Hitchcocks Forum

1/ If I use the Lucas E3L-M dynamo as -ve earth do I need to reverse the field and brush connections? IE "D" becomes "F" and "F" becomes "D"? 2/ Also for the drive section from the Magneto (M01L), do I do any lubrication for the fibre gear and dynamo pinion?

I don't think you have to alter the set up,as the generator can reverse its polarity quite simply I believe by motoring it ( I stand to be corrected). Why not just change it back to negative earth though. The old alternator bike are all positive earth but the mag/dynos are negative at least in my experience. Dead easy to change it around.

Hello ZIPPY, this might be of some help ??---------- http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.c ... dynamo.php ------------- Fibre gear wheel might benefit from some graphite grease ??

Hi Zippy

no do not change the wiring over they are two different circuits, fit the dynamo and if you want negative earth fit the battery with the positive disconnected and the negative to the frame then take a short lead from the battery positive and touch it to the F connection on the dynamo for a second, it will spark but that is no problem doing this will polarize the dynamo correctly for positive earth do the same with the negative battery terminal. just a light grease on the gear is all that's needed.

Hi all,Yes Ive already flashed the field to -ve earth and motored the dynamo after testing the field coil (2.9 ohm) and between segments on the armature (0.7 ohm)- All seems ok. but I was just checking I didnt need to run the field coil and brushes backwards(ie sleeved green field terminal to F instead of earth and unsleeeved to earth, brushes to D and earth) The dynamo I'm using is correct for the magdyno, but not the one that came with it. Apparently some M01s did run +ve earth and Ive no idea how this one ran (it's a E3L-M-L-C dated 11/53)At the moment I've got it as "stock" connections, -ve earth. I don't want to run it with the regulator until I'm sure I've got it right.
Cheers, Zippy

Alan R:- Just coat the pinion teeth with a little graphite grease? Or Fill the bottom so the fibre gear dips into it?

Hi ZIPPY------- as per DENNIS C there ie just a small dab using a 1/2" paintbrush with the bristles cut to half length is my method.... I have similar brushes for other greases....

Great! - Thanks, How long before it needs done again? - 1000 miles?

These gears are pretty sturdy and turn relatively slowly so the grease tends to stay on them I check mine once a year but they rarely need much attention. On some of my bikes I cover 5000 to 6000 miles a year, the thing you need to do more often is clean the armature slots of carbon from the brushes around every 1000 miles is good otherwise they can short out and overheat the lands and adhesive causing the whole thing to fall apart.

Yes,I'm used to dynamos and their wiked wiles - as Ive run very old urals as my main mode of transport since 1987, plus a plunger A10....it's when it's combined with the magneto, needing re-regulated to 12V ,it's polarity reversed and serviced,all at the same time-it's fried my brain. I'm starting to double guess myself