The Ford Barn

Samson · 10-24-2011, 05:58 PM

I've been watching the input to Ford Barn for years; Great stuff.
Now I have a electrical problem that some of you may be able to solve, I hope.
I have the standard 6V system. My original ammeter shows discharge as it should, but does not register charge.
The front end has been off the car many times these last few years for many reasons. The generator has been rebuilt and checked as good. The regulator has been replaced with a new one and has been polarized. I have not had it on the road since the new electrical parts have been added. In the garage, at fast idle,
there is no reading on the ammeter. With the lights on the ammeter reads discharge. I believe there is a short somewhere, but that shouldn't cause the no charge reading.
This is driving me nuts! HELP!!!

Jack E/NJ · 10-24-2011, 06:37 PM

Check belt tension first.

Jack E/NJ

Old Henry · 10-24-2011, 06:54 PM

I'm not sure that any 6 volt generator shows charging at any idle speed. It's one of the sad deficiencies of the old generator and why the alternator was invented and eventually replaced the generator. It doesn't charge until well over 1000 RPM and takes even more if there is any kind of a load (like the headlights on.) Start with reving up the engine to about 2000 RPM for a few seconds and see if it shows charging. It should if everything's working right. If not, let us know for other ideas.

TomO · 10-24-2011, 06:58 PM

First of all what year car are we discussing?

Check the voltage at the BAT terminal on the regulator. It should read at least 7 volts at 1500 rpm.

If the voltage is less than 7 volts, jumper between the Field and Arm terminals and read the voltage. Disconnect the jumper after reading the voltage. If you did not get more than 7 volts, check the grounding of the generator and the regulator. If you have good ground contact, then your generator is bad. If you get more than 7 volts, your regulator is bad.

Samson · 10-24-2011, 07:31 PM

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The car is a 1934 w/ stock '52 engine.

10-24-2011, 05:58 PM	#1
Samson Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SC Posts: 23	Electrical Problem I've been watching the input to Ford Barn for years; Great stuff. Now I have a electrical problem that some of you may be able to solve, I hope. I have the standard 6V system. My original ammeter shows discharge as it should, but does not register charge. The front end has been off the car many times these last few years for many reasons. The generator has been rebuilt and checked as good. The regulator has been replaced with a new one and has been polarized. I have not had it on the road since the new electrical parts have been added. In the garage, at fast idle, there is no reading on the ammeter. With the lights on the ammeter reads discharge. I believe there is a short somewhere, but that shouldn't cause the no charge reading. This is driving me nuts! HELP!!!

10-24-2011, 06:37 PM	#2
Jack E/NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,173	Re: Electrical Problem Check belt tension first. Jack E/NJ

10-24-2011, 06:54 PM	#3
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,762	Re: Electrical Problem I'm not sure that any 6 volt generator shows charging at any idle speed. It's one of the sad deficiencies of the old generator and why the alternator was invented and eventually replaced the generator. It doesn't charge until well over 1000 RPM and takes even more if there is any kind of a load (like the headlights on.) Start with reving up the engine to about 2000 RPM for a few seconds and see if it shows charging. It should if everything's working right. If not, let us know for other ideas. __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” *Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness

10-24-2011, 06:58 PM	#4
TomO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 362	Re: Electrical Problem First of all what year car are we discussing? Check the voltage at the BAT terminal on the regulator. It should read at least 7 volts at 1500 rpm. If the voltage is less than 7 volts, jumper between the Field and Arm terminals and read the voltage. Disconnect the jumper after reading the voltage. If you did not get more than 7 volts, check the grounding of the generator and the regulator. If you have good ground contact, then your generator is bad. If you get more than 7 volts, your regulator is bad. __________________ TomO

10-24-2011, 07:31 PM	#5
Samson Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SC Posts: 23	Re: Electrical Problem Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The car is a 1934 w/ stock '52 engine.