Magnetos

Hi John,

glad you got it figured out! Your nortons will need the anti-clockwise ones, very few bikes used the clockwise mags, I think Royal Enfield & Vincents use clockwise. The direction is always from the drive end. If yoour are going to do some work on the mags, have a look at this website: http://www.brightsparkmagnetos.com/

In addition to them rebuilding mags, & selling the Easycap capacitors, they have a section on how you can work on your MO1 mags, ant in the library section they have a parts breakdown for you.

If you need any other info on the mags, shoot me the numbers on the tags, I have a very extensive collection of Lucas magneto catalogs.

my email is sbrolund@yahoo.com

And remember, never turn a mag unless you have grounded the high tension lead, or you could shot out the coils inside the armature.

Good Luck !

Previously wrote:

me again, normal confused state. I have 3 m01 magnetos, 2 of them (looking from the sprocket end) indicate by an arrow that they turn anti clockwise and one, again indicated by an arrow shows that it should run clockwise.

Surely they should all run clockwise or have I got 2 from the southern hemisphere . whats going on here ? help please.

Regards

John

I have had mags in for repair with the wrong spect plate fitted,look at the cam plate on the back of the mag if it has a L stamped into it its anti/clock and if it has a R its clockwise looking at the drive end.Paul Wolf Magneto & Dynamo Repairs

Good call Paul, I hadn't thought of that one!!! Also it was brought to myattention that pre war Norton mags may be clockwise?????? Maybe someone with moreknowledgethan me would know???? I can also give 2 thumbs up for Paul Wolfs work, always does anexcellentjob !!!

From 1934 up until 1948 on the OHV and SV engines (those with lever followers), the cam gears were driven as a train instead of both meshing on the crank pinion. For this period, they used a clockwise mag. I believe that from 1948 onwards, together with the change to circular tappets, the practice was discontinued and anti-clock mags were used.

Incidentally, pre-and wartime magdyno castings can be recognised by the full length base under the dynamo whereas the later castings (including those supplied by Lucas as replacements) had a cutaway. This seems to have been a 1946 change.

If you're mixing and matching, points to look out for include the location of the ignition pick-up (next to the cylinder for 1946) and location of the A/R cable operation depending on whether you wish to have tight or slack wire advance.