----- Original Message -----

From: ANDREW RODDHAM

To: pip_squeak_and_wilfred@...

Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 6:31 PM

Subject: Re: [pip_squeak_and_wilfred] Cyclemaster Condenser?

Coad,

 

The original condenser's are no longer available and any old stock you might find will be pretty useless by now. These old foil / paper / wax filled components deteriorate with age rather than with use. They actually weren't that good when they were new.....

 

Most of the replacements that you can buy are either too big & won't fit under the flywheel (and are of too high a capacity) or are simply radio components that you might buy from an electronics store anywhere in the world for a few pennies.

 

I recommend that you visit a local electronics store (Radio Shack ?) and buy a radio capacitor to the following specification:

 

Voltage: >65v

Capacitance: 0.1 microfarad

Type: Polystyrene or Polyester, cylindrical style with a flylead at each end.

 

You should be able to find one physically small enough to actually fit inside the original brass casing. The ones I use are about 3/16" diameter x 1/2" long.

 

I fix them into the casing by:

Drilling a hole in the bottom, pulling out the original contents & cleaning it out,

Fit a new connecting wire to one of the flyleads of the capacitor & feed it into the casing (this is the end that will connect to the breakers),

Fix the capacitor into the casing with epoxy glue (note it is not necessaty to completely fill the casing, use just enough to stop the capacitor from rattling around)

Cut a small piece of thin brass or use a small brass washer to close the drilling

Solder the brass / washer onto the casing, ensuring that you solder the other capacitor flylead onto the casing at the same time.

 

If it is done neatly, it is almost impossible to tell a condensor that has been remanufactured from an original - except that it will work much better !

 

Good luck,

 

Andrew

---

From: coadmil <coad@first-brokers.com>
To: pip_squeak_and_wilfred@yahoogroups.co.uk
Sent: Thursday, 8 January, 2009 12:29:02 PM
Subject: [pip_squeak_and_wilfred] Cyclemaster Condenser?

Hello

I'm trying to get a Cyclemaster running, and I think I need a
condenser. Since I'm in the USA it would be much easier if there was a
substitute I could find locally instead of dealing with ordering from
the UK.

Does anyone have a suitable substitute that might be readily available
here?

Thanks

Coad Miller