Alternator on oldwing

[doubleminded]

I know nothing.zero, about bike electrics. But i have owned 8 oldwings. I always dreaded the engine pull stator replacement. As awesome as a 2022 wing is i think the 4 cylinder is the true wing. I think i saw where a geo alternator could be fitted.if so what happens to the stator and its wiring?

[CYBORG]

I have an external alternator on my 78. It is a one wire system. That is to say, the regulator is built into the alternator. The stock regulator, and wiring are just bypassed. One wire from the alt. to the battery. Has worked well for many years

[Whiskerfish]

The stator needs to stay in place. It is a counter torque for the engine.

[doubleminded]

Cyborg do you have any pictures or how to on the alternator? Whiskerfish countertorque? What do you mean? If its not connected,its replaced by an alternator, how does that happen? I am good with mechanical but not electrical.thank you both for your responses.

[CYBORG]

Those who know me, know I don't do pictures. Pretty simple really. Modify the front of the crankshaft to except a pully. Build a mount for the alternator. I used one from a John Deere tractor, because of it's size, and output. Pretty easy actually. There are pictures out there some where, maybe someone can find them

[Rednaxs60]

The stator needs to stay in place. It is a counter torque for the engine.

Think you mean rotor? I have had the alt mod on my '85 1200 for over four years with the stator gone, no issues.

The counter torque is done by having the alternator assembly rotating the opposite direction to that of the engine. This elimnated the side to side torque generally found in a flat four engine. The torque of the GL flat four is front to back because of this.

[CYBORG]

The stator needs to stay in place. It is a counter torque for the engine.

Think you mean rotor? I have had the alt mod on my '85 1200 for over four years with the stator gone, no issues.

The counter torque is done by having the alternator assembly rotating the opposite direction to that of the engine. This elimnated the side to side torque generally found in a flat four engine. The torque of the GL flat four is front to back because of this.

I agree. I have both still in place

[Lucien Harpress]

Yeah, the stator doesn't "go" anywhere. You just bypass the output wires. All the mechanical stuff stays right where it's at.

You'd have to pull the motor to remove anything, and at that point you may as well just fix the stator.

Now that assembly DOES rotate counter to the crankshaft, as designed by the factory to eliminate torque lift when you rev the engine. So there's a good reason to leave the stator/rotor assembly in place regardless.

Most add-on alternators (there is a difference) are piggy-backed on to the front of the crank, usually with an additional pulley added to the front of the timing belt pulleys. Far as I know alternator rotation doesn't really affect motor operation in any meaningful way- at least nobody who has the mod has said anything.

[dontwantapickle]

Is there any documented evidence that the engineers actually designed the alternator to counterbalance
the torque of the rotating mass?

Of course, the theory makes sense, but is there proof that it actually works?

[Whiskerfish]

It was reported in the early sales brochures as designed that way. Will see if I have anything that shows it.

[Whiskerfish]

From the Cycle Guide of 1974

Counter torque Cycle_Guide_august_1974_b.jpg (86.36 KiB) Viewed 1454 times

[Whiskerfish]

One of the many sales brochures

gl1000brochure7.gif (570.42 KiB) Viewed 1452 times

[dontwantapickle]

I have heard the marketing claims from long ago.

When connecting the charging system to the GL, It's obvious that making the rotor spin counterclockwise is the simplest engineering solution.
The alternators direct drive off of the side of the crankshaft requires only 1 gear, (but causes counterrotation).
They would have had to add an idler gear into the mix to make the rotor spin the same direction as the crankshaft.

The direction the that the alternator spins makes no difference in it's ability to charge the battery,
but if the Sales Dept. can use it to sell more bikes by saying that it is an improvement, why wouldn't they?

I bet that most of us have experienced the "Torque Twist" of the BMW twins,
and they designed a pretty complicated solution of balance shafts, ect. to deal with it.

I'd have to say that the extra 2 pistons in the gl1000 engines do a whole lot of counterbalancing.
But what do I know, I'll always differ to the experts.

[dontwantapickle]

From the Cycle Guide of 1974

Counter torque Cycle_Guide_august_1974_b.jpg

"Honda HOPES to nullify this torque reaction".
They "hope". That means that they don't definitely know. Right?

"The counter rotation of the weight SHOULD cancel most of the chassis rocking effects".
Should?

That's kinda why I would like to see actual data as proof that it does what is claimed.

[CYBORG]

From the Cycle Guide of 1974

Counter torque Cycle_Guide_august_1974_b.jpg

"Honda HOPES to nullify this torque reaction".
They "hope". That means that they don't definitely know. Right?

"The counter rotation of the weight SHOULD cancel most of the chassis rocking effects".
Should?

That's kinda why I would like to see actual data as proof that it does what is claimed.

I think the comments may have been pre production. But the laws of physic's kinda back them up