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Tech. Advice: Series 'B' / 'C' 500cc/1000cc Bikes
Rapide Chain Problem
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<blockquote data-quote="Monkeypants" data-source="post: 156883" data-attributes="member: 2708"><p>Nigel wrote "I think that probably the main thing about the McDougalator compared with the Alton is it has a lot more momentum. It has a roughly 3 1/2" rotor with heavy magnets that is turning faster than engine speed around a stationary coil. That is why it needs the slip clutch to work without overloading the chain. The McDougalator does deliver a lot of power but that isn't what causes the problem with wrecking the teeth. 250 Watts is only .33 HP. If it was the continuous load from the high power output the slip</p><p> clutch could only prevent that load by slipping just about all the time."</p><p></p><p></p><p>The Mcdougallator is deliberately designed to make very good power at low rpm. John was aware of the need to balance the electrical load at the low rpm levels one sees on a Vincent in town traffic.</p><p> I guess that is why it is stuck with so much inertia/momentum.</p><p>The Alton is much less powerful at low RPM, but the armature is light, the magnets are relatively weak and the loading on the chain is very light.</p><p>I believe that's why my primary chain still looks like new at 36,000 miles.</p><p>There was an earlier version of the Alton that had an overdrive gearbox like the Mcdougallator.</p><p>It was a bit of a beast to turn over and likely would have shortened primary chain life, except it's own trans was the weak point. It always made a lot of clacking noises at low speed and on kickover, never a good thing.</p><p>I got 5,000 miles out of that one before the internal nylon gears sheared off. Put new ones in and got another 3500 miles down the road before those let go. Tried a custom set of 4340 gears and filling the unit with gear oil rather than grease, but that failed too.</p><p>So the simple and very light direct drive Alton has been a nice upgrade. As you say with modern LEDs, the power needs are lowered.</p><p></p><p>Glen</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Monkeypants, post: 156883, member: 2708"] Nigel wrote "I think that probably the main thing about the McDougalator compared with the Alton is it has a lot more momentum. It has a roughly 3 1/2" rotor with heavy magnets that is turning faster than engine speed around a stationary coil. That is why it needs the slip clutch to work without overloading the chain. The McDougalator does deliver a lot of power but that isn't what causes the problem with wrecking the teeth. 250 Watts is only .33 HP. If it was the continuous load from the high power output the slip clutch could only prevent that load by slipping just about all the time." The Mcdougallator is deliberately designed to make very good power at low rpm. John was aware of the need to balance the electrical load at the low rpm levels one sees on a Vincent in town traffic. I guess that is why it is stuck with so much inertia/momentum. The Alton is much less powerful at low RPM, but the armature is light, the magnets are relatively weak and the loading on the chain is very light. I believe that's why my primary chain still looks like new at 36,000 miles. There was an earlier version of the Alton that had an overdrive gearbox like the Mcdougallator. It was a bit of a beast to turn over and likely would have shortened primary chain life, except it's own trans was the weak point. It always made a lot of clacking noises at low speed and on kickover, never a good thing. I got 5,000 miles out of that one before the internal nylon gears sheared off. Put new ones in and got another 3500 miles down the road before those let go. Tried a custom set of 4340 gears and filling the unit with gear oil rather than grease, but that failed too. So the simple and very light direct drive Alton has been a nice upgrade. As you say with modern LEDs, the power needs are lowered. Glen [/QUOTE]
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Tech. Advice: Series 'B' / 'C' 500cc/1000cc Bikes
Rapide Chain Problem
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