General Cycling Discussion - dynamo wanted

does anyone know where i can get this exact dynamo? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/saturnsc2/bikeseatdynamo002.jpg

I think you can still order them at most LBS's through J&B

I think you can still order them at most LBS's through J&B j&b? the dynamo pictured is close to 20 years old & is one of the best they made. i would love to get an exact unit in good condition, or n.o.s.

Union generators still exist, I'm told, but trying to find a U.S. shop that orders it could be challenging. Try Harris Cyclery (http://sheldonbrown.com/harris) or a shop that recycles old bikes.

But unless you are looking for a historical replica, I'd suggest you visit Peter White's website (http://peterwhitecycles.com) and look at his bottle generators. The cheapest Dymotec 6 generator will have much less resistance than that old bottle of yours, and the Luimotec headlight also uses good optics and a halogen bulb, so it might be worthed to spend extra for the new headlight as well.

Here is a bike shop in USA who claim to have dealt with Union dynamo systems for over 30 years. Maybe they can help you:

Yellow Jersey, LTD (http://www.yellowjersey.org/index.html)

--J

j&b? the dynamo pictured is close to 20 years old & is one of the best they made. i would love to get an exact unit in good condition, or n.o.s.

I know I've seen it somewhere (remember the big Union logo) and if I had to guess it would be J&B since they carry a lot of really odd stuff.

The cheapest Dymotec 6 generator will have much less resistance than that old bottle of yours, and the Luimotec headlight also uses good optics and a halogen bulb, so it might be worthed to spend extra for the new headlight as well.
My personal experience with many of these units is that the resistance of the Dymotech 6 is not that different than the resistance of the older Union dynamos, and that the Union lamps have significantly better optics than the Lumotech (well, that actually depends if you want your beam spread laterally [Union] or longitudinally [Lumotech]; I prefer the wider beam of the Union, and IMO it's better focused, too). You can get screw base halogen bulbs for the older Union lamps from Reflectalite:
http://www.reflectalite.com/halogenpage.html
:)

I know I've seen it somewhere (remember the big Union logo) and if I had to guess it would be J&B since they carry a lot of really odd stuff.
who's j&b? any link to their website?

Union generators still exist, I'm told, but trying to find a U.S. shop that orders it could be challenging. Try Harris Cyclery (http://sheldonbrown.com/harris) or a shop that recycles old bikes.

But unless you are looking for a historical replica, I'd suggest you visit Peter White's website (http://peterwhitecycles.com) and look at his bottle generators. The cheapest Dymotec 6 generator will have much less resistance than that old bottle of yours, and the Luimotec headlight also uses good optics and a halogen bulb, so it might be worthed to spend extra for the new headlight as well.
yeah--you could say i'm looking for a historical replica. i actually have 2 sets on the bike that i bought in the 80's at the same time. it would look stupid to have 2 different dynamos on the same bike. i would like a matching set if possible.

My personal experience with many of these units is that the resistance of the Dymotech 6 is not that different than the resistance of the older Union dynamos, and that the Union lamps have significantly better optics than the Lumotech (well, that actually depends if you want your beam spread laterally [Union] or longitudinally [Lumotech]; I prefer the wider beam of the Union, and IMO it's better focused, too). You can get screw base halogen bulbs for the older Union lamps from Reflectalite:
http://www.reflectalite.com/halogenpage.html
:)
agreed. the light beam is very good especially when i use both systems at the same time as i have 2 identical sets on the same bike. that's why i want to get the same dynamo to match the other one. i really don't like the dynamos on peter's site. they are big & bulky & i don't like plaxtic housings--cheap. i like the look of my dynamos the best. if you can hunt down this unit, i will gladly buy it...

Hey, randya. Thanks for the web site link! Good timing, too! I have an older Union headlight that uses a screw base 6W halogen bulb. I do like the wider square beam. I need an extra bulb. Thanks!

Hey, randya. Thanks for the web site link! Good timing, too! I have an older Union headlight that uses a screw base 6W halogen bulb. I do like the wider square beam. I need an extra bulb. Thanks!
6 watt? is it a battery light?

A standard Union dyno puts out 3W, not 6W. The bulb you want is the GH93 2.4W if you're running a 0.6W taillight with it, or the GH106 3W if you're not running a taillight. Even if you are running a taillight, the higher wattage GH106 bulb should last longer, but your lights might not be as bright...

I purchased that generator, or at least the latest version of it, from www.aebike.com. Part number LT7452. It's also available from: www.loosescrews.com (http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Accessories&sc=Generator&tc=&item_id=UF-23009&id=55834313996)

I purchased that generator, or at least the latest version of it, from www.aebike.com. Part number LT7452. It's also available from: www.loosescrews.com (http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Accessories&sc=Generator&tc=&item_id=UF-23009&id=55834313996) IS THIS THE ONE YOU JUST BOUGHT: http://www.bicycleworkshop.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b1s133p1

Yes, that's it. The packaging says Union, but the actual generator says Basta. Don't know if that's exactly what you're looking for, but in my searching for Union generators, that's the only bottle generator I found.

Yes, that's it. The packaging says Union, but the actual generator says Basta. Don't know if that's exactly what you're looking for, but in my searching for Union generators, that's the only bottle generator I found.
yeah--that model appears to be the upgraded model to the one i bought in the picture here. i bought the set in the 80's & it's got a lot of miles on it. now the lights flicker sometimes bretty bad & the bearings make noise especially when going very slowly. i checked every connection possible & changed all the bulbs to no prevail. the dynamo must be shot. i guess i got my money's worth out of the set. the union dynamo is very durable & i would not buy another brand. the "basta" dynamo is still made by union, but they sell under some different names. how do you like it? bright lights at low speed? quiet? noisey? i'll probably buy the same dynamo to replace the one pictured here as i'm sure it's as good as the original & pretty similar in style. i like the way it swings against the tire--not tilts like a lot of other models. i don't know of any other brand that has the union swing mechanism. i just bought a union turbo dynamo with a b&m lumotec plus headlamp & the standlight led rear lamp for my mountain bike for a backup to the niterider h.i.d. system on it. i can't wait to get it hooked up. i'll be busy this weekend. will let you know how it works...

bump...