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Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 5:54 pm
by 911hillclimber
Sent john an email with pics.
He is closed for a while due to ill health and cannot take on anymore work.
My search continues. :(

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 8:53 am
by Ashley James
I'm sorry, I knew he'd been unwell, but I'd seen him at a car show the other day and assume he was up and fighting.

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 9:48 am
by mycar
Perhaps there is a motorcycle forum on the internet where the information you're looking for might be available.

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 2:48 pm
by 911hillclimber
I have several recent classic bike mags, and they all shy away from flywheel magnetos.
Many UK bikes had stand-alone magnetos, mush like car and boat engines of the day.
Several say they do all types of magnetos, but really mean stand-alone.

I noticed on one diagram a magneto for the ignition had an internal 'safety air gap' within the secondary winding. Only time I saw that.

The secondary winding is open circuit which I presume means a broken wire.

It first needs testing on a machine built for the job, which is where you find many specialists have nothing in the workshop.

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 3:05 pm
by smallspeed
I might have a contact for you - leave it with me and I'll try and dig the guys details out..

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 5:55 pm
by 911hillclimber
Thanks!
I hope to get an answer from:
The Magneto Guys
Tomorrow.

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 7:44 am
by smallspeed
the guy I've used before is c&g auto in Leicester - i'm not sure if he'll be able to do flywheel magnetos, but he's sorted a couple of dynamo's, an alternator, and a stand alone magneto for me in the past so might be able to help..

C & G Auto Electrics

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 8:22 am
by 911hillclimber
Excellent, thank you.
I'll send them the pictures as they speak a 1000 words. :)

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:02 am
by KS
http://www.broadwayelectrical.co.uk/

These guys are magic. Good enough for Spitfires and Hurricanes.

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 11:06 am
by 911hillclimber
Thanks, worth a try but no mention of flywheel magnetos on the site from a quick look.
Magneto Guys have refused, but gave me an alternative to try.
It's all about the test equipment, or rather lack of it.
Flywheel mags are deemed modern..!

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 1:18 pm
by 911hillclimber
Via another route I was made aware that Villiers Services 'did mags' and as they are only 6 miles from me and I've used them for other parts on this bike, I went today.

They thought the French design (it was made by Magneto France) is almost a Villiers design so they dug out their old Bakelite test boxes, all chipped and bruised, but working.

The flywheel flux was measured and found to be exceptionally weak (2 on the scale of 10), so off it went to the magnetising machine (I think Winston or Ashley thought it had lost its flux) and came back in the 'green' quadrant, 5 of 10 and deemed good. Interestingly, over 7 was deemed 'red'.
Another Villiers box of tricks tester was wired up to the magneto itself to check for a spark complete with it's 1950 condenser...

Good grief, does it ever spark! Bags of tension across the points so again the magneto was deemed 'good'. It was suggested to replace the condenser (I have a new Villiers 6v part) anyway while it is easy to do so, just need to make an adaptor to allow it to screw into the magneto housing.

£15 lighter, I have the parts back in the garage all done while I waited (5 mins tops).
If this works I'll be well chuffed.
Villiers Services have always had the answer to my needs, so spanners crossed for this one too! :drunken:

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 2:23 pm
by KS
Excellent! Now get back in the garage and fix it!

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 3:54 pm
by Ashley James
This country seems to be full of small organisations like Villiers Service. Well done!

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 5:22 pm
by 911hillclimber
Ha!
My tin of Brownie-Points is empty, so having to get some points by GARDENING, and cleaning the rooted moss from between EVERY stone of the drive. I'm 1/2 way through the latter having completed the former to Specification.
The drive will swallow 6 cars easy and has a lot of block paving stones. I am wire brushing between every one. :drunken:

Tomorrow is taken up by trying to get to the root of my Boxster issue and Sunday is with Darren and Rolls Royce.
Thus it will be Monday.
Life gets in the way. :blackeye:

Besides, Mr KS have you sorted that Honda out yet? :wink:

Finding a company like Villiers Services is a god-send, esp when it is only 20 mins max / 6 miles to get to them (traffic.....)

Re: Terrot MT1 Motorcycle restoration project

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 5:37 pm
by KS
911hillclimber wrote:Ha!
Besides, Mr KS have you sorted that Honda out yet? :wink:
I don't like to rush things...