The Ford Barn

thelosthero · 11-13-2011, 02:02 PM

so i just got my model a but there was no battery installed so i got one from nappa a commerical 6 volt one all spec's are good i installed it as negative ground, the next day it was low/almost dead so i removed it and charged it. after doing some reading i find it could need to be run as positive ground is there anyway to tell what to run, i read i may need to repoloarise the genorator, im also going to install a battery cutoff on the terminal, could hooking it up backwards could of drained the battery ?

J Franklin · 11-13-2011, 02:10 PM

It should be installed + to ground. the only reason I can think of that it was weak after setting would be some faulty wiring or maybe a diode cut-out (?) if the polarity is reversed, or stuck closed points on a standard type cut-out. Was the battery fully charged when you installed it?

thelosthero · 11-13-2011, 02:18 PM

i believe so horn worked lights all worked got it running not so greatly now im aware of all the starting procedures but haven't tried cause i wanted to sort this out first

Mills River Barn · 11-13-2011, 10:30 PM

The most frequent cause of a reoccuring dead battery is the cut-out located on top of the generator. The cut out is a coil that will energize contacts (in the cut-out)when the fan belt turns the generator and sends current to the cutout. This completes a circuit that allows the generator to recharge the battery. If the cutout contacts remain closed when the engine is not running the battery will discharge through the generator to ground.
Use a DC volt meter, with engine off, one lead to ground the other lead placed to the front of the cut-out (Battery) you should read 6-volts, then on opposite side of cut-out you should read 0 volts, if you read 6volts the contacts are shorted.
Hope this helps.

Charlie Stephens · 11-13-2011, 11:57 PM

What does your amp meter say when you turn on the lights with the motor not running? If the car is set up for positive ground the generator will be discharging the battery when you run it.

Charlie Stephens

Mike V. Florida · 11-13-2011, 11:59 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mills River Barn

The most frequent cause of a reoccuring dead battery is the cut-out located on top of the generator. .

The next thing is a stuck brake light switch.

Tom Wesenberg · 11-14-2011, 06:23 AM

It's always best to put a new battery on a small charge (2-6 amps) for a few to several hours to bring it up to full charge. There's no telling how long that battery sat on the shelf. Also do this after a deep discharge, such as you had overnight.

thelosthero · 11-18-2011, 08:27 PM

just got the battery all set, going to investigate on sun my day off . thanks for all the suggestions those will be the first things i look at ^_^

thelosthero · 11-20-2011, 05:50 PM

so i put my battery in with a disconnect and after trying to start the car when it doesn't catch and i let go of the starter switch there's some anti freeze coming from the back of the block by the flywheel/bell housing does anyone know where it could be coming from hopefully not a cracked block but maybe bad head gasket ?

thelosthero · 11-21-2011, 11:21 AM

some pics from yesterday

Fred K-OR · 11-21-2011, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelosthero

some pics from yesterday

Pictures???

11-13-2011, 02:02 PM	#1
thelosthero Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: buffalo, new york Posts: 10	first timer so i just got my model a but there was no battery installed so i got one from nappa a commerical 6 volt one all spec's are good i installed it as negative ground, the next day it was low/almost dead so i removed it and charged it. after doing some reading i find it could need to be run as positive ground is there anyway to tell what to run, i read i may need to repoloarise the genorator, im also going to install a battery cutoff on the terminal, could hooking it up backwards could of drained the battery ?

11-13-2011, 02:10 PM	#2
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: first timer It should be installed + to ground. the only reason I can think of that it was weak after setting would be some faulty wiring or maybe a diode cut-out (?) if the polarity is reversed, or stuck closed points on a standard type cut-out. Was the battery fully charged when you installed it?

11-13-2011, 02:18 PM	#3
thelosthero Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: buffalo, new york Posts: 10	Re: first timer i believe so horn worked lights all worked got it running not so greatly now im aware of all the starting procedures but haven't tried cause i wanted to sort this out first

11-13-2011, 10:30 PM	#4
Mills River Barn Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mills River NC Posts: 7	Re: first timer The most frequent cause of a reoccuring dead battery is the cut-out located on top of the generator. The cut out is a coil that will energize contacts (in the cut-out)when the fan belt turns the generator and sends current to the cutout. This completes a circuit that allows the generator to recharge the battery. If the cutout contacts remain closed when the engine is not running the battery will discharge through the generator to ground. Use a DC volt meter, with engine off, one lead to ground the other lead placed to the front of the cut-out (Battery) you should read 6-volts, then on opposite side of cut-out you should read 0 volts, if you read 6volts the contacts are shorted. Hope this helps.

11-13-2011, 11:57 PM	#5
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,032	Re: first timer What does your amp meter say when you turn on the lights with the motor not running? If the car is set up for positive ground the generator will be discharging the battery when you run it. Charlie Stephens

11-14-2011, 06:23 AM	#7
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: first timer It's always best to put a new battery on a small charge (2-6 amps) for a few to several hours to bring it up to full charge. There's no telling how long that battery sat on the shelf. Also do this after a deep discharge, such as you had overnight.

11-18-2011, 08:27 PM	#8
thelosthero Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: buffalo, new york Posts: 10	Re: first timer just got the battery all set, going to investigate on sun my day off . thanks for all the suggestions those will be the first things i look at ^_^

11-20-2011, 05:50 PM	#9
thelosthero Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: buffalo, new york Posts: 10	Re: first timer so i put my battery in with a disconnect and after trying to start the car when it doesn't catch and i let go of the starter switch there's some anti freeze coming from the back of the block by the flywheel/bell housing does anyone know where it could be coming from hopefully not a cracked block but maybe bad head gasket ?

11-21-2011, 11:21 AM	#10
thelosthero Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: buffalo, new york Posts: 10	Re: first timer some pics from yesterday