Lucas dynamo testing

A guide for testing and checking that the Lucas dynamo charging system on your classic Matchless motorbike is working correctly. This feature is not available right now. Testing a dynamo and checking output.

Most modern cars are fitted with an alternator. It will allow you to test the voltage output as well as coil resistances (see the testing a Lucas dynamo page link in my earlier reply).

Hopefully this will allow you to narrow down the problem, but unless its something simple, you will probably be best to get the dynamo professionally rebuilt. Lucas equipped cars and motor cycles, can be diagnosed and corrected-in many cases without having to remove the units from the vehicle. Autoplay When autoplay is enable a suggested video will automatically play next. Up next Lucas E3L dynamo rebuild.

The coils in the picture below are in a Lucas dynamo and are contaminated with oil. The insulating cloth tape is soft and rotten. Fit only for the scrap bin!

In the middle of the dynamo , on the shaft, is a fat sausage of iron segments wound with coils of wire.

Each of these coils is connected to copper segments towards one end of the shaft. So, instead of a rotating magnet in a coil, we have coils of wire rotating inside an electromagnet. The commutator should be free from any trace of oil or dirt and should have a highly polished appearance.

Clean a dirty or blackened commutator by pressing a fine dry cloth against it while the engine is slowly. DC dynamo , they did so with neither an excess of copper nor steel. Just after the turn of the century as motorized transportation was developing, motorists became aware of the dangers of driving about after dark. The gap between the main electrodes is typically set to 5. Lucas for slow-running tests of their post-war magnetos). The 3-point gaps are the best way of reliably testing the slow-speed performance of a magneto.

However, they do require regular attention to the sharpness of the electrodes. Connect a volt meter from terminal ‘D’ to terminal ‘F’ (on the dynamo ) and speed up the engine revs. The volt meter should read between and volts. If you get a zero reading then check that the brushes are free.

If you still get a zero reading then it is the armature that is at fault. This design superseded the earlier three-brush dynamo. Rotating the screw clockwise.

The Miller regulator is a has the opposite effect.

Using modern winding methods and class F and H insulations, your E3L dynamo be will restored to a higher specification than the original. The dynamo body will be burned out, shot blasted and electroplated. IN DEFENCE OF THE MILLER DYNAMO Roy Bourne MPH 4Probably the most maligned attachment to the Vincent motor cycle is the friendless Miller dynamo. Subject: How to measure field coil resistance on old Lucas dynamo ? Cleaning and replacing a control box.

Before you remove the leads from the box, fit masking tape to each one and. Servicing and Repairing Dynamos. If you cannot find this, check the distance between the monting flanges, it should be approximately 140mm. The main difference was that. Most of the work we do involves magnetos as fitted to Veteran, Vintage and Classic machines.

This includes all types of Stationary Engines, Tractors, Boats. Coupled with a DRL electronic regulator adequate charging is possible at all times for normal electrical loads.