New alternator

My 13 year old Sparx alternator has seen better days and needs replacing. Any recommendations? A standard Lucas has been fitted temporarily while I source one.

Made by LAP not the Wassells/Lucas version, TMS Motorcycles do them labelled as 'UK made', not sure who else stocks them.

Plus 1 on wot Kommando sez.

Fullauto said:

My 13 year old Sparx alternator has seen better days and needs replacing. Any recommendations? A standard Lucas has been fitted temporarily while I source one.

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I've not found one that makes more output than the Sparx 3 phase. Though their regulator is a POS. I recently noticed that my stator (also about 13 yrs old) has cracked insulation where the wires exit the epoxy. Fixed with a band-aid of adhesive goop, but I too would like to replace mine. I wonder if the stator is available separately?

This doesn't really answer your question, but I like the performance of the Sparx enough to buy another one. I've seen Lucas stators fail the same way - the wire exit is the weak link in the design. Keeping the wires from exiting at a tight angle extends the stator's life expectancy.

Slather some JB around the base of the wire sheath where it exits the stator

+1 for LAP - the fit is better, and air gaps between rotor and stator are more in line with the original units.

This is how they arrive - not the Lucas green boxes but still described as genuine Lucas.





Don’t forget that you are not necessarily looking for high output unless you are powering an electric start or some heated gloves.

Stick to 10.5 amp output for a standard bike.
Go to 14.5 amp output if you have an electric start.

I’d always recommend three phase over single phase.

IIRC the LAP stuff is made by old Lucas people on old Lucas machines, therefore it is the real genuine Lucas stuff. But they didn‘t buy the brand name, so can’t use it.

@Fast Eddie yep, they are still trading - just no longer doing anything that we'd be interested in:

http://www.lapelec.co.uk

They were formed when some of the ex-Lucas guys did a management buy-out back in 1989.
These days they seem to specialise in making flashing lights for service vehicles.