Regulator - How reliable?

Post by **David53** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:01 am

I am assembling a spares kit to carry in the boot so that I won't be stranded on a long trip if disaster strikes. So far have:

Dizzy Cap
Coil
Rotor
Points
Condensor

I also have an old SU Pump which I am going to rebuild and include

After reading in Minor Matters this month about the fellow from Norway and his epic journey I was wondering if I should add a new regulator to the kit. How reliable are these? Mine was not renewed during the resto. Would it be a good idea to carry one?

Also, any other spares you feel would be useful?

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:54 am

well of course a well maintained morris is the way to go
regular maintenance and they are trouble free

but i would carry a spare fuel pump anyway as they can go wrong, but again checking the points in the one on the car is a good idea
rotor arm, fanbelt, spanners, points.

and of course rac card

regulators are reliable, and if yours is an original lucas one then keep that one

i use mine everyday so maintenance is a part of the weekly, monthly checks

minors used for a 100 miles a year seem to suffer more

i have just done a 1500 mile trip to the lake district and no problems what so ever

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:58 am

Original regulators tend to last well over 30 years - some are well over 60 and still going strong!
They have moving parts and switch contacts so they can fail, but only about as often as rear axle half shafts etc... and you wouldn't carry them around!

Post by **David53** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:03 am

rayofleamington wrote: some are well over 60 and still going strong!

Well, mine is 56 years young so hopefully will be OK! Just got me thinking reading about the young fellow from Norway! And a new regulator is cheap and weighs a bit less than a half shaft!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:39 am

More likely to need spare dynamo brushes than a regulator! It can always be by-passed in an emergency anyway. Best to carry a complete known good dizzy - easier to swap over quickly rather than struggle with small nuts/screws changing points on a dark wet night!

Post by **LouiseM** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:48 am

More likely to need spare dynamo brushes than a regulator!

The guy from Norway needed those too! For those that haven't read the article, he bought a saloon off e-bay and drove it home from Bognor Regis to Norway, breaking down on several occasions on route due to problems with the dynamo, regulator and gearbox.

Post by **Dean** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:29 pm

Tow a spare moggy behind?

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:31 pm

and if it aint broke dont fix it

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:13 pm

and if it aint broke dont fix it

true, but check the points for signs of burning/heavy pitting (and the pump and dizzy one's too...) before making sucha journey.

One Minor I sold was driven back to Belgium - I was a bit worried when I found out where it was going so I checked and serviced loads of stuff, and they got there fine. Another I sold was bought by some friendly young Germans - they broke down before reaching the ferry... but managed to get a regulator box the next morning and made th rest of the journey without hassles. I'd used the car plenty and the day before they bought it, it had just been down to Devon and back so I didn't think it would miss a beat!

Post by **David53** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:32 am

Well I just found a regulator on Ebay for $2 (less than one pound) so I grabbed it

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:25 pm

That's the way to do it! But - does it work ?? Put it on the car - if it works ok leave it there, and the old one is now your 'known good' spare.