Charging problem. Advice?

[Big Kevin]

Hi there.
I've got a mostly stock '30 coupe and am having charging problems and would like some opinions on how to remedy it.
One week ago and always in the past, my ammeter showed great charging once started, sometimes indicating all the way positive. However lately, and all of the sudden really, once started indicator just points straight up. And when I hit the brakes indicator goes negative a little bit.
All wiring is recent and new and correct, so is this a faulty generator? Battery is new and strong. Thanks for the help here.
Kevin

[Kurt in NJ]

There are several ways to do some testing without meters.

If you remove the cover and a burnt insulation smell escapes it will need to be diss. and tested, or replaced, also look at the inside for small splashes of silver (solder) flung off the commutator (not good, but possibly repairable)

Take off the belt, jump the cutout, if it turns like it is a motor there is some hope, put the belt back on--test the cutout.

To test the cutout with the engine running at a fast idle jump the 2 cutout treminals, if you show a charge then replace the cutout.

When you say that sometimes (in the past) that the ammeter showed a charge all the way positive it is possible that your charging rate was set too high, causing the generator to work too hard ---get too hot---and damaged.

[Mike V. Florida]

Check the cut out,

The "all the way positive" bothers me. Either a short in the wiring of the genny went bad.

[Jim Parker Toronto]

You should take your generater off and take it to a shop to have it looked at and tested. Then get one of Tom Wesenburg Electronic Voltage Regulaters and have it installed, then you will not have anymore charging problems.

[Big Kevin]

Thanks fellas for the help here. Jim Parker, do you have any contact information for Tom Wesenberg? I'd like to get one of those voltage regulators.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I would make sure the battery was up to snuff and the connections were good clean and tight including those on the starter, generator and terminal box then proceed to check the gen. output. I set my third brush to charge 10 amps max so it doesn't overburden the generator.

[skip]

That should do for starters.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Just got home a couple hours ago from our spring tune up and lunch. The 1930 Minnesota Highway Patrol car that our club restored about 10 years ago was having problems with the charging system not keeping the battery up. I took the generator apart and expected the worst when I saw solder flung onto the band, and saw the burnt cloth covering on the field coils. I checked it on my generator tester and it still was charging, so I installed an electronic voltage regulator. The highway patrolman was so pleased with the lights and horn and the way the amp meter now tappers back to near zero, that I may have earned a "get out of jail free" card! You can email me at: [email protected]

[Big Kevin]

Thanks Tom! Email on the way.....

[Jim Parker Toronto]

glad you connected with Tom....

[Big Kevin]

Yes! Jim, thank you very much for the direction, and Skip, the cutout info and troubleshooting chart are awesome. Thanks to you guys for the help here. I just sent Tom a message about getting one of his regulators and hopefully I can get it on there in the next week or so.

[Tom Wesenberg]

A lot of good information has already been offered. As Kurt mentioned if you remove the belt and polarize the generator, it should spin like a motor and in the same direction that it normally runs. That's a good start, but I have seen some that motor and still don't charge.

Making sure all the connections are clean and tight is a must. A poor connection will generate heat, so if you leave the headlights on and feel the 2 studs on the terminal box and one or both are hot, they have a poor connection.

After polarizing the generator, start the engine and check the voltage at the generator output stud. At a fast idle it should be putting out more than 6 volts and the cutout contacts should be closed, and the amp meter should be showing a charge.

Let us know what you find.