Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
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Thanks to Gerhard Ziesemann for sending me this information via email. In Gerhard's own words:
I also read your articles on generator conversion and would like to present my power plant version. It's a Bosch 14 volt 38 amp generator as used in a number of Volkswagen cars and vans. The maximum output is 458 watt and it offers sufficient electricity for heating handlebars, saddle and sidecar seat in the winter season.
458 watt Bosch generator on left, original 300 watt Bosch generator on right.
Photo courtesy of Gerhard Ziesemann.
I prefer this version to modern three-phase generators because it is extremely near to the original as it slightly differs in diameter (105 mm vs. 101 mm) and length and it can be used with the original bracket and needs only a minimum of work to adapt. Just chop off the Volkswagen air-cooling fan and put the Marelli drive wheel on it.
Orgininal numbers of my generator conversion:
Generator
Bosch 0 101 302 083
Volkswagen 211 903 031D
Voltage regulator
Bosch 0 190 350 015
Volkswagen 113 903 803
Bruce Henshaw was thinking about making this conversion as well, and gathered the following additional information from Gerhard:
There are a number of points to keep in mind:
In combination with the MARELLI pulley wheel and the equivalent belt this BOSCH generator works perfectly, the control light glows a liittle while idling at low revs.
On the collector end the rotor shaft must be shortened by approx. 40 mm to fit a cover for the bearing.
A thread must be drilled in the housing for a centering screw to make the belt run in-line.
The rotation needs to be changed from counterclockwise to clockwise by interchanging the field coil connections.
The screws that fix the covers to the housing must not protrude, shorten these.
A BOSCH 14 volt 38 amp direct current (DC) voltage regulator should be used for maximum power output. The data are most important, the order numbers may differ, e.g. for deviant connection types. Modern three-phase regulators don't work here. A 25 amp regulator will work well, but it limits the output.
On the rear cover of my own generator I added a bolt 6 mm to make a better connection on both, positive and negative with the regulator.
Before mounting the generator make a running test, connect the generator to a battery as a motor, it must run smooth and constantly. And it leaves remanent magnetism which is important for restart.
I recommend to fill up the gap between the engine housing and the front of the generator with some aluminium, the tension of the belt might damage the bracket.
