The BSA A7-A10 Forum

Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Lucas, Ignition, Charging, Electrical => Topic started by: Harryc208 on 23.10. 2011 15:28

Title: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 23.10. 2011 15:28
Hi,

After reading posts about 12v electrics from the dynamo, 12v lighting sounds quite a nice asset and something I would like to have on my new build.

I understand some a10s/a7s where fitted with an alternator on the crankshaft, which I think, is what I have some parts for.

I think I have the, Alternator rotor and stator and the crankshaft, however primary chain cases are missing.

The crank I believe to be A7, it has a7 length rods at least

So I have some questions,

What numbers do I need to look for on the crankshaft, or what do I need to measure to know exactly what it is?

How much power do these things produce?

Will it rob any Hp from the engine compared to a dynamo?

And If fitted would the dynamo be needed anymore, or could it be left off?

Here?s a Picture of the parts I have:

(https://www.a7a10.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi814.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz67%2FHarry_Cornwall%2Fth_100_1533.jpg&hash=87960c2858fafc7b5e09653eba0dc2b00a544cb7) (http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/Harry_Cornwall/?action=view&current=100_1533.jpg)

Any help is much apreicated.


Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Beezageezauk on 24.10. 2011 09:37
Hi Harry,

Check the splines on the drive end of your crankshaft.  If they are the normal ones, the ones that take the standard Cush Drive assembly, your crank can't be used with an alternator.

The Police A10's had the alternators fitted to make up the extra power needed for the radio and extra lights and the drive side of the cranks were totally different.

These Police models had a Triumph 4 spring clutch fitted with an integral shock absorber that did the same job as the cush drive.  The Triumph 4 spring clutch fitted to the later (non-police) A10's didn't have this integral shock absorber.

Beezageezauk.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: chaterlea25 on 24.10. 2011 10:03
Hi Harry,
I believe that the alternator drive side crankcase is different to the standard one
also you need the A7/10 alternator primary cases
and as Beezageezauk says a shock absorber clutch
The parts that are different are listed but not illustrated at the back of the parts book
HTH
John O R
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: iansoady on 24.10. 2011 11:03
I suspect you'll have great difficulty in getting the primary chaincases as there weren't that many bikes made in that configuration.

What do I know though.....

In answer to another part of your question, nominal output for an RM21 is 140 watts IIRC.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: muskrat on 24.10. 2011 20:02
G'day Harry,
                if their 6" rods it is an A65/50 crank.
 I think that ABSAF make outer alt covers for their GS's might fit A's.
Cheers
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: trevinoz on 24.10. 2011 20:43
Musky,
                 There doesn't appear to be any radial bolts in the flywheel so I would say not A50/65.

   Trev.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: muskrat on 25.10. 2011 01:21
G'day Trev,
               I know I need new glasses but are we looking at the same pic. Ain't that one between the rods.
Easiest way measure the drive side bearing shaft, A7/10 is 30mm, A50/65 is 1.125" = 28.575mm.
Cheers
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 25.10. 2011 09:57
Il go measure up, and report back!
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 25.10. 2011 11:57
Right,

The Rods are more like 8" than 6"

The con rod ends measure 19mm ID

The Drive side Bearing shaft is 28.5mm.

And heres some more pictures:

(https://www.a7a10.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi814.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz67%2FHarry_Cornwall%2Fth_100_1549.jpg&hash=0d7cc2e4521e66d3edcfc595398a6615295f4fc2) (http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/Harry_Cornwall/?action=view&current=100_1549.jpg)

(https://www.a7a10.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi814.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz67%2FHarry_Cornwall%2Fth_100_1550.jpg&hash=c2e578dddb824f31b3790e6ca10fbb6041b0dc5d) (http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/Harry_Cornwall/?action=view&current=100_1550.jpg)

(https://www.a7a10.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi814.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz67%2FHarry_Cornwall%2Fth_100_1551.jpg&hash=ad8f005fda449f6feb85d312f002cb3f5d186c02) (http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/Harry_Cornwall/?action=view&current=100_1551.jpg)

(https://www.a7a10.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi814.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz67%2FHarry_Cornwall%2Fth_100_1552.jpg&hash=324ddeb78a74fa684f10bb234f853a20a83a6963) (http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/Harry_Cornwall/?action=view&current=100_1552.jpg)

(https://www.a7a10.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi814.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz67%2FHarry_Cornwall%2Fth_100_1555.jpg&hash=b1396d08435ce02d85313f4af193329b7522bff7) (http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/Harry_Cornwall/?action=view&current=100_1555.jpg)
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: muskrat on 25.10. 2011 12:32
OK by the shaft size it's A50/65/70, all had con rods 6", A7 has 6" but sml journal, A10 has 6.468"
 A50/65 has 74mm stroke A70 has 85mm. All have 3/4" (19mm) sml end.
 You could sleeve the shaft to take the 30mm bearing and stroke an A7  *eek*
Cheers
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 25.10. 2011 15:43
Turning a sleeve wouldnt be a problem, however what about ballencing, if the a65 has 75mm pistons, is it not ballenced differntly?

