The BSA A7-A10 Forum
Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Lucas, Ignition, Charging, Electrical => Topic started by: muskrat on 25.02. 2025 20:40
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G'day Fellas.
I'm on the hunt for a GOOD quality amp gauge fot the A7. All the usual vendors & fleabay only have plastic chinesium.
Any ideas?
Cheers
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The genuine meters from Lucas are Wassell rubbish.
I got a couple from AMC Classic Spares which look like Lucas and fit like Lucas but don't have the brand on the face.
Supposedly English made.
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I supply the ones with the drawn aluminium bodies but not cost effective to send to New Zealand? I find these are the only ones that don't fall to bits.
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Try a Royal Enfield one. Mine's lasted 20 years with no problems. They're oil damped and light up at night (always useful).
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I supply the ones with the drawn aluminium bodies but not cost effective to send to New Zealand? I find these are the only ones that don't fall to bits.
I shall remember that for when I need one.
My A7 had one from Feked, and it opened up like Lee Van Cleef's pocket watch in the "Good the Bad and the Ugly" after a month or so of use.
Feked wouldn't exchange it so I had to buy another, and stupidly I believed Feked when they said my problem ammeter was a one-off, and bought another from them.
That did exactly the same after another couple of months, but again, they wouldn't refund or exchange. I bought an unknown item for Ebay and so far it's lasting well.
Another reason (not the only one) why I now avoid Feked like the plague. Sell crap and p***-poor customer service.
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I supply the ones with the drawn aluminium bodies but not cost effective to send to New Zealand? I find these are the only ones that don't fall to bits.
I shall remember that for when I need one.
My A7 had one from Feked, and it opened up like Lee Van Cleef's pocket watch in the "Good the Bad and the Ugly" after a month or so of use.
Feked wouldn't exchange it so I had to buy another, and stupidly I believed Feked when they said my problem ammeter was a one-off, and bought another from them.
That did exactly the same after another couple of months, but again, they wouldn't refund or exchange. I bought an unknown item for Ebay and so far it's lasting well.
Another reason (not the only one) why I now avoid Feked like the plague. Sell crap and p***-poor customer service.
I only sell stuff that I am willing to use on my own bikes. Obviously, in the age we live, quality is variable. Sometimes I have to sell stuff which isn't perfect and I warn customers accordingly. I do have a website but you can't buy stuff directly off it. In my case, if you want something, at some point you have to phone up and speak to me and pay with your debit card over the phone. Regarding ammeters specifically, I would avoid any which are in plastic bodies.
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Maybe not much help to Musky, but here in the UK there are folks refurbishing original Lucas Instruments. Even damaged and non working original units have an ebay value, so don't just dump them. Classic Car market is where you'll find them.
Swarfy
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Thinking outside the square, maybe a vintage tractor ammeter? Try Queensland tractor spares they have various types and sizes online.
Don
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Why are so many ammeters advertised as 6 volt or 12 volt?
I didn't think voltage mattered in a ammeter.
cheers
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I stock these.......
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Why are so many ammeters advertised as 6 volt or 12 volt?
I didn't think voltage mattered in a ammeter.
cheers
It doesn’t, but the 12 V bikes generally had an ammeter with a different range.
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Try a Royal Enfield one. Mine's lasted 20 years with no problems. They're oil damped and light up at night (always useful).
Possibly the only high quality part on my 1988 Bullet.
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I run 12V and the origanal ammeter functions just. An ammeter measures amps not volts so in makes no difference.
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i did not go to the pub but tomorrow i am *beer* they call amp meters 6v or 12v because that is the voltage they can safely handle that's my take on it coming from my experience talking to my long deceased electrical / mechanical engineer pappy . have a nice day .
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6 Volt ammeters are 8 Amp, 12 Volt are 12 Amp. The ammeter doesn't care what voltage is applied.
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trev it does for accuracy of reading
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trev it does for accuracy of reading
I’m doubtful of that.
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G'day Fellas.
Andrew has come to the rescue.
Thanks for the replies.
Cheers
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I think the original ammeter that mounts in the switch/ammeter panel is mounted using bent over tabs.
I found a cheap ammeter that used a mounting bracket which screws to the back of the ammeter.
There isn't enough space in the switch panel for the bracket.
The Royal Enfield ammeter looks good but was to big for the hole.
still looking.
cheers
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6 Volt ammeters are 8 Amp, 12 Volt are 12 Amp. The ammeter doesn't care what voltage is applied.
Interesting. I suppose that those running 12V on our bikes, and modern bikes, run higher wattage bulbs. If all the bulbs on a 12V bike were the same wattage as those on a 6V bike, the deflection of a 12A ammeter would be very puny, since half as much current will be flowing. Were it not for higher wattage bulds, one could rationalize this as being the opposite.
Ricahrd L.
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I ended up fitting a Massey Ferguson ammeter. You don't get much needle deflection but it works and doesn't fall apart.
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Richard, the 12V bikes use a higher wattage bulb but bear in mind the ammeter doesn't just read discharge. The alternators probably have a higher output than a generator.
And I reiterate, the voltage of the system has nothing to do with the ammeter, it reads current.
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I fixed my problem with a digital volt meter, much more practical, if your not counting the rivets.
available on flee bay.
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G'day Fellas.
The ammeter from Andrew arrived today. Posted in UK on the 3rd, here on the 12th WOW.
Looks so much better than the cheap plastic ones and was a really good price. Andrew even through in the O ring to go under it. Hope to get it in after I get the Cafe top end back on.
Thanks Andrew
Cheers
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G'day Fellas.
Wow what a difference a good quality gauge makes. Just fitted it but not road tested yet. At idle (Boyer ignition) -2 amp, about 1500rpm 0, about 3000rpm +4 and h/light on high +2.
6v dynamo, DVR2 at 12 v, 12v ignition & lights. Will road test tomorrow.
Cheers