Richard Tool
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- Joined
- Aug 3, 2019
- Messages
- 1,411
Hi all - I am now entering the phase of my Commando rebuild that I have only minimal knowledge & skills - the electrics .
I have chosen to stay with standard points/ coil ignition- at least for now.
I made this choice for two reasons - one being that I understand (minimally) it better than electronic ignition and the other being that in the time span of several years and 5k miles it never gave even a hint of trouble . Started very easily and ran beautifully , the only issues being idle when hot and I am blaming that on carb slides . To that end I have purchased a pair of Amal Premiers with the hard anodized slides which I hope will cure that problem.
I still have the original Lucas Zener Diode and bench tested with multi meter on diode test setting - I had resistance across poles in one direction and base reading of 1 in the other - this is the number on display for every function when meter is turned on. In my minimal understanding of this I take this to mean that the diode is functioning properly - however I think it wise to replace it and the rectifier with the solid state Podtronics unit . I have their 6V unit in my ES2 with Lucas MO1L magdyno and it has performed faultlessly for years.
So the first of many questions I am likely to have as I proceed into the dark and mysterious world of electricity is:
Is my original 1972 12 V Lucas RM21 alternator single phase and so consequently I should order the single phase Podtronics regulator/rectifier ?
Next question- I plan on using standard 6V coils/ ballast resistor & condensers.
Does this factor in on the solid state resistor/ rectifier equation and will it be a factor in the future if I install electronic ignition ?
Thanks in advance for any help -RT
I have chosen to stay with standard points/ coil ignition- at least for now.
I made this choice for two reasons - one being that I understand (minimally) it better than electronic ignition and the other being that in the time span of several years and 5k miles it never gave even a hint of trouble . Started very easily and ran beautifully , the only issues being idle when hot and I am blaming that on carb slides . To that end I have purchased a pair of Amal Premiers with the hard anodized slides which I hope will cure that problem.
I still have the original Lucas Zener Diode and bench tested with multi meter on diode test setting - I had resistance across poles in one direction and base reading of 1 in the other - this is the number on display for every function when meter is turned on. In my minimal understanding of this I take this to mean that the diode is functioning properly - however I think it wise to replace it and the rectifier with the solid state Podtronics unit . I have their 6V unit in my ES2 with Lucas MO1L magdyno and it has performed faultlessly for years.
So the first of many questions I am likely to have as I proceed into the dark and mysterious world of electricity is:
Is my original 1972 12 V Lucas RM21 alternator single phase and so consequently I should order the single phase Podtronics regulator/rectifier ?
Next question- I plan on using standard 6V coils/ ballast resistor & condensers.
Does this factor in on the solid state resistor/ rectifier equation and will it be a factor in the future if I install electronic ignition ?
Thanks in advance for any help -RT