Carurettor choke control

[Lynn Eades]

Lucas is longer, has Lucas, model (C42x or C45x) voltage, direction of rotation, year and month. stamped in the case. Ron's regulator is a Lucas RB108 (or similar) The Lucas can be converted to 12 volt by fitting the correct 12 volt armature (if you could find one)
The above statement is wrong. Brain fade.
The Lucas generator is converted to 12 volt by changing the 6v field coils for 12 v field coils. The 6v armature works fine in a 12 volt system (but a 12 volt one cant cope in a 6v system)

[Tom Millward]

Thanks Lynn, my Carrier came from Andrew Rowe over in your part of the world. I believe that he changed the field coil windings to 12V ones. I will go and check what type of generator I have fitted.

In relation to your earlier point of taking it to an auto electrician, I don't know that they exist in the UK anymore. Everything now is repair by replacement, I may be wrong, but finding someone with experience with dynamos and regulators will be quite hard now.

I'm ex REME, and even in the Corps the skills of being able to adjust or repair equipment as opposed to replacing it are no longer taught at the REME trade schools. I think so much equipment is become sealed boxes that there is nothing for technicians to do anymore other than diagnose and replace sealed boxes. Hence the skills are being lost. Which is fine until you can't get the spares!

[Ron Pier]

As far as I know, my dynamo is still 6 volt, but still charges a battery at a decent rate through the regulator. (I know Jeep owners often convert to 12V but still use the same dynamo....Even the starter motor I've heard?) My starter motor is a 12V unit and of course so are all the bulbs. An electronics friend made up resistors for the gauges, although I've never got the fuel gauge to work......Yet. Ron

[Andrew Rowe]

Hi Tom, The gen, should be a Standard Ford Housing and armature and using Lucas C45 Field coils. The regulator was matched for 12 volt for this application.
I would suggest , you can probably increase the charge rate by adjusting the regulator output, Cheers Andrew

[Lynn Eades]

I have edited my previous post. Tom's following comment prompted me, that I mis-led you. Refer to my above post. Basically the resistance of the field windings is different between 6 and 12 volt. Conversion can be carried out by having new field windings wound.
Tom you just need to find an older Auto electrician. Go on line. In England there is a company that rebuild these older lucas units. They make up new field coils and rewind armatures.
I could spend time doing it, but so can you.

[Mike Gurr]

Tom,
Do you have any idea what carb your Carrier should have? Mine has the original Zenith with governor fitted but is a Canadian Mk2, I think from memory yours is a Mk1? I do have a spare Zenith if that would be correct for yours.
Mike

[Tom Millward]

Hi Mike, I very much appreciate the offer of the carb. I'll try and get the engine covers off today and get a picture of it, and then the forum can let me know if it's correct or not. I don't think it's the same as yours though as I remember discussing the governor with you and I don't think mine looks like it has one.

[Tom Millward]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

I have edited my previous post. Tom's following comment prompted me, that I mis-led you. Refer to my above post. Basically the resistance of the field windings is different between 6 and 12 volt. Conversion can be carried out by having new field windings wound.
Tom you just need to find an older Auto electrician. Go on line. In England there is a company that rebuild these older lucas units. They make up new field coils and rewind armatures.
I could spend time doing it, but so can you.

Thanks Lynn, I'll have a google and see what I can find. I'm assuming that the regulator can be adjusted to match the output of the dynamo then? I'll also see if I can find instructions on line as I have a voltmeter and always like to try and learn new skills.

[Lynn Eades]

Tom, a 12 volt generator unregulated will put out 50+ volts, but it wont last long. If you can take both units out then a specialist is the way to go.
Go here Tom. http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com
and more http://www.spitui.com/regulator.html