Electra wiring update

Previously wrote:

I have a 1964 Electra and would like to update the wiring. At present everything works except the charging. A previous owner installed an electronic voltage control I am not sure what brand or type. Can the alternator be wiired as a three phase unit? Is the Wico X12250 box in the tool box a starter relay? Should it clickwhen as the ignition is turned on? Because the wiring is not standard and colors do not match diagram I am thinking of stripping it all out and starting over with a new loom. Can a later higher output alternator be used if so which one will fit. Any help would be appreciated this is my daughters bike and she lives 500 miles away so I would like to make it as reliable as possible. By the way it still has points ignition and now I have the timing right they are working fine so will not be going to electronics this season.

Thanks to any and all Tony Lockwood Teaticket, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Hi Tony,

As you know I have dealt with this one for you, hopefully well. So for those looking in, some answers. NO the alternator cannot become 3 PHASE (Nor any Lucas single phase despite having three wires!) The starter solenoid is usually behind/under the battery box. In fact normally there is only battery in battery box! The clicking box you have sounds very much like the original charge relay, that should sit on the rear mudguard. If/when you remove it you can get a bigger battery under the seat hence leaving the tool box open to having just tools in it. This box switched the out put of the alternator according to the battery voltage, but although they are often still working after all these years you find that if you look at the battery voltage, it is either under charging or overcharging. The first easy answer is to connect the alternator to full output and fit a Zener diode. (you could even leave the switching box in circuit! you would then be under charging some times but never overcharging, I know this as I ran my Electra like this for several years.) You could also replace the rectifier and regulator box with a modern alternator regulator. You could fit a Lucas type higher output alternator as the Lucas item will directly fit where the Wipac is and the rotors work one another. BUT the old Wipac rotor is usually quite good despite its years, BUT it does have a 1" centre ie 1" crank. So you can't fit a Lucas item or bore it out!!!! What do we do now Mr Sochanik?

When you go to electronic ignition ie Boyer or maybe even Pazon, bearing in mind only Boyer do a direct fit Pick up plate. You will need two 6 Volt coils. I would suggest that you source two of the original 6V Wipac coils. These still work well despite their years and of course the output lead faces down making HT leads more user friendly.

I think that is all for now,

Al Osborn

Hi, Tony & Al. (Mr Sochanik here....)

The Lucas stator is fractionally larger than the Wipac, so will fit, but as the airgap is slightly larger, the power output may be fractionally lower. The Wipac rotor (magnets) are usuallystrongerthan Lucas, so can stay unless damaged. Good test of rotor is to see if each magnet is strong enough to hold its own weight when picked up by a spanner or screwdriver.

To connect the alternator for full output, connect the orange & green wires together to make one wire, the white wire then becomes your 2nd wire in a 2-wire system. The 6v coils that Al is suggesting are those that were fitted to Jubilee & Navigator models - the Electra had 12v items - whereas Boyer requires 2x 6v coils in series.

Hi,

I have attached a circuit diagram of my Electra, this has a Boyer Power Box and Boyer MKIV ignition system. May be of use to someone ...

Regards

Tony

Attachments
Electra-Circuit-Iss-2.pdf

This is all of interest to me getting on for two years later. I noticed that in the last Roadholder there was mention of the availability of a Boyer ignition for lightweight twins, and a suggestion to use the power box and a Boyer coil too.

I have had good luck with aftermarket Harley-Davidson style coils with Boyers (Accel was the manufacturer). I also wonder if a starter relay like the one used on Harleys and MkIII Commandos would work well on my under construction Electra - I see no reason why not.

My main concern is how I would time the electronic ignition? On a Commando it is easy with a strobe light with the built in protractor and mark on the alternator. Points are easy to do statically with the usual degree disk and fag paper, as described in the manual. How much advance does the Boyer give, so if doing static timing how much advance does one use? I know from magazines almost 50 years old that over advance on lightweights is a very bad thing.

I suspect Al Oz will give his usual recommendation to get the bike running and advance the ignition until the engine pinks going up hill and then retard it a bit, but I'd like any advice on this one.

TIA, Colin.