Capacitors

Hello everybody, I've got a 1973 850, it's gorgeous, but it has a wiring loom that looks like my mum knitted it. The warning light assimulator is disconnected, the capacitor is completely absent and it has enough horrible sticky black tape wrapped around it to choke a donkey, not that I've ever tried to choke a donkey with sticky black tape you understand. Anyway, my question is, I've bought a new capacitor with a spring mount to hold it but where is the capacitor mounted? Also, could someone tell me where are the wires that connect to it and what colour (English Spelling) are they? I know what the capacitor does, it would be very nice if it would do it. Your help would be very much appreciated. Cheers, Steve

I tore out my original harness long ago. To be honest, I thought it was the previous owner that made it look like a fist full of spaghetti wrapped in black electrical tape but I guess that was factory correct.

stevefiendish said:

I've bought a new capacitor with a spring mount to hold it but where is the capacitor mounted?

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It would usually be bolted to the front of the sheet metal frame cross member at the rear of the battery compartment.

stevefiendish said:

Also, could someone tell me where are the wires that connect to it and what colour (English Spelling) are they?

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Assuming that you are keeping to the original positive earth polarity, then the 2MC positive terminal connects to earth (Red harness wire) and the negative side (double?) terminal/s connect to the Brown/Blue [NU] wires.

Note that the capacitor acts as a junction point for the Brown/Blue [NU] wires which connect the battery negative terminal/rectifier/Zener wiring with the ignition switch and auxiliary socket (look for the NU = Brown/Blue wiring in the link diagram below).

http://rocbo.lautre.net/technique/norto ... p/151.html

Steve,
Do yourself a favour and fit a new harness. They are not that expensive and its the best insurance against a sudden breakdown by the side of the road. 90% of British bike bogies are ancient electrics, nothing wrong with Lucas, its just age and wear and tear.

Mick

And of course lets us not forget to welcome you to the site.
What does your bile look like..... They like pictures !
Chuck

ChuckW said:

They like pictures !
Chuck

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They, Chuck, they? Don't you mean "we"? :mrgreen:

Thank's for the information, that's really helpful. I'll be fitting a new harness in the winter but at the moment our summer is about to start. It normally only lasts for about 10 days so I have to make the most of it. I've got a new capacitor from Andover Norton which I'll fit this weekend now I know where to put it and that should sort a few things out.

Your comments regarding the electrics on old British bikes are very accurate, if you combine that with our damp english weather you can see why they can cause you problems. In classic bike magazine a few months ago there was a very good article on the pros and cons of original equipment vs the modern stuff like Boyer & Podtronics. The conclusion was that the modern stuff was ultimately more reliable but the original gear kept to the spirit of the time when the bike was made, I'm not sure I agree with that. I do think that the original electrics have there place though, I've broken down in some great places which I would have missed if my bike was more reliable.

I'll get some pictures sorted soon.

Cheers, Steve.