27-04-2018, 12:16 PM
At Brands Hatch on Sunday for the 750MC event I saw a gear reduction starter motor above a gearbox and assumed it was a cunning piece of fabrication. To my surprise it was an "off the shelf" item. There's also a version for the later engines (mine). Both are 12v "off the shelf" and while they can do a 6V its a special order and twice the price. (Auto Electrical Supplies - v.helpful)
Having looked that one up and exchanged emails I looked at the "alternators that look like dynamos". They are available in 12v and 6v negative earth and 6v positive earth. They're from Accuspark who have the "electronic ignition distributors" in 12v and 6v positive and 6v negative.
My own car (a special) was built up as 12v with a gizmo in an aluminium box to keep the dynamo happy (Dave Lindsey?) but at the time it went off the road wasn't charging - it wasn't important at that time as it never went far so I could top the battery up each time. The starter motor has a fractured lug.
The attraction of both "modern gizmos" is very much "plug and play" - and also the prices... Perhaps half what a refurb costs these days? As a special I also like the weight saving. In terms of 12v or 6v its possible for me to revert but I like being able to throw any old battery on it or to jump start and use bulbs from any garage and when I built it I loved how the starter span with such enthusiasm...maybe too much enthusiasm given the broken lug on it now... (A lesson when I first built the car was that supermarket jump leads would spin the engine but it took "van spec" heavy duty leads to start it). Its got a 12v fuel pump and I might fit an electric water pump and a fan... (London traffic).
Reading other threads I don't think I'm at all tempted by the electronic ignition, but both these units appeal. I also like that I could run a much smaller battery both for starting and not feeling I need "a reserve". My other option is to run a little alternator off a V-pulley and replace the dynamo with an empty tube.
Thoughts?
Anyone know what the VSCC's attitude to the "its an alternator but you'd never know"? That's not as relevant to me as it once was, but I'd like to be able to do Brooklands driving tests with them and perhaps I'd get back to hill climbing. I assume the Bert Hadley lot are open to them...
The objective for now is "back on the road" - run to the shops - day out to an event.
Having looked that one up and exchanged emails I looked at the "alternators that look like dynamos". They are available in 12v and 6v negative earth and 6v positive earth. They're from Accuspark who have the "electronic ignition distributors" in 12v and 6v positive and 6v negative.
My own car (a special) was built up as 12v with a gizmo in an aluminium box to keep the dynamo happy (Dave Lindsey?) but at the time it went off the road wasn't charging - it wasn't important at that time as it never went far so I could top the battery up each time. The starter motor has a fractured lug.
The attraction of both "modern gizmos" is very much "plug and play" - and also the prices... Perhaps half what a refurb costs these days? As a special I also like the weight saving. In terms of 12v or 6v its possible for me to revert but I like being able to throw any old battery on it or to jump start and use bulbs from any garage and when I built it I loved how the starter span with such enthusiasm...maybe too much enthusiasm given the broken lug on it now... (A lesson when I first built the car was that supermarket jump leads would spin the engine but it took "van spec" heavy duty leads to start it). Its got a 12v fuel pump and I might fit an electric water pump and a fan... (London traffic).
Reading other threads I don't think I'm at all tempted by the electronic ignition, but both these units appeal. I also like that I could run a much smaller battery both for starting and not feeling I need "a reserve". My other option is to run a little alternator off a V-pulley and replace the dynamo with an empty tube.
Thoughts?
Anyone know what the VSCC's attitude to the "its an alternator but you'd never know"? That's not as relevant to me as it once was, but I'd like to be able to do Brooklands driving tests with them and perhaps I'd get back to hill climbing. I assume the Bert Hadley lot are open to them...
The objective for now is "back on the road" - run to the shops - day out to an event.