The Ford Barn

Bob C · 02-10-2022, 06:59 PM

You should have three wires to the output side of the cutout. Horn , light switch, and
terminal box. Which one is blowing the fuse, the light switch or terminal box?
If the terminal box some of the reproduction boxes let the screws that the wires
connect to short out to the firewall on the back of the box.

daveymc29 · 02-10-2022, 07:22 PM

Get a circuit breaker to replace the fuse. After finding the problem, repair or replace to eliminate it, then throw the fuse in your spare parts and continue to operate with the circuit breaker. I use a 30 Amp, but some reccoment 20 amp. Your choice.

TerryO · 02-10-2022, 09:16 PM

[QUOTE A light may not find a short easily. It will tell a person that there is power coming through a wire or not but it could still blow fuses till you find the bad wire. It isn't very helpful on cross shorted wires either. ][/QUOTE]

It has been a very helpful tool for me for many years. A light placed in place of the fuse with alligator clips just tells you if there is current flowing. I find it a big help that you can see when it goes out from anywhere near the front of the car. Also with longer jumper wires it can be placed where it can be seen from under the car or even from the rear.

TOB

nkaminar · 02-10-2022, 09:24 PM

Well, you are getting closer to solving the puzzle. You now know that the wire to the terminal is causing the short. As Bob said the screws may be shorting out. If you have the original style armored cable to the distributor that can be shorting out the terminal screws too. There is a grommet that goes on the cable where it enters the terminal box to prevent the short. Carefully examine the terminal box. Disconnect the wires going to the ammeter to see if the ammeter has an internal short. Disconnect the wire going to the ignition switch to see if there is a short there. Continue with this line of investigation. Use your ohm meter to see if the terminal screws are shorting out to the firewall.

arefftx · 02-16-2022, 12:25 PM

I got my electrical issue resolved thanks to Doug & Jerome from the Dallas Model A Club. They discovered that there was an insulator missing on the cutout connection. With that solved they were also able to get the car started for the 1st time. These guys are awesome!

nkaminar · 02-16-2022, 12:39 PM

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Glad you got it fixed. Enjoy your car. There is noting like some experienced help.

I am a little confused by term "cutout connection." What is that?

OK, I got it. The generator cutout. I was thinking something in the junction box or instrument panel.

jrelliott · 02-16-2022, 03:47 PM

Thanks for telling us the solution.

Keith True · 02-16-2022, 04:24 PM

That's exactly why I suggested pulling the wire of the cutout and seeing what happens.What you had is something I have seen a lot of.People get to fooling around with the connection,drop a fiber washer,or twist the screw too tight so something turns and grounds out.I've seen little steel washers put there from owners not getting the insulating thing needed there.I've seen the little nylon insulating block in the repros spun around from overtightening.

Bill G · 02-17-2022, 02:00 AM

With electrical issues, it usually seems that the most basic of issues can really lead down many different rabbit holes.

02-10-2022, 06:59 PM	#21
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,360	Re: Ford Wiring Dilemma You should have three wires to the output side of the cutout. Horn , light switch, and terminal box. Which one is blowing the fuse, the light switch or terminal box? If the terminal box some of the reproduction boxes let the screws that the wires connect to short out to the firewall on the back of the box.

02-10-2022, 07:22 PM	#22
daveymc29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA Posts: 1,566	Re: Ford Wiring Dilemma Get a circuit breaker to replace the fuse. After finding the problem, repair or replace to eliminate it, then throw the fuse in your spare parts and continue to operate with the circuit breaker. I use a 30 Amp, but some reccoment 20 amp. Your choice.

02-10-2022, 09:16 PM	#23
TerryO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: N. GA Posts: 574	Re: Ford Wiring Dilemma [QUOTE A light may not find a short easily. It will tell a person that there is power coming through a wire or not but it could still blow fuses till you find the bad wire. It isn't very helpful on cross shorted wires either. ][/QUOTE] It has been a very helpful tool for me for many years. A light placed in place of the fuse with alligator clips just tells you if there is current flowing. I find it a big help that you can see when it goes out from anywhere near the front of the car. Also with longer jumper wires it can be placed where it can be seen from under the car or even from the rear. TOB Last edited by TerryO; 02-10-2022 at 09:48 PM.

02-10-2022, 09:24 PM	#24
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,873	Re: Ford Wiring Dilemma Well, you are getting closer to solving the puzzle. You now know that the wire to the terminal is causing the short. As Bob said the screws may be shorting out. If you have the original style armored cable to the distributor that can be shorting out the terminal screws too. There is a grommet that goes on the cable where it enters the terminal box to prevent the short. Carefully examine the terminal box. Disconnect the wires going to the ammeter to see if the ammeter has an internal short. Disconnect the wire going to the ignition switch to see if there is a short there. Continue with this line of investigation. Use your ohm meter to see if the terminal screws are shorting out to the firewall. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

02-16-2022, 12:25 PM	#25
arefftx Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Friday Harbor, Washington Posts: 49	Re: Ford Wiring Dilemma I got my electrical issue resolved thanks to Doug & Jerome from the Dallas Model A Club. They discovered that there was an insulator missing on the cutout connection. With that solved they were also able to get the car started for the 1st time. These guys are awesome!

02-16-2022, 12:39 PM	#26
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,873	Re: Ford Wiring Dilemma Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Glad you got it fixed. Enjoy your car. There is noting like some experienced help. I am a little confused by term "cutout connection." What is that? OK, I got it. The generator cutout. I was thinking something in the junction box or instrument panel. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 02-16-2022 at 08:48 PM. Reason: A light bulb turned on.

02-16-2022, 03:47 PM	#27
jrelliott Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pine, AZ Posts: 823	Re: Ford Wiring Dilemma Thanks for telling us the solution.

02-16-2022, 04:24 PM	#28
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 3,423	Re: Ford Wiring Dilemma That's exactly why I suggested pulling the wire of the cutout and seeing what happens.What you had is something I have seen a lot of.People get to fooling around with the connection,drop a fiber washer,or twist the screw too tight so something turns and grounds out.I've seen little steel washers put there from owners not getting the insulating thing needed there.I've seen the little nylon insulating block in the repros spun around from overtightening. Last edited by Keith True; 02-16-2022 at 04:25 PM. Reason: Forgot a word

02-17-2022, 02:00 AM	#29
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,062	Re: Ford Wiring Dilemma With electrical issues, it usually seems that the most basic of issues can really lead down many different rabbit holes.