Topic: bat pac

[Terry in Australia]

I was lucky enough to "score" an ARD Magneto for my "racer for the road" project bike, and so I intend to dump the complete alternator, starter motor, big battery and all those scary electrical gubbins, including the original wiring harness to both clean up the looks, and reduce weight. (yeah, I know my magneto is heavier than a stock ignition, but it's heaps lighter than the combined components it's replacing)

I'll still run basic lighting to keep it legal, but as I have no intentions to ride at night or tour on it, I'll run a small 12V gel-cell on a "total loss" system just to power the lights. (and most importantly the brake light) It's a pity there's not more Magneto's around, for guys who don't want to run a battery (and hence this particular post) they sure do simplify things!  Cheers, Terry.  

[eldar]

Well hey right there, terry is doing the magneto thing. There are always ways to modify things, some work, some dont. It is the fact that you tried, that matters.

Hope it works for you terry.

[hcritz]

Hey Guys...
TT is correct...
My old Triumph had caps under the seat and no battery...just came that way when I got it...
The procedure for starting was a pain...With the key on and the kill switch set to off...you had to kick it through two or three time to charge the caps....then turn on the kill switch and kick it again to fire the plugs and get things going...
Of course this was after "Tickling the cabs" etc...
The Triumph of course has a permanent magnet rotor to make this work and the "WONDERFUL" Zener Diode to keep voltage under control when running...with it did only on alternate Wednesdays when the moon was full...
God...you gotta love the English and their wiring!!! And LUCAS is still in business!

[eldar]

Nice thing about a magneto is that if you can set everything up correctly, you can run without a battery or cap. I did this on an old enduro and the lights DID work. I rode a lot at night.

[dusterdude]

MAGNETOS FOREVER

[heffay]

i just carried 3 batteries in my backpack yesterday while riding... yes!  it makes a helluva weight difference!

[GroovieGhoulie]

How would one go about setting up a SOHC4 with a magneto and no battery and allow it to run lights (with the off switch so they're not on all the time)?  I would be very interested in this for a vintage racer or cafe.

[Terry in Australia]

Hope it works for you terry.

Thanks Eldy!

[Luythen]

Hey agin guys. Thanks for all the answers.

I can gather that the battery free option isn't valid anymore. So a new question. If I were to dump the starter engine, how small a battery would I be able to put into the bike, 3-4 Ah? or does it need more to keep the power while driving in heavy stop-n-go trafic?

[eldar]

Well in heavy stop-go, I would say to dump weight in other areas and keep the regular battery unless you want to make sure your rpms dont drop below 2000 very often, which owould build up heat and possibly overheat the engine in warm weather.

[Chris Schneiter]

I dunno..last year for me was "The Year of electrical Problems". You, when your starter switch craps out (which will happen to everyone eventually)...I ended up kickstarting that low compression, cold blooded, 500lb antique....once it was warm, fine, but many days, it never saw the street...I almost view the kicker as decoration these days....Good luck..

[dusterdude]

http://www.yuasabatteries.com/yuasa05/vehicle_search.asp               try this

[ProTeal55]

I for one enjoy having my electric start.
I only use it when I first start the bike, then after that (while warm) it kicks over in the 1st try.

I would say to dump weight in other areas and keep the regular battery

I agree with ya Eldar. If you are wanting to ditch the battery for weight, look to other areas of the scoot to lighten it up. I am a big fan of drilling "speed holes" in pretty much everyhting I can remove from the bike, it is also an excuse to use my new Drill pres I bought last week.
So far I have drilled my kicker pedal arm(pic in my gallery), and the brake rod arm thinge
I am careful not to go overboard with the holes, as to weaken the part.
Every hole is just that much more material not on the bike....

[Terry in Australia]

So far I have drilled my kicker pedal arm(pic in my gallery), and the brake rod arm thinge
I am careful not to go overboard with the holes, as to weaken the part.

Well those are two items I would have recommended against drilling mate, I hope you "countersunk" those holes? If you're not using your kicker, why not just take it off? I wouldn't drill it though, I've got a box full of the suckers somewhere, and some are bent from normal use as they are pretty spindly and long, so drilling them will only exacerbate the bending, IMLTHO.

I prefer the kick starter on my bikes, as I don't ride all of them often enough to keep the batteries in "tip top" condition. I haven't fired my ol' K1 Kruiser in awhile, so yesterday I turned the key and saw there was some juice left in the battery, so I switched the ignition off again, then turned on the fuel, pulled the choke, and gave it a half dozen kicks to circulate the oil (particularly in the head) and once I saw the needle on my oil pressure gauge rise, I turned the ignition back on, gave it one kick and VAROOM! If you keep them in a reasonable state of tune, they'll always start first, or second kick, even in traffic, ha ha! Cheers, Terry.

[ProTeal55]

Terry--->
I just said above that I DO use my kicker once in awhile, not every time.
Even if I didnt use it, I wouldnt take it off.

As far as the holes goe, their are a total of four in the kicker, and three in the brake arm, all of which are evenly
spaced out and countersunk. If I do in fact break one of them, I will replace it.
I am not worried about it at the momment...

[Terry in Australia]

Terry--->
I just said above that I DO use my kicker once in awhile, not every time.
Even if I didnt use it, I wouldnt take it off.

As far as the holes goe, their are a total of four in the kicker, and three in the brake arm, all of which are evenly
spaced out and countersunk. If I do in fact break one of them, I will replace it.
I am not worried about it at the momment...

Sorry Proty, but from other pics I've seen of your bike, it appears that you're definately going for the minimalist look, to the point where you've even removed important things like fenders etc, so I couldn't see why, if you didn't use it, you wouldn't remove your kicker? I looked at your gallery pics, but couldn't see any of your 'drillings", but once again, would recommend against it if you do intend to use it. Cheers, Terry.

[ProTeal55]

10-4 GOOD BUDDY...........