Electrical problems with Chief

[john fretschl]

John,

Are you going to keep it a secret? Tells us where you got it from?

Dave

Hi Dave It's "Crazy Horse Moto" Melbourne Australia He's also selling a cool looking 2 cam front break system, for 46 to 53 also!

[T. Cotten]

Whatchagonna do, Folks,..

When you need replacement parts or service if the 'proprietary' suppliers fold?

Bosch, and Delco-style (OEM HD and standard CE models) replacement parts will always be available from multiple sources (albeit of varied quality).
Autolite parts are much thinner, but the vintage Indian industry raised the quality bar dramatically in the last decade or so, making "correct" a good investment.

....Cotten
PS: Anybody remember the "Electric Frank's" end-mount regulators for HDs?

Extinct.

(And not to be confused with IndianFrank@yahoo.com, the Autolite man.)

[indian301]

Thanks John I will research it.

Dave

[john fretschl]

Thanks John I will research it.

Dave

let me know what you think.................

[indian301]

John,

I looked up the website. Other than pricing, there is no other information or reviews of the alternator. I checked Google, no luck. It looks like a very nice product, but I think if I decide to upgrade(been running the stock Autolite for the past 28 years, 64k miles) I would go with a Cycle Electrics only for the ease of future service.

Dave

[Coolbreeze]

Jeff!

PS: Sorry Bill,
But CE endmount regulators are not only ugly, they interfere with Chummee assist springs.
(And lock you in for any future regulator replacements.)

I am upgrading my 6V to a 12V system on my '48 Chief. It's generator is now a Bosch from a VW that I have run since the '60s. I bought the Cycle Electric generator from Starklite instead of directly from CE because I trust Gary Stark to know what will work on my bike -- and I am not afraid to give him his profit on the deal. Now, I am concerned. We will take a very close look at this and will be sending the CE back to California if it does not work with my helper springs.

[Coolbreeze]

BTW, I agree with Cotten that the CE end mount regulator generators are ugly. I just hope my good looks make up for it!

[cdf6333]

Just a quick note but I and all my restored Chief friends regularly get 40-50,000 miles out of a properly restored Autolite 6 Volt generator. I don't really see the reason to go 12 volts unless you ride a lot at night and need a brighter headlight than the "night light" of Indians. When I say restored generator I mean a rewound armature, new wiring and probably new field coils. Regulators were optional on ALL models after 1936 which used the 2 wire generators. But these systems were designed for large lead acid batteries not the mini alarm system batteries that some people are using. That new electronic voltage regulator is a great, though expensive, safety play if using a small battery as it controls voltage much faster than the old Autolite regulator. BTW, I used to rebuild a lot of them for friends on the East Coast, just stopped recently.

[T. Cotten]

Just a quick note but I and all my restored Chief friends regularly get 40-50,000 miles out of a properly restored Autolite 6 Volt generator. I don't really see the reason to go 12 volts unless you ride a lot at night and need a brighter headlight than the "night light" of Indians. When I say restored generator I mean a rewound armature, new wiring and probably new field coils. Regulators were optional on ALL models after 1936 which used the 2 wire generators. But these systems were designed for large lead acid batteries not the mini alarm system batteries that some people are using. That new electronic voltage regulator is a great, though expensive, safety play if using a small battery as it controls voltage much faster than the old Autolite regulator. BTW, I used to rebuild a lot of them for friends on the East Coast, just stopped recently.

Golly, Bob!

Properly working 6v generator systems always seemed to have just as bright of headlights as 12v systems.
When 6v halogens came out, I couldn't tell what was coming at me.
(LEDs gotta be even better, right?)

The advantages of 12v are entirely convenience, as bulbs are everywhere, and often batteries can be found on the shelf.
The wiring doesn't have to be so youthful, or heavy duty, either.

So I agree, there is little reason to convert if you have most of the 6v hardware already.
And no reason if it works!

....Cotten

[tfburke3]

Just a quick note but I and all my restored Chief friends regularly get 40-50,000 miles out of a properly restored Autolite 6 Volt generator. I don't really see the reason to go 12 volts unless you ride a lot at night and need a brighter headlight than the "night light" of Indians. When I say restored generator I mean a rewound armature, new wiring and probably new field coils. Regulators were optional on ALL models after 1936 which used the 2 wire generators. But these systems were designed for large lead acid batteries not the mini alarm system batteries that some people are using. That new electronic voltage regulator is a great, though expensive, safety play if using a small battery as it controls voltage much faster than the old Autolite regulator. BTW, I used to rebuild a lot of them for friends on the East Coast, just stopped recently.

Hey Bob,I thought the regulator was introduced as a new feature in 48.I assume this also included the new tow wire generator.
Are you saying the 48 package was available as an option post 36?
Thanks
Tom

[cdf6333]

Yes I is. It was a $5 option most of those years. Slightly different regulator in 1948 and up to accommodate the idiot light, but mechanically the same.
I attach a Service Shot in the next post

[cdf6333]

I'll try these jpgs but I think they're too big also
[ATTACH=CONFIG]23199[/ATTACH

Another try

gen id.jpggen id0001.jpg

[cdf6333]

You're saying that you get a 6 Volt halogen bulb or an LED into a Motolamp shell? How? I could certainly use more light as I get old-as-hell.

[T. Cotten]

You're saying that you get a 6 Volt halogen bulb or an LED into a Motolamp shell? How? I could certainly use more light as I get old-as-hell.

Now that you mention it, Bob!

I have a John Brown on my Chief with the reflector cut out of something modern, and yeah, an H4 socket.

That was easy; fixin' the fossil bezel wasn't.

...Cotten
PS: I still think I can see better with a sealed beam than a halogen.

[tfburke3]

I'll try these jpgs but I think they're too big also
[ATTACH=CONFIG]23198[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]23199[/ATTACH

Another try

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23201[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]23202[/ATTACH]

Thanks for the generator info and the literature pics to document years available.Always cool to see old factory print.
Tom
Tom