49 ford 3 speed and overdrive
 

Put on a Speedway 6 volt pos. Ground alternator. Putting out about 18 amps at revved up speed (about 1500rpm), doesn't show charging at idle, belt is fiddle string tight, installed as per instructions with the wire size recommended. Doesn't show much amperage at idle. When I turn on lights or solenoid for overdrive kicks in, gage goes to heavy discharge. Alternator is hooked to battery side of starter solenoid. Shouldn't that alternator put out lots more amps? Tag on it said it bench tested at 50 to 60 amps. Any ideas?

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Re: 49 ford 3 speed and overdrive
 

If your alternator output wire is hooked to the starter solenoid, your ammeter won't show charge. Can you check voltage at the battery (not amps on the dash gauge) when lights and OD are on? That will tell you if charging is ok.

Re: 49 ford 3 speed and overdrive
 

The alternator wire is hooked to the battery side of the starter solenoid


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Re: 49 ford 3 speed and overdrive
 

The way you have it hooked up the alternator output in not going through
the ammeter. Looking at the wiring diagram the alternator output should go to the yellow wire that was hooked to the battery terminal of the original voltage regulator.

Re: 49 ford 3 speed and overdrive
 

Bob's correct. Hooked to the solenoid batt side, the charging current will flow straight to battery without registering on the meter, which will only show discharge when loads are applied.

Re: 49 ford 3 speed and overdrive
 

Thanks guys, I will change that wire and I bet I am in good shape.

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Re: 49 ford 3 speed and overdrive
 

Dunno, the ammeter on my 51 seems to work with the one wire alternator going to the battery terminal on my starter solenoid. Ken

Re: 49 ford 3 speed and overdrive
 

Hooked the alternator to the yellow wire that previously went to “Bat” on regulator everything works fine and amp gage shows lots of charge. I should have been able to figure out that I needed to feed the alternator through the amp gage. Thanks to all for your help.


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