Electric help

[RedVee]

Given the reputation of Morini/Italian electrics, could anybody recommend a bike electrician in the Bath / Wilts area please? The bike is a 1977 UK Strada that I purchased in 1994 in large lumps and was put back together by friends. Off & on over the years I've had the odd electrical niggle and the indicators have been removed along the way
The year-old battery went completely flat recently so after recharging and some checking by a visiting electrical savvy friend we fitted a new reg/rec. The battery voltage climbed when starting her up, so we assumed it was ok and my friend cleared off back to Finland! On my next ride out, it went completely flat again and I was left with no lights although of course she started and ran ok. Fortunately, I was carrying battery LED lights and riding with friends so not so bad as no actual night riding required.
Obviously there is a charging problem somewhere but we don't have the no how to track it down or fix it. The wiring is I believe is original, although I had a replacement light switch assembly replaced a few years ago as the original fell to bits.
Ideally as well as sorting out the charging issue, I would like to replace the indicators and also perhaps move to LED lights or at least a better headlight set up as it has always been poor to say the least.
TIA. Judy

[Steve Brown]

Hi Judy, not Wilts but how about someone like 'Rupes rewires' (a member of this club too) or there is a chap by the name of Ferret who does this as a mobile job. I haven't used either but know they have both been busy for a while.

[RedVee]

Thanks Steve, do you have any contact details or where they are based? Thanks

[morini_tom]

Before going down the lines of a rewire I would advise that you overhaul the fusebox.

They almost always show signs of ageing and an overhaul whilst it won’t necessarily fix your issue might prevent a few dead ends along the way.

The fusebox has a number of riveted bus bars between some of the blade terminals and also the internal fuses. These loosen and corrode over time, at best giving my high resistance and robbing you of power, or giving intermittent connections.

Take the fuse box off, note which terminals are connected to where including which are bridged behind, and then de-rivet them, clean them up and then rejoin them. I have used small bolts with locking nuts on mine, and a dab of epoxy to be extra sure they don’t come undone. Once bolted, solder for extra belt and braces. At the same time make sure decent tension is restored to the fuse holders.

Liberal use of electrical contact cleaner and fine emery to bring the surface back to a clean, smooth finish will apt dividends.

It’s time consuming but I guarantee worthwhile.

Once done, clean up all the spades on the loom and make sure they are all nice and tight.

This way, any future electrical issues you can debug with confidence that it’s not stemming from the fusebox, and any voltage drops you find at various points in the system probably relate to the wires and downstream components as opposed to the fusebox

[Steve Brown]

Thanks Steve, do you have any contact details or where they are based? Thanks

Sorry I don't but am sure they both advertise in the classic press or online. Rupert should be contactable through this forum-I think?