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6 volt weird issues Lodola

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italianmotor View Drop Down
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    Posted: 06 Jul 2016 at 19:21
My Lodola, which is usually utterly reliable, has started to have odd electrical symptoms. The other evening after attending Ludgershall Bike night, putting the key in the ignition, I didn't get the bright ignition light I usually do, just faint. Luckily it started all the same, and I managed to get home. Seems like it ran worse wioth lights on. Checked battery today, a bit flat but not much, and it's charging up fine. Bike starts ok but doesn't seem to be charging. Lights and horn still dim. I was wondering if it's something to do with the dynamo? (havn't had time to get in there yet.) Any theories?
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Brian UK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jul 2016 at 23:04
When you say it's charging up fine, do you mean on the bike or on a charger? It does sound as if the dynamo isn't putting out its full power.
Could be the voltage regulator, if that restricts the voltage, you will never really charge the batteryand it will seem better with he lights off.
Otherwise you are looking for a bad connection somewhere.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Baldybloke Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 00:14
Check and clean your earth connections before doing anything else.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jezguz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 00:19
Check the tension of the Dynamo drive belt, it could be slipping.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote italianmotor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 13:00
Ok, thanks for the suggestions. I had already checked belt tension, fine. I swapped the regulator with a  spare, no difference. I checked the earths, fine. I checked and cleaned the brushes on teh dynamo, seem fine. I cleaned the rather primitive ignition switch contacts. The problem is seen even before I start the bike though as the ignition light bulb inside the headlamp is not lighting up brightly as it always has done, just a weak glow. If the field windings of the dynamo had failed, would this be a symptom?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 15:56
I know the wiring schematic was posted some time ago, but I can't remember the detail. Surely the ignition light is powered from the battery.
Can you check the voltage across the battery when switched off, when on and when "charging"?
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italianmotor View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote italianmotor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 19:17
Brian - battery shows 6.6v (just after charging) connected and at rest, with ignition on shows 5.8v, motor running shows no higher than 6.5v, lights on goes down to 5.8v.
I'm starting to suspect the dynamo. When I opened the end cap there was an unpleasant acrid smell. Resistance over the + and - termninals on the end of the dynamo is 0.00 though. I have a dynamo on another bike that I could try but it is unknown to me, don't know if it works or not.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 22:37
It does sound as if it's not charging properly. I know the electrics are not exactly powerful but it shouldn't drop that much when the lights go on. I might have expected more than 6.5v on no load.
 
Dynamos are simple things though, so can usually be repaired assuming no broken wires in the coils though you can get the enamel coming off the wire, causing internal shorts, which reduces the number of turns in the winding.
 
Check the obvious, commutator and brushes.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyclobutch Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 13:07

Disconnect the two leads from the dynamo. Connect the two terminals of the dynamo with a new bit of wire. Connect your multimeter to the wire (so effectively it is in contact with both terminals - if you see what I mean). Connect the other probe from the multimeter to earth. Start the motor and check the voltage at tick over – should show a couple of volts. Increase the revs to fast idle (don’t go mad), and the revs should rise. With revs increasing you should be able to get 7 – 8 volts easily. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nick from Kent Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jul 2016 at 15:54
Must be that time of year... My Lodola has done the same and has stopped charging the battery. Took the dynamo to the doctor and it seems the armature has broken, so sent off to see how much it will cost to rebuild. The techy tells me that the regulator is probably at fault and should be inspected or replaced with a solid state device before fitting the rebuilt dynamo. There are lots avilable on the net which can fit inside the original regulator shell.

Edited by Nick from Kent - 15 Jul 2016 at 18:29
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italianmotor View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote italianmotor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2016 at 17:52
Well, I swapped the regulator and dynamo with parts that I think should work from another bike I have, and all that seems to happen now is that it is blowing fuses. I have put a 10 amp inline blade fuse near the battery and they're getting popped, waiting for some more bought off Ebay to arrive. Anyway, given up for now. Shame, it was always so reliable. I'm tempted to rewire it too but would rather do that in winter.

The dynamo I took off seems pretty knackered, bare red wires, looks like there's been a fire in there, plus the bearing has come apart (pics below). Not sure if I can rebuild it myself.

Nick, I looked into modern regulators for it a year or so ago, but had probems sourcing something for a 6v Marelli system. Got any useful leads?



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Nick from Kent View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nick from Kent Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2016 at 18:26
Adam; I fitted one of these to a Benelli 250 Sport Special last year: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RB108N-6V-NEGATIVE-EARTH-BSA-TRIUMPH-BIKE-MOTORCYCLE-DC-DYNAMO-REGULATOR-MCR2-/272308917419?hash=item3f66e054ab:g:OKMAAOxy3lFRCQXc

I haven't done lots of miles so cannot swear by it, but loads of Brit bike freaks use them and my auto electrical bod reckons they do the job.
I'm using Curd Brothers on Tunbridge Wells trading estate to rebuild my Dynamo. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jerry atric Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2016 at 22:39
Solid state defo the way to go with regulators. AO Services do a good one as well
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iceni View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote iceni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jul 2016 at 08:36
I've fitted them to my two AJS's. I believe there are two types - one will work on a run down battery while the other needs a decent amount of power in the battery for it to kick in. I'm not at home at the mo, but I believe the one made by Wassell is the latter type and costs about £25. I paid around £50 for the former type. Both will fit into the old British bike reg box I'd that's what you prefer.
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italianmotor View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote italianmotor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jul 2016 at 11:40
Thanks for all the links - I did look into this a couple of years ago but there was no seller of these modern regulators who could help with how it'd wire up to a Marelli dynamo as they are generally wired for Lucas stuff. Or I had to start messing around with the wiring in the dynamo which I don't reslly want to do.
One of these looked promising though but pricy: http://www.dynamoregulators.com/dvr4.php

I have also found in a box a new 12v Sean Hawker/CMES reg/rectifier. Maybe I could get a cheap 12v battery, change the bulbs and use this? Would the dynamo work with this?


Edited by italianmotor - 17 Jul 2016 at 11:56
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