns out that the stator wire that should go to the headlamp switch is just taped up in the cowl. Cheap insulated terminals, blobbed solder, random connections being shared. It's going to take a while to work out and sort that's for sure.

The customer said "he joined some wires in there" pointing to the stator case so I can only imagine what horrors lurk in there.

View attachment 512494View attachment 512495View attachment 512496View attachment 512497

I hate modern electrical tape wrapped cables. He may not want to go to the expense, though the nicest job would be to buy a new Lucas braided wiring harness and just rewire it, think they are about £70.

 

[Cato]

I hate modern electrical tape wrapped cables. He may not want to go to the expense, though the nicest job would be to buy a new Lucas braided wiring harness and just rewire it, think they are about £70.

It may yet get a new loom, but I want to work out exactly what's been done to it first. Then I can make the call between making good what looks like a fairly new base loom, or just binning it and start again as that may work out cheaper/quicker anyway.

That said, braiding and heat shrink costs pennies, I use them on most of the electrical work I do even when I'm fitting trackers and stuff. It's that sadly now old fashioned attitude of taking a bit of pride in what you do, and not wanting someone you'll never meet looking at your work and thinking it's a mess.