Here's a list the services we offer and the areas we cater for in detail. 

ELECTRONIC REGULATOR CONVERSIONS IN YOUR VEHICLES ORIGINAL CASE

ELECTRONIC CUT OUT CONVERSIONS IN YOUR VEHICLES ORIGINAL CASE

OVERHAUL AND REBUILD/CONVERSION OF THREE BRUSH DYNAMOS

OVERHAUL AND REBUILD/CONVERSION OF TWO BRUSH DYNAMOS

TWO BRUSH CONVERSIONS OVERHAUL/REBUILDS FOR PRE WAR THREE BRUSH DYNAMOS

OVERHAUL AND REBUILDING OF DYNASTARTERS AND DYNAMOTORS

PROPER 6v TO 12v CONVERSION USING YOUR ORIGINAL DYNAMO

ARMATURE TESTING, REPAIRS AND REWINDING

FIELD COIL WINDING AND RE-TAPING

WE OFFER COMPETITIVE PRICES, HIGH QUALITY WORKMANSHIP AND CUSTOMER HELP AND ADVICE THAT IS SECOND TO NONE. 

So, basically we deal with dynamo's and regulators for veteran, vintage and classic cars, motorcycles, tractors and boats etc. We also rebuild vintage and classic starter motors.

 

Electronic regulators

The BEST and most efficient available. That's guaranteed!

Electronics have come a long way in recent years. 

The units we use are fully protected against outside influences, short circuiting and reverse polarity. 

Installed into your vehicle properly they will give many years of efficient and trouble free service and unlike a mechanical unit they won't wear and lose efficiency over the years.

6 or 12 volt positive or negative earth with ratings from 5 amps for the smallest cars and motorcycles through to a 25 amp unit for the largest vehicles demands. They are available to suit dynamos with either SERIES or SHUNT connected field coils including Dynastarters.

They can be fitted to all cars and motorcycles that have 2 brush dynamos.

They can also be fitted to any car or motorcycle with a 3 brush dynamo AS LONG AS the dynamo is properly converted to a 

2 brush unit (see below).

Normally we fit them into the existing regulator or cutout case so externally nothing changes. If you dont have an original case we may be able to supply one or we can build the regulator into a suitable period looking case.

What ever option you have you will notice a great improvement in the charging department.

Electronic Cut Outs

Efficient and reliable Solid State cut outs that fit inside the original case so everything looks as it should from the outside.

No parts to adjust, no contacts to burn or stick.

Ideal if you want to keep your 3 brush dynamo but are having problems with a non-performing cut out.

 

Your Dynamo

We convert ANY make or model of 3 brush dynamo to a 2 brush unit including.........

LUCAS

MILLER

BOSCH

CAV

ROTAX

MARCHAL

DELCO REMY

DUCELLIER

MAGNET MARELLI

PARIS RHONE

AUTOLITE etc etc.....

From a simple conversion and overhaul to a complete rebuild and conversion inc. rewound armature, new field coils, bearings, brushes, brush springs and paint etc.

We also rebuild and/or repair 2 brush dynamo's

A note on dynamo rebuilding

It's obvious that different specialists have different ideas about dynamo rebuilding. I get dynamos in that are 80 plus years old and have never been rebuilt. It's false economy to just "overhaul" such a dynamo but be assured, many specialists  do just that and it's surprising how a coat of paint can make an otherwise bad dynamo look quite nice. If however, this dynamo had been rebuilt 20 years ago with a rewound armature etc then it is feasable to carry out an overhaul now.

I also get dynamos in that have supposedly been rebuilt by a specialist already. Some consider a "rebuild" to be fitting new brushes, greasing bearings and finishing with a coat of paint. Others will replace bearings and clean up the commutator. 

Some re-tape field coils and clean an armature to breath new live onto them like the company below who shall remain nameless. Below in black, is what they say:

We strip out the coils and hand wrap them in mummy tape, varnish then bake them to make them as good as new.

The armatures are cleaned tested and skimmed and undercut.

In our opinion, 70+ year old field coils are beyond re-wrapping as the shellac insulation (a natural substance) has a shelf life which has proved from experience to be around 50 years maximum. Same goes for the insulation on a 50 year old armature. Remember, 50 years ago is 1967 that's pretty much every dynamo ever fitted to any vehicle. 

