Car not charging, dynamo or control box?

[myoldjalopy]

I agree. That there was a 'soft clunk' when you tried to run it as a motor in the car suggests that power was getting through, but that it would not drive the dynamo. It should spin briskly. I have an old record deck that responds in exactly the same way - when activated the motor twitches but will not run. Odd that a new dynamo is faulty though, but its not impossible.

[svenedin]

It does seem that the dynamo is a dud which is surprising. If you are going to replace the dynamo be careful what you buy. There are dynamos sold as C40 but they are not Lucas and are poor reproductions. The giveaway is that they are cheap and not sold on an exchange basis. Various companies will sell you a genuine Lucas reconditioned dynamo on an exchange basis. I think your dynamo is the strepped case type? The stepped case fits the bracket/band that goes round the dynamo and is where the coil is mounted on top. I mention this because you are obviously going for originality. My car had its original dynamo 30 years ago and it was painted BMC green, as was the dynamo fan and bracket which I believe they all were originally. The reconditioned ones are painted black as mine is now.

By the way, I just looked back at your photos. You dynamo is indeed the stepped case type. Your coil bracket does not look correct and is in the wrong place. It should be around the narrow part of the dynamo case where it steps down. Also you are missing the coil steady plate.

IMG_8444.jpeg (2.17 MiB) Viewed 606 times

IMG_8443.jpeg (2.31 MiB) Viewed 606 times

[culp]

Ordered a new dynamo, fingers crossed that should do the trick

[svenedin]

Ordered a new dynamo, fingers crossed that should do the trick

Hope you got a genuine one and not a Far East or Indian copy.

[myoldjalopy]

....and don't forget to polarise it as described earlier in this thread

[svenedin]

Now I've taken photos and seen how shabby my dynamo area is I'll be getting out a can of BMC Green I think! Fan can go in my ultrasonic first.

[culp]

Success!

It's an Indian Dynamo but its from ESM and it works, fitted it, polarised it, connected it up, no Ignition Light.

Thanks everyone for the help and advice especially svendin, you sir are a gentleman and a scholar

[svenedin]

Success!

It's an Indian Dynamo but its from ESM and it works, fitted it, polarised it, connected it up, no Ignition Light.

Thanks everyone for the help and advice especially svendin, you sir are a gentleman and a scholar

That's very kind of you. Much appreciated. Lots of people on here generously help me with their advice and it is only fair that I should try to do that in return when I can.

Stephen