Cutout Bad? Can I run without it?

[DesertMike]

Hi All,

I’m a total Model A newby helping out with a friends estate. This is a ‘30 Model A Pickup. It has a massive discharge showing on the ammeter and drains the battery pronto.

After a little checking I believe the cutout has failed. The battery connection at the cutout gets real hot and disconnecting that eliminates the discharge.

I dissembled the cutout hoping it might just be stuck, but find it has some sort of diode installed. I assume the circuit should be open with no power to it
, this one shows resistance across the terminals all the time.

Can I operate the vehicle with the cutout disconnected understanding it won’t charge the battery? I’ll find a new cutout or one of the diode conversions.

Thanks for any advice.