Jim, what a neat job on the wiring!
Would like to rewire a couple of bikes here but it does require a fair chunk of time, so this might not happen. They work fine now but the wiring is a bit messy.
As time goes on and things are added, the wiring tends to get that way.
It would be nice to start fresh and plan it all out, the way you have done.
If rewiring I will use a fusebox, maybe 8 circuit. When something goes wrong the isolation of circuits is helpful. I found this out with the Leo Lee bike. It is very neatly wired but uses a single fuse. Many people tried to sort out the wiring issue that bike had after its full restoration. John McDougall thought it was an intermittent short in the generator. Automarine Electric worked on the bike and couldn't find anything wrong with the charging system or wiring. They were correct, there was nothing wrong with those items, or rather nothing that would show up with normal testing methods.
Others apparently tried with it as well, all to no avail.
When I bought the bike I was aware that it was essentially a new Vincent except it had some sort of electrical issue. John still felt it was in the generator, so I fitted a new unit straight off.
The problem persisted ( intermittent burning of the single 20 amp fuse)
Finally after about a year of struggling with this problem it came clear. There was a short in the headlight switch. I happened to be riding at night and saw sparks all around the switch. This only occurred at fairly high rpm and not every time.
If the bike had been wired with a few fuses isolating the circuits, then this problem would have been quickly identified. Also, it would have remained rideable, in daylight at least.
On the other hand Leo would never have sold me the bike if it hadn't been so problematic for him! After all the expense of the complete resto he never completed a ride on the bike. It always fried the main fuse or drained it's battery( Series D distributor ignition) then had to be transported home in a truck box or on a trailer. He became very disillusioned with Vincent ownership, but the bike was/is excellent, the whole problem was that silly little faulty switch!
There are some very expensive trick fuse boxes available, such as the Motogadget, however a simple universal automotive type fuse box works just fine. The fuses that light up when burned out are inexpensive and make life easier.
The difficulty on the Vincent is finding a hidden but accessible place to mount a fusebox.
Glen
Would like to rewire a couple of bikes here but it does require a fair chunk of time, so this might not happen. They work fine now but the wiring is a bit messy.
As time goes on and things are added, the wiring tends to get that way.
It would be nice to start fresh and plan it all out, the way you have done.
If rewiring I will use a fusebox, maybe 8 circuit. When something goes wrong the isolation of circuits is helpful. I found this out with the Leo Lee bike. It is very neatly wired but uses a single fuse. Many people tried to sort out the wiring issue that bike had after its full restoration. John McDougall thought it was an intermittent short in the generator. Automarine Electric worked on the bike and couldn't find anything wrong with the charging system or wiring. They were correct, there was nothing wrong with those items, or rather nothing that would show up with normal testing methods.
Others apparently tried with it as well, all to no avail.
When I bought the bike I was aware that it was essentially a new Vincent except it had some sort of electrical issue. John still felt it was in the generator, so I fitted a new unit straight off.
The problem persisted ( intermittent burning of the single 20 amp fuse)
Finally after about a year of struggling with this problem it came clear. There was a short in the headlight switch. I happened to be riding at night and saw sparks all around the switch. This only occurred at fairly high rpm and not every time.
If the bike had been wired with a few fuses isolating the circuits, then this problem would have been quickly identified. Also, it would have remained rideable, in daylight at least.
On the other hand Leo would never have sold me the bike if it hadn't been so problematic for him! After all the expense of the complete resto he never completed a ride on the bike. It always fried the main fuse or drained it's battery( Series D distributor ignition) then had to be transported home in a truck box or on a trailer. He became very disillusioned with Vincent ownership, but the bike was/is excellent, the whole problem was that silly little faulty switch!
There are some very expensive trick fuse boxes available, such as the Motogadget, however a simple universal automotive type fuse box works just fine. The fuses that light up when burned out are inexpensive and make life easier.
The difficulty on the Vincent is finding a hidden but accessible place to mount a fusebox.
Glen
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