Hitchcocks Forum

I am wiring my 1936 Model J but the one thing that has me bluffed is where exactly the regulator "A" leads to. The Enfield book says to "terminal 3" on the light switch. However, my switch is a newer sort and does not have a 'terminal 3'. The only options on the switch are OFF , PILOT LIGHTS , and HEADLIGHTS. There is of course also a terminal that goes out to the tail light and another to the ammeter.
Can anyone enlighten me please?

My mate Pete (Dynamo/regulator expert) says "Reg A wire must go to ammeter and onto batt live. Take light switch feed from regulator side of ammeter". That supposes you are negative earth of course, if positive earth then negative side of battery. Hope this helps,
REgards, Mark

Thanks Mark, especially for the quick response. Much appreciated

Just re-reading your comments Mark -to get it straight. The battery lead comes in to the + side of the ammeter according to the wiring diagram and then goes out the other side to the switch. Are you meaning that the Reg A wire goes to the same terminal that the battery lead connects to on the ammeter OR the negative side which lead to the switch? Thanks

David, as I understand him, he means the reg A wire goes to the same side of ammeter as the wire to the battery positive. Then the wire to the light switch goes from the other side of the ammeter. With this set up the ammeter is in circuit to measure load from the battery. Now would be a good time to put a fuse in the battery feed as well. You don't say if you're 6 or 12 volt but a fuse about 20A should be about right. You won't blow up the ammeter if you get it wrong, the most likely wrong thing is that the meter reads "-" when charging and "+" when discharging in which case reverse the ammeter wires! By the way, what wiring diagram are you using?
REgards, Mark

Thanks Mark. That is what I suspected but I wanted to make sure. Yes I have installed a fuse (the automatic switching sort -6 volt) on the battery positive lead.
The wiring diagram I am using is from the 4th Edition of Pitmans 'The Book of the Royal Enfield' which says it covers 1934 to 1938. My J model is 1936. None of the diagrams are exactly correct as far as the year and instrument panels.
Page 78 gives a diagram for 1938 models with Mag/dyno but without an instrument panel in the tank (ie it shows a headlight mounted panel). The 2nd diagram page 83 shows the same but for the 1937 models with a tank instrument panel but of the triangular type. Mine has the oval 2 instrument tank mounted panel (same as on my 35 K model). They are pretty much similar.
Probably you are thinking 'Why doesn't he copy the K model layout?' The wiring is a mess on it, in fact it looks like it may have had a minor fire in the electrics so I guess Im asking this question for both machines
Regards and thanks again - David

Cheers David, it's useful to know about the differences between the various instrument panels too!
REgards, Mark

I can't help you with this specific problem. However, after having rewired a couple of old bikes with fairly simple wiring, I would say this:

If the wiring is "a mess on it, in fact it looks like it may have had a minor fire in the electrics...." as you say, then it is probably easier to remove all of it and start from scratch with the (most) correct wiring diagram. Then you are in control and don't have to "assume" anything or "hope" that somethings work. All connections will be new and good (if you know how...) etc. etc..

I have successfully done this on my Model G, and (apart from the regulator going mad, frying the dynamo) have not had a single electrical problem since. Likewise on a 1958 175 cc 2 stroke.

Good luck!

Regards, Anders F. R.

Thanks Anders and Mark
Cheers David