austin seven dynamo brushes

[chapelfarm]

Hi - does anyone have any advice for replacing these? My ammeter seldom gets past 0 and when I put my mighty 6 volt headlights on the drain is about 75% with the engine starting to falter. It's the dynamo wit hthe distributor stuck on th eend - a bizarre arrangement I haven't seen before. I don't want to disturb the ignition timing if I can avoid it so I'm not keen to take the unit of fthe car.

While we're on th esubject - does anyone know of a good handbook?

Thanks

 

[Dave Russell]

Hi,
Never heard of an Austin 7. Did a little research on the internet. It has about the strangest dynamo/distributor arrangement that I have seen. Have you tried contacting the Austin 7 Club in the UK? You might get some better help there.
https://www.austin7club.org/
Sorry I'm no help,
D

 

[piman]

Hello CF,
I doubt that you will be able to overhaul your dynamo without removing it. It is not difficult to remove and replace the unit to it's correct position if you take some care in setting the engine before you start.
The standard reference is to turn the engine to No 1 cylinder just firing, i.e. the points just opening on No 1 plug. Remove the dynamo\distributor unit, do the necessary work and replace it in the same position, i.e. No 1 cylinder points just opening. Just be sure you do not move the engine while you carry out the work. The dynamo is gear driven off the engine, by the way.
You may have trouble finding brushes but there is no problem finding similar size and type of brush and filing them down to size. (One point, do not use starter motor brushes, they are far too hard as they have a lot of copper in them)

Alec

 

[Roger]

Austin Sevens were my first cars - note the plural! I can't add anything to what's written above, except "Join a Club". Old loyalties and nostalgia recommend the 750 Motor Club.

 

[aeronca65t]

As Alec says, simply mark its position and remove it. Be sure that the engine is not turned, and replace it exactly as it was....so that the rotor is in the same (o'clock) position.

The dynamo in question:

 

[chapelfarm]

Many thanks to everyone for thesound advice - I'll look forward to tackling it (OFF the car!) and report back. This is a great forum by the way - very active!

 

[chapelfarm]

got it all apart, all back together again and working. Also recommend the cornwall austin seven owners club whose site has some good dynamo stuff. Thanks to everyone

 

[philman]

i have an austin 7 owners manual, a book on austin 7's and 8's and a book on auto electrical diagrams with a diagram of the 7's electrical system if any of these might help i can try and scan.

my book on electrical diagrams has several odd ball cars (such as a lagonda 4 1/2 liter rapide, chrysler heston, etc) if anyone needs a diagram i can look and see.