Some companies advertise "refurbished" and "re manufactured" units. Check with them and ask them EXACTLY what they are going to do to the unit for your money. These terms normally mean the original coils and armature will be re-used. 

With electrical rebuilding, cheap is not best. A properly rebuilt unit can't be done cheap as it is a time consuming and skilled job so if the price is cheap it'll be a second rate unit.

You have been warned!

At CDRC we won't, re-manufacture or refurbish a dynamo. 

We only repair and rebuild dynamos to the highest standard. 

You may want to keep it looking original and used from the outside. That's fine but we will give the internals nothing but the best attention possible as we do with a rebuild where the customer wants it for his newly restored or otherwise perfect vehicle. We always replace brushes unless they are like new. 

We always replace ball type bearings with branded rubber lip sealed types. We always replace brush springs that are weak and brushes that are worn. 

Field coils

Nine times out of ten field coils are not fit for further use either because they are damaged, contaminated with oil, burnt or their resistance is not suitable to work with our conversions. Original coils don't last forever. Some see fit to re tape field coils as this gives the appearance of new coils. We will re tape and varnish a coil only if it is electrically sound but the original taping is deteriorated. Otherwise, we will wind new coils.

Armatures

We will only re use an armature that proves to be electrically and mechanically perfect. You can't expect a 70 or 80 year old armature to perform efficiently with bad insulation and as you can't see inside it you don't know how electrically sound it is. Growl testing may show an armature to be good but how long will it last? Some fail on the test bench under load. Far better to rewind an armature with new, modern materials and have peace of mind that it will last and not let you down miles from home on a dark night. Unless an armature has been rewound in the last 20 years and tests perfectly, this is what we do. 

We also carry out repairs to worn or damaged shafts to make them serviceable again. We can also make many damaged or missing parts.

Commutators

A worn commutator (the bit that the brushes rub on) can be skimmed true on a lathe if there is enough copper left on it to do this. A worn commutator is very often worn oval. This can't be seen until its spun. An oval commutator causes brush bounce at speed. Brush bounce makes for bad or intermittent charging. Some will just polish a commutator using emery cloth or wet and dry followed by Brasso. 

If a commutator can't be skimmed true and its segments undercut then we replace it.

So, beware of those who quote a very low price for a "rebuild". 

As I said, a good rebuild cannot be done cheaply but it is worthwhile. 

Dynamo rebuilding is like so many other things, a disappearing art and there are some rogues out there.

We don't do a half hearted rebuild, we do the job properly. 

This is a little more expensive but it assures you that your dynamo is perfect and will be for many years to come. 

That's why all our customers are happy customers. 

They rate our service highly and recommend us to their friends and other vintage and classic owners.

Back to the plot!

A 3rd brush dynamo charging system can be identified usually by the summer/winter or high /low charge switch on the dashboard. Sometimes this control was integrated as part of the lighting/ignition switch or with the cover band removed from the dynamo look for the smaller 3rd brush.

   Maybe you have a dynamo from a continental car? We can rebuild such items to shunt field or Lucas type specification making them over all a better, more efficient machine. Maybe you have an early motor car or a Ford 8 or 10hp (1932- 53) with very basic fixed 3rd brush charging? It overcharges during the day to the point where you need to run around with lights on at all times to absorb the excess charge? It shows a discharge at night with headlamps on?

We can convert its dynamo to 2 brush and hide an electronic regulator to give your motor car efficient charging and control.

We can easily upgrade your vehicles electrical system from 6v to 12v using one of the two conversions we offer, giving even better starting and lighting. 

We can also supply or wind new field coils to suit. 

We can re-wind armatures or in some cases supply new.

SO, GIVE US YOUR INEFFICIENT OR DEAD DYNAMO AND LET US WORK OUR MAGIC ON IT!

If your vehicle is positive earth you may like to consider changing polarity to negative earth at the same time as converting to electronic? This means that via a cigarette lighter socket you will be able to use modern items such as satellite navigation, a mobile phone charger or even power a laptop computer.

I provide comprehensive and foolproof fitting instructions tailored to you vehicle and/or your particular conversion.