The Ford Barn

Epetek1 · 05-25-2024, 06:59 PM

hadn't run car since last year, car started and ran fine yesterday and charging 10-20 0ver, horn worke and showed discharge. Today car started and ran well but battery no longer showed a charge. It did show a discharge when horn hit but never went above zero on ammeter when running and accelerating.
Any ideas appreciated. here or [email protected]
thanks in advance,
Pete K

Gary WA · 05-25-2024, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epetek1

hadn't run car since last year, car started and ran fine yesterday and charging 10-20 0ver, horn worke and showed discharge. Today car started and ran well but battery no longer showed a charge. It did show a discharge when horn hit but never went above zero on ammeter when running and accelerating.
Any ideas appreciated. here or [email protected]
thanks in advance,
Pete K

Have a load test done on battery! and check your cut out may be stuck! There will be many more suggestions!!

mass A man · 05-25-2024, 09:22 PM

Try just cleaning the commutator of the generator. A small cloth with solvent, no metal sharp tools of course. --Pete K.

nkaminar · 05-26-2024, 06:38 AM

Another possibility is that the generator needs re polarization. The field magnets may have lost their residual magnetism.

Jim/GA · 05-26-2024, 07:46 AM

Pete, you don't say if this is an original generator with mechanical cut out, generator with EVR and/or diode cut out, or alternator.

I would diagnose each of those slightly differently.

Epetek1 · 05-26-2024, 01:01 PM

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original generator and cutout. pete

Jim/GA · 05-27-2024, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epetek1

original generator and cutout. pete

You will need an assistant...

Get the engine running on a fast RPM. Have your assistant watch the ammeter.

You take a short piece of wire and "jump" between the two terminals of your cutout. Be careful to only touch the cutout terminals and not the cutout case (cover) because it is grounded.

Ask your assistant if the ammeter now shows a charge. If it does, the cutout is not working. If it still shows no charge, the problem is in the generator. Now you know where to look.

Don't leave that jumper wire on. It's just for a quick test when the engine is on a fast idle.

Hope that helps.

Bob Bidonde · 05-28-2024, 07:23 AM

These slides embellish Jim/GA's advice. The jumper in the middle slide should cause the Ammeter to react. I urge you to make the Ammeter's cover removable for trouble shooting.

Jim/GA · 05-28-2024, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

These slides embellish Jim/GA's advice. The jumper in the middle slide should cause the Ammeter to react. I urge you to make the Ammeter's cover removable for trouble shooting.

Not the Ammeter's cover, the Cutout's cover.

Bob needs another cup of coffee before posting replies.

ndnchf · 05-28-2024, 08:33 AM

The covers are spot welded on, usually with 2 spot welds, except the early type with tab terminals that have 4 spot welds. Filing the edge alone won't be enough to remove the weld. If you look close on the sides of the cover, you can see the spot weld. It goes maybe 1/8" - 3/16" down the side. You don't want to file it down that far.

I refurbish a lot of cutouts. To remove the cover I grind the weld edge just flush. Then use a carbide bit in a Dremel to grind the inside surface of the spot weld until it is through or almost through the inner surface (the cutout base). Then turn it upside down on a solid surface, and use a tiny flat blade chisel (made from a very small flat punch) and hammer to split the weld completely. Then the cover can be removed.

My video explains this and how to test and service a cutout.

https://youtu.be/rnuukBeJ6Zs?si=_OBDwb75aJ3jXF_7

Y-Blockhead · 05-28-2024, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndnchf

The covers are spot welded on, usually with 2 spot welds, except the early type with tab terminals that have 4 spot welds. Filing the edge alone won't be enough to remove the weld. If you look close on the sides of the cover, you can see the spot weld. It goes maybe 1/8" - 3/16" down the side. You don't want to file it down that far.

I refurbish a lot of cutouts. To remove the cover I grind the weld edge just flush. Then use a carbide bit in a Dremel to grind the inside surface of the spot weld until it is through or almost through the inner surface (the cutout base). Then turn it upside down on a solid surface, and use a tiny flat blade chisel (made from a very small flat punch) and hammer to split the weld completely. Then the cover can be removed.

My video explains this and how to test and service a cutout.

https://youtu.be/rnuukBeJ6Zs?si=_OBDwb75aJ3jXF_7

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing.

05-25-2024, 06:59 PM	#1
Epetek1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 153	electrical charging problem hadn't run car since last year, car started and ran fine yesterday and charging 10-20 0ver, horn worke and showed discharge. Today car started and ran well but battery no longer showed a charge. It did show a discharge when horn hit but