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Message: [QUOTE="Ol'89r, post: 1429424, member: 17212"] Yeah they really were Mike. It was just the technology of the time period. Prior to the mid 60's everything was 6 volts. A 6 volt system requires a larger diameter wire to support the heavier load. Bigger wire, more smoke to escape. ;) Most electrical components of the day were large, magnetic relays/regulators with open copper windings. They had metal covers but were not insulated very well. Moisture and dirt would get in and short out the windings. Hence,, more smoke. Stators had unprotected windings that ran in a primary case with oil mixed with the swarf (metal bits) coming off of the primary chain and sprockets. The magnets on the rotors attracted the metallic swarf and packed it into the unprotected windings until it shorted them out and they stopped producing electricity. In the late 60's they started to incapsulate the stators and that helped. They also went to 12 volt systems in the late 60's and that helped too. If a bike spent much time in the UK before coming here, all of the plug-in connectors were usually corroded from the moisture in the UK. Those connectors were not sealed like the one's we have today. The solder joints were usually corroded too and had to be replaced. Vibration was a big problem and you always had to carry a spare headlight and especially taillight bulb with you. The vibration would shake the bulbs apart,, hence the Lucas self-dimming headlight. We never thought much about it because it was the best we had. Of course, everytime good ol' Joe Lucas failed, we were usually 30+ miles from our homes/trucks so it gave us a lot of time to think up more Joe Lucas quips. :yell: Today everything is solid-state, transistorized, miniaturized and fully encapsulated. Electrical problems are almost a thing of the past. Almost. [/QUOTE]

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