Hitchcocks Forum

Can anybody tell me why an alternator rotor goes bad. We have had a couple of Wassel high output rotors that stop charging or have a very reduced charging rate. Fit a standard Indian rotor and the alt works fine. Magnetisim in the Wassels appears about the same as the Indian ones. I am starting to believe the standard Indian 4 wire rotor and stator it much better than the Wassels and at a fraction of the cost, that is if the stator fits over the rotor, had one of those recently. Any thoughts?

Hi NORM--- I think this may give a clue----it's all to do with the type of steel chosen for a permanent magnet etc, etc }-------- http://www.tpub.com/neets/book1/chapter1/1f.htm --------------

Thanks Alan, so obviously these Wassel rotors are only tempoary magnets cause they sure don't work for too long. Also a brand new Wassel stator, fitted and dead as a Dodo but sat for so long the bloke can't remember where he bought it so another one in the bin

Norm,

I haven't tried one, but you could google for Sparx alternators, might be better than Wassell. Don't think they do a 4 wire stator for the Bullet, but the rotors might do a better job of holding their magnetism. I did use one of their reg/rectifiers with a built-in capacitor a few years back and it was fine.


Regards,

Adrian

Thanks Adrian,
Only thing with the Sparx rotors is I have read about a lot of complaints that they are just too tight to fit the shaft

Norm , wassal are not a mfg ,they mearly buy parts from the cheapest place , package and sell on

do you not have files down there?

Hi Alan, I guess you could file them but I was only going on info I have seen on Norton and Triumph sites, people complaining about them so I have stayed away from them. The Wassel rotor looks much better made than the Indian ones but looks don't cut the mustard if it doesn't charge the battery. The only problem with the Indian ones we have had a couple disintergrate and do terrible damage so people here are a bit nervous using them

I find it stunning that magnets could be of such poor quality from a modern company , my old 1995 Madras export rotor has fantastic magnet strength and in no way does it look like it could fling apart ..though the coils are really messy looking with uneven windings and hand twisted connections soldered together and a heavy enamel coil dip .
I used to be a transformer builder many years ago and I would have got the sack for such a mess ...but work it does ! It gives good volts at tick over and should last for decades .

hi all i have heard that if the unit poles rotor touching coils this will stuff the coil set .
i,ve had a sparx unit for years now no problems our hosts sell a lucas[prince of darkness] 4 wire hi output one but a bit pricey. check the d/s main bearings if worn will let rotor hit stator.

---------- careful there, PHIL...wishful thinking, etc ????? (LoL)