Vince
New Member
Posts: 28
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Post by Vince on Sept 21, 2023 7:10:18 GMT
I'm rewiring a Swallow Gadabout which originally had direct lighting with the dry cell parking light option. Back in the 1950s when it was a requirement was it just the pilot light at the front or did the rear light come on, when switched to the L position on the 3 way switch? I've looked at all the usual wiring diagrams but I'm none the wiser.
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Post by 1951superlux on Sept 21, 2023 16:38:39 GMT
If it's the same as an autocycle, the rear light comes on. The pilot light and the rear light are 4V bulbs to run off the 4.5V battery in the B position. In the D position the main beam is powered from the magneto and there's a resistor in the headlamp to drop the 6V down to 4V for the rear lamp.
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Post by 1951superlux on Sept 24, 2023 10:58:11 GMT
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Post by buttybach1932 on Sept 26, 2023 14:28:02 GMT
Hi 1951superlux What you have written is correct for a Villiers JDL Autocycle engine but not quite correct for the engines used in the Swallow Gadabout. The early models used the Villiers 9D, later models used the 10D there was also a 'Major' model that used the 6E. The 9D wiring is really peculiar because the rear lamp is specified as having a twin filament dual voltage bulb 6 volt - 6 watt and 3.5 volt - 0.3 amps. No idea where you are going to find a replacement bulb like that. The Pilot bulb is specified as 3.5 volts - 0.15 amps. So I presume the dry battery is a 3 volt type. With this wiring diagram there is no volt drop resistor. The direct lighting versions of the 10D and 6E use the same wiring diagram. The pilot bulb is a 3.5 volt - 0.15 amp but the rear lamp has a 6 volt - 3 watt bulb. The dry battery must be a 3 volt type and from the description of the connection prongs I believe they were Eveready 800 cycle lamp batteries. The 6 volt rear lamp must have been very dim operating on a 3 volt battery but the same scheme was used on early BSA Bantams with Wipac direct lighting. Regards Butty Bach    |
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Post by 1951superlux on Sept 27, 2023 8:24:42 GMT
The 9D wiring is really peculiar because the rear lamp is specified as having a twin filament dual voltage bulb 6 volt - 6 watt and 3.5 volt - 0.3 amps. No idea where you are going to find a replacement bulb like that. The dry battery must be a 3 volt type and from the description of the connection prongs I believe they were Eveready 800 cycle lamp batteries. You can get adapters to fit AA batteries in place of the 800 battery - one version takes 4 AA cells giving a 6V output ... that would solve the problem of the unobtainable rear bulb. |
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Vince
New Member
Posts: 28
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Post by Vince on Oct 26, 2023 19:38:56 GMT
Quick up-date on this. I finally found the correct diagram for the lighting on the Gadabout which was for what is called the 5 1/2" set. From this excellent web site which I'm sure you're familiar with www.tanygraig.force9.co.uk/John/vil_lights.htmAs you say - peculiar bulbs particularly the twin contact, twin element rear which I'm not likely to find so I'll have to be creative and somewhat approximate in that department!
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Post by buttybach1932 on Oct 27, 2023 11:01:18 GMT
Hi Vince I would suggest fitting a small 6 volt sealed lead acid battery of the type they use in Fire Alarm and Security systems. Then you can use 6 volt bulbs for the parking lights. There must be plenty of room to accommodate the battery within the scooter bodywork. The battery can be re-charged from an external charger. Do not forget to fit a safety fuse to protect against wiring shorts. One tip that may be useful is to fit a charging plug. I fit them to bikes so that the battery can be topped up over the winter when the bike is not being used. The batteries on the later BSA Bantams and Tiger Cubs are a pain to get at and the charging plug makes connecting the charger quick and easy. The connection plugs that we use are 30 amp Anderson Power-Pole connecters. They are available online in packs of five or ten. I buy the packs that also contain the rubber shrouds. They are genderless i.e. they are not male and female, both ends are the same. The idea came from a friends electric golf trolley. You require a special crimper to fit the connectors but I solder them instead of crimping. Regards Butty Bach   |
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