regulators

[pan57]

hey guys i am putting my 57 back together after completely stripping down again and i purchased a regulator that fits on the end of the genarator and the black terminal that goes to the battery is possitioned where it is about 1/32 from the motor case. both the gen and regulator are cycle electic. it is so close that i am afraid it might arc. is there more than one type of regulator or did i just get a bad one thanks for any help.

[steve_wood]

Could you post a picture? 1/32 is definitely too close.

[awander]

I wouldn;t worry about arcing with 6V at 1/32", but vibration or even a piece of dirt could close up that gap.

[RussW]

I made a cover from a cut-off vacuum cap, just to be safe.

cap.jpg (34.08 KiB) Viewed 638 times

[steve_wood]

Stupid question, but is it possible to rotate the regulator 180 degrees so the that the terminals are at the bottom?

[Panacea]

On my Cycle Electric generator the terminals are at about 9:30 and 11:00, looking at the left side of the bike. If you rotate the whole generator 180 degrees would the terminal hit anything?...Mike

[RussW]

From the Cycle Electric site for 6V or 12V gen/reg combos:

" 1. Disconnect battery negative terminal.

2. Install oil deflector (HD# 31035-58 used on 2 brush generators from 1958-1981) gear, washer and lock nut on generator shaft.
3. Install new gasket on generator. Install generator on motorcycle so fins are level with motor. DO NOT MOUNT UPSIDE DOWN. Check to see that lettering on fins is right side up and terminals face back and up. Install mounting bolts. Do not over tighten! If fins do not line up you have used the wrong set of mounting holes. There are two sets 15 degrees apart. (Having the fins level with the motor is for looks. It is all right to have them at a 15degree angle)."

It also says in the booklet that comes with this series gen/reg:
" Do to inconsistent frame geometry we have rotated the terminal screws 180 degrees. Therefore they will face up and back. On FL models they will be very close to the engine case. There should be sufficient clearance"

[pan57]

Sorry guys i must have had a brain fart because when i talked to my local guru today he told me that there are 2 different possitions on the generator. there are 4 holes on gear side of the generator and i can use the 2 holes that i had been using or i could rotate the gen about 5 degrees and use the other 2 mounting holds (DUH) boy do i feel like a dumba**. anyway i rotated it using the other 2 holes and it put the hot wire on the regulator about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch from the cases. problem solved with a little common sense and observation.


common sense aint common to everyone. Chris