Photos by: David Y.If you ride a bike in New York City there are certain rules you must follow to avoid the cops, and their annoying tickets, and also just to travel a little more safely around the busy streets. When i was checking over Griffin, i was looking for the following:
1. Adequate Brakes (check)
2. Working Horn or Bell (check)
3. Working Headlight (nope)
4. Working Tail-light (nope)
(for more on these rules just click here)
i knew that if i ever wanted to legally ride in Critical Mass i would have to obtain a working headlight, and tail-light for my bike. i knew i wanted one of the generator light sets, mainly because of the vintage feel, and how true it was to the bike's age, but also because it seemed a little more green not having to worry about batteries and their disposal. i ordered the Dynamo Lighting Set online (from Azatlan Bicycle). When the package arrived it came with no instructions, just all the parts. i waited a couple of days before i decided to call a couple of bike shops to get quotes on instillation of the parts. i was informed by both that it would be a minimum of 40$, and they would have to keep it over night for proper installment (apparently they are tricky to put on, and very senitive). So after hearing this i decided, "if those chuckle-heads could do it, then so could i!" and i did! So i have decided to take a moment and show you how to install a, "Tung Lin: Dynamo Lighting Set"
1. Tools used: these are the tools i used to apply all the nuts/bolts.
2. Parts: these are all the parts that came in the box.
3. Instillation:
- A.) You are going to have to apply the generator as i have, allowing the black rotator to actually touch the back tire. test it by lifting the back of the bike and running the pedals to make sure it is spinning. see image below.
- B.) i installed the back light first, fitting it where i wanted it to be seen. Then i applied the wire to the bottom connection as shown.
- C.) i then installed the front head light to the handle bars making sure it was on tightly, then i ran the small wire (weaving it along the bikes bars to the top back connection) and connecting it like i did the back light.
5. Enjoy: Take your whip for a spin!
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26 comments:
Hi. Thanks for posting instructions, because I just ordered this thing and for the life of me, I can't figure it out. Question: are you supposed to keep the dynamo engaged all the time? I had one as a kid, and you could flip it on the tire or off as needed, and I guess I just...assumed that that was standard.
Moreover, I don't know how to attach the wires. I guess I failed at elementary school physics. Can you help with these issues? Many thanks.
Hi Anon,
Well i will be honest with you, this was the first time i have ever hooked this up. when i ran the wires i wrapped it up to my frame, but i would assume you could use electrical tape (it comes in every color) in inconspicuous places. As far as the Generator coming off and on the tire, mine is on all the time. it is continuously running, which made for the back light to go out quickly...
good luck to you! and have a Merry Christmas!!!
-david
Thanks for the tips on the wires! I actually didn't know how to insert them into the stupid little holes (figured that one out by accident), but good idea on the electric tape! Will purchase tomorrow.
Believe it or not, though, I've spent 12 hours with this stupid thing bothering me, and I finally figured it out:
1. Remove the dynamo from the mount.
2. Hold it by the black plastic box.
3. Press down that piece of metal at the bottom. It's actually a lever.
4. The bottle should spring into a different position.
5. Reinstall, with it in that position. I had some trouble with this, as it was riding on the edge till it occurred to me that it didn't have to extend all the way to work.
6. Now you can remove it from the wheel and click it into place off the wheel during daylight. To put it back on the wheel when darkness falls, simply press the lever again.
It seems to me that the least these mofos could do is include some damn instructions, in drawings. God damn.
Merry Christmas to you, too!
I just bought one of this today and thanks to you im able to install it.
Sasha. Santiago de Chile
Good Job Sasha! it's pretty easy huh?
buu. doesn't work. the dynamo supose to turn in a specific direction to light the bulbs?
sasha
the generator should be resting on your back tire, and spinning when your tire spins. then you have to click on the headlight and it should come on as you spin the tire. you wired it too right? (just making sure) and the back light should be coming on too.
It works, finally!!!! the lights must be touching the metal in the bike or otherwise it dont work. by this, the conection made a circuit and the energy generated by the dynamo flows. thank you very very much for your help and advice and happy new year!
Sasha
Hey, thanks for the tip.
It took me about 4 hours to install the dynamo, following your instructions, wich are very usefully. But I'm still dealing with a problem of rear tire wear caused by friction between the dynamo and the rear tire. Any suggestions to solve it?
The black rotary piece should be resting on the tire, mine is on all the time, and i have not had any problems with the tire wearing out. Perhaps you might wanna loosen it up, and bring it back a bit? try that, it might work.
cheers
D
I just purchased one yesterday and am glad to have found this blog because I was gonna try and install it on the front fork because that is how I've seen other ones done b4. Love the non-existant instructions!!! :*( Question: Is one light supposed to be on at all times? I connected to a battery to see if the bulbs were good (they Are) but switch only apears to go high low not off. Is this the way it's suposed to be?