So the A65 has the same stroke as an A7?

Thanks for everybodys patience
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: muskrat on 25.10. 2011 20:03
 No A7 stroke is 72.6mm. So that's what I meant by stroking an A7. You wouldn't put it in an A10 but in an A7 the piston size is only 1/2mm bigger so balance won't be far out. Might need a 1mm thicker head gasket. Find a set of alt primary cases, etc, etc.
 Cheers
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: trevinoz on 25.10. 2011 20:57
Sorry Musky,
                       I only looked at the small picture and took the holes to be balance holes.
Marvelous what blowing up the photo does!

  Trev.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 27.10. 2011 09:50
I see,

Didnt know the stroke was so similar, Its An A7 it would be going in, just a shame it isnt an A7 crank in the first place.

Thanks for the Info everybody.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: muskrat on 27.10. 2011 10:36
Well it's really better Harry. The A7 never had the large journal big ends. I snapped a few std and lightened A7 cranks when racing. That's why I was looking into it, in fact I saw the A65 crank with sleeved drive side today. might have to take the sleeve off as I now have an A65 project.
Do a lot of measuring and checking. What year is it, alloy or iron head?
Cheers
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 27.10. 2011 13:54
Engine cases are CA7 SS 8223  which I think is 1961?

The rest of the engine parts will vary with age.

Its got the twin carb Alloy head.

Ok so to fit the a65 crank,

Turn a sleave to adopt the A7 bearing.
Get hold of some alternator chaincases.

Would I fit a7 pistons, turn a smaller ID bushing to replace the small end bushing of the a65 conrods?
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: muskrat on 27.10. 2011 20:23
 Yep, I forgot A7 pins are 11/16", A10 & 65 are 3/4".
Finding the primary covers will be the hard part. If you know a good alloy welder and machinist you could convert the originals. I saw a pic of a home made one not long back.
A7's only have thin flange barrels so go easy on the compression, say 8.5:1, 9:1 max. I've broke a few of those as well. *sad2*
Cheers
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 28.10. 2011 00:00
Already considered adapting the chain case,

Could cut a hole the size of the stator in the outer chain case, turn a ring to house the stator and tig weld it onto the case.

Among the parts I have, there is some bored out cylinders to take Bonneville pistons. The trouble is on the a7 crank and rods they don't reach the top of the cylinders, I?m wondering how far they would go up with the a65 crank and rods. Time permitting tomorrow I may have a mock up and see.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: muskrat on 28.10. 2011 01:15
Fitting, Fitting I know. I had 67mm trident pistons on 2.5mm shortened A10 rods, but they were sml journal.
The crank will only push them up by 0.6mm. I'd sleeve the cylinders back to std and use A7 pistons.
Cheers
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 28.10. 2011 10:27
Now I have thought about it, when I looked at the bonneville conversion before the thing I didnt like was that the barrels overlapped the edge of the head.
That engine in question was partly stripped when I got it, the head was off, so I think it had blown the head gasket.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: muskrat on 28.10. 2011 19:43
 So if the A7 barrels have been bored out to take 71mm bonny slugs they wouldn't be strong enough to hold a fart let alone decent cr. Sleeve it back and std A7 pistons with the extra stroke will give a decent cr result. To play around with the cr use different thickness head gaskets. Lani at copper gaskets can make them in any thickness and bore size. http://www.coppergaskets.us/MCG.html
Cheers
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 28.10. 2011 22:31
Thats a point I hadn't even thought about, Il have them sleeved.

On the point of strength, In one post didn't you mention a through bolting system? Would that be applicable here?
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: muskrat on 28.10. 2011 23:02
If I tell you I'll have to kill you ! *eek*
Depends on if you want to race it. I was running 13:1 cr on methanol. After breaking a few barrels I worked out the through bolt system. Then it broke a couple of small journal A7 cranks (no large journal for A7). Just moved the weakest link. Hence the idea of the A65 crank. Stopped racing so shelved the crank. I still use the through bolt on the '51 and '57 cafe because I can  *smile*
 Keep yours at 9 or less and should be OK.
Cheers
 PS, once done for through bolting the head and barrels are that way for life, the cases can revert to std.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 28.10. 2011 23:30
I wont be racing, and 13:1 on the fuel we have here would send most engines to mars.

Il try and have barrels sleaved soon, in the meanwhile il have a look at a sleave for the drive side bearing.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: muskrat on 29.10. 2011 01:29
I was telling a friend (poor bugga has only 12 bikes, 1 is a ABSAF 600 Goldie) and he thinks the late B33 alternator covers will fit, or made to.
Cheers
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 29.10. 2011 14:34
After contacting ABSAF, been quoted ? 495,00 plus vat for a set of primary cases unpolished.

A little out of my price range, so I think il end up making my own.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Flatboy 1950 on 29.10. 2011 18:44
Hi , I have a set of Alternator chain cases for a twin , but I am in South Africa & the postage usually kills any deal !!

Regards , Flatboy.
Title: Re: Bsa Alternator, Crankshaft type.
Post by: Harryc208 on 03.11. 2011 22:03
You have PM flatboy!