Restoration of a Bosch ZEV magneto

[BoschZEV]

Update: I just learned that Kevin never finished restoring the Dixie magnetos and instead used a restored Bosch ZEV to complete all the miles. However, irrespective of which magneto he used, the lesson is that a properly rebuilt century-old magneto has all the reliability anyone could wish for.

[BoschZEV]

Earlier this spring I stress-tested coils (http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/bbo...585#post155585) for a Dixie magneto and a spare as a favor for Kevin Naser (Shaky Jake) who was rebuilding a 1916 Indian to ride in the next Cannonball cross-country rally. As well as testing his coils I also gave him two pairs of "my" condensers (http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbth...762#Post508762) to use in these magnetos.

The 2016 Cannonball is now finished and Kevin was one of only 16 riders out of a starting field of 92 who achieved a perfect score in the 3306-mile, 16-day rally. He covered every mile, and did so within the allotted time every day. He even rode an additional half-day in pouring rain that the organizers allowed participants to skip without penalty. As Kevin's experience shows, a magneto -- even one 100 years old -- that is rebuilt using the proper components will take a licking and keep on ticking.

[T. Cotten]

Interest in magnetos is heating up as the start of the Cannonball looms just a month from now. I hope it doesn't portend bad things to come but I was contacted by three entrants over the past week hoping for help/advice on their magnetos. I suppose something has to be left until the last minute, but the magneto is a pretty critical item to put off until now. Unfortunately, although these three are in panic mode, and much as I would like to help them, I'm dealing with deadlines of my own so I can't drop everything at the moment to address their problems. In contrast, Shaky Jake first contacted me a year ago for help with an appropriate condenser, and again three months ago to test his coils, so I hope his foresight means everything will go well for him. Like most of you I'll be closely following the daily Cannonball updates.

That's exactly why I stopped taking in C-ball request HX Scheblers after Davenport last year.

Damn glad I did.

....Cotten

[BoschZEV]

Interest in magnetos is heating up as the start of the Cannonball looms just a month from now. I hope it doesn't portend bad things to come but I was contacted by three entrants over the past week hoping for help/advice on their magnetos. I suppose something has to be left until the last minute, but the magneto is a pretty critical item to put off until now. Unfortunately, although these three are in panic mode, and much as I would like to help them, I'm dealing with deadlines of my own so I can't drop everything at the moment to address their problems. In contrast, Shaky Jake first contacted me a year ago for help with an appropriate condenser, and again three months ago to test his coils, so I hope his foresight means everything will go well for him. Like most of you I'll be closely following the daily Cannonball updates.

[BoschZEV]

I have been following one or two of your other posts about magneto's with interest...

Thank you very much for your reply. Although I know the threads get a lot of hits, it takes quite a while to write those posts so it's always gratifying to hear from people who find them useful.

p.s. FYI, the Magdyno I refurbished is for a friend's BSA ZB34 500cc single. It's a bitza, with a late 1940s ZB34 engine in a War Department M20 frame.

[TechNoir]

Re: Lucas Magdyno

Hi BoschZEV, thanks for the link.

I have been following one or two of your other posts about magneto's with interest. This latest one piqued my interest because my pre war Speed Twin has a Lucas MO1 Magdyno. (I had mine rebuilt by Tony Cooper in the UK.). I particularly like the level of detail that you show, it really helps the likes of me appreciate the work and the investment in equipment that people like yourself put into these Mag rebuilds.

Thanks and please keep it up.

John

[BoschZEV]

For those interested in British motorcycles I just posted another update to the magneto restoration thread, this time on the Lucas Magdyno:

http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbth...835#Post653835

[BoschZEV]

Since it is closely related to the subject of this thread, at the following is the first of four posts giving the results of a series of electrical tests I ran on two Dixie magneto coils for a bike being prepared to run in the upcoming Cannonball:

http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/bbo...585#post155585

[BoschZEV]

For those who are interested in 1960s British motorcycles I just updated my magneto restoration thread on the BritBike Forum site with details of a test I ran on a Zener diode and an explanation why they work as a reasonable voltage regulator:

http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbth...960#Post630960

I'm pleased to note that in just two years this BoschZEV thread received more views than any other in the 'Electrical' section, and is now nearly 20% ahead of the one in second place that has been here for eight years. Not because it's a race, because it isn't, but because it's gratifying to know so many AMCA members are interested in the topic. Hence, I intend to keep adding to the thread.

As noted in the Zener post my reason for testing this component is because I've designed a complex multi-function test instrument and the Zener will be one of the components in it. On a related note, it happens I will be in Australia in a few months (for professional reasons) and a group of motorcycle clubs is taking advantage of that to have me speak on the topic. Such is the interest in learning about a device that recently celebrated its 100th birthday.

[BoschZEV]

For those who are interested I just updated my magneto restoration thread on another site with details of a Lucas KNC1 "Competition" magneto that I just finished rebuilding:

http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbth...790#Post608790

[10E]

Bosch
I guess the site as had some problems, I'm still working out the video for the broken mag fix.
Off to UK tomorrow so can't do anything till I return in a week .
Will try to get video up upon return.
10e

[BoschZEV]

Sent a private message, but no response from you, trust all is ok

Everything is great with me, but maybe not with this site. I just checked my 'in' box but found no messages from you since the ones we exchanged last fall.

[10E]

Bosch ZEV
I didn't reply sooner to your question because there was a problem getting on the website
The administrator finally fixed it.
Sent a private message, but no response from you, trust all is ok
10e

[10E]

10E, do you have any progress to report on your rotating points replacement assembly?

Bosch zev
Yes I do. A short video that shows a working set up
As soon as I can figure a way to get it from IPhone
To computer I will email it to you for comments
Victor. 10e

[BoschZEV]

I'll be very interested in seeing how Joe dealt with the issue of the rotating points. A carbon brush?

10E, do you have any progress to report on your rotating points replacement assembly?