Hi Anon,
There should be a switch on the "Bulb" of the headlight that has three settings (the middle is off). The small "Red" light is what goes in the back; This light stays on, and in fact mine burned out quickly.
Hope that helps!
D
Unfortunately I was in the process of trying to get the dynamo connected. Not an easy task with fenders. Anyways someone stole it after I got the lights attatched. Now I'm just holding a dynamo. BTW my switch must have been defective it was always main bulb on in 2 positions small top bulb in 1. I have a headlamp identical to the one from this kit that runs on batteries am pondering converting the bulb to higher voltage. Also I found it looked better to me by removing the main gooseneck bolt and mounting there being careful not to mess up the alignment. Cheers all posters. Luckily I have more bikes to play with.
Chris G.
thanks, this helped me alot because when i got it i had no idea how to put it on or use it
thanks alot though.
I still dont know how to put this damn thing on. The brackets are too small for the bikes frame!!! And there is only one hole thing on the bottom of the generator to feed my wires through, is there meant to be two???
HI Anonymous,
it's been a long time since i have installed mine - or updated this blog - so i'll do my best.
The bulb fits on the gooseneck fitting and should fit on the front handle bars. There is a little hole at the bottom of the bulb for the wire to fit and should run to the generator.
The bracket that holds the generator will not fit perfectly on the bars of the bike, it's a general shape, the idea is to get it tight enough to keep it secure.
There should be two little holes at the bottom of the generator to run the wires. one for the front and one for the back light.
Hope this helps.
Hi David,
Thanks so much for the useful tips. Did you replace your bulbs when they burned out. If so, do you remember how you were able to get the front of the light open. Did you figure out what kids of bulbs to use to replace them?
Thanks!
one thing you might want to pay attention to is the
spring loaded lever that engage the dynamo. When you press that lever, the dynamo drivewheel should make
a quick snap, swinging it toward the tire. If it swings away from the tire, then you are not installing
it correctly. In this case, by switching the generator to the other side of the "fork" and fliping the
brackett over, you may arrive at a more correct orientation.
I have identified three different points on the bike that satisfy the above requirement. Of these, only
one is on the back wheel and it is on the left side of the bike - the side without the chain.
On the front wheel, if you mount it on the right, the generator must be in front of the front fork.
But if you mount it on the left front wheel, the generator must be behind the front fork.
Also to mount the generator on the front wheel, you must buy two longer bolts and nuts, if your front fork is too thick.
In my case, the size of the bolts is: Crown Bolts, Hex Bolt M6-1.0 x 40mm Zinc Plated CB# 35828
and the size of the nuts is: Crown Bolt, Hex Nuts M6-1.0 Stainless Steel CB#00188
This is an excellent generator. It is the only brand that I found that is rated at 12V 6W. Most bike generators, including the
hub ones, are rated at 6V 3W. And with all the high tech stuff comming out, I got the feeling these generators will not
be around for long.
I mounted two of these on a mountain bike and connected them in parallel to get enough voltage (12V) and
Amp (1A) to charge a big laptop battery pack. It works like a charm. It will take about 8 to 10 biking
hours, but it does work.
So if you don't have access to the grid, and you must charge your power hungry laptop while biking and have it
ready for use at your destination, this is the best way (maybe even the only way) to do it.
Note: There is also a Tung Lin generator that rated at 6V 3W. This one has only one terminal at the bottom for both the head and tail lights.
Do you know what the arm-type-thing that help press the dynamo against the wheel is called?
Thanks!
well this was super informative and thanks for the original post- great work on everyones part- i did find something out tho- my dyno didnt work and didnt work- racked my brain- there was only one post at the back- and then some nice young lady mentioned something about the frame being the ground- and that is true- but you need to get through the paint- there are two screws that are sharpened on the back side- screw them bad boys into the frame- makes the connection works great- now as to the front light it dont got one- dag nab it all- so im gonna run a wire as a ground from the light to the back and connect it to the screw- aint tried it yet- but yeah- should work fine- again thanks for the help- with everyone working together we can still make the world a better place to live in- -peace- ~TOBY http://www.13fuzzybunnys.com
After two months, at about 45 mins. / day,( about 40 hours) the plastic wheel is worn out on Tung Lin dynamo lighting set. I'm back with my old Union, made in west Germany 35 years ago, and still top shape after hundreds hours but i'm missing my halogen light who was the best I ever had.
Thanks a lot for the info, helped me get it done in no time ;)
I purchased a battery operated Tung Lin dynamo light. Would you happen to know how I open the light housing to install the batteries? Thank you!
Thanks for the info, I had no problem installing it, I do have a question regarding the toggled positions of the switch on light, does one way only do the headlight, and another both the headlight AND backlight, cause I don't think the back one is working....Thanks, I appreciate it.
Hello, thanks for the info, I got mine installed pretty quickly. My only question is the toggle switch and what it does. I don't think my back light is working, but then again, the toggle switch could control them separately, i.e. one position controls the headlight, one the backlight, one both....not too sure, any help would be appreciated.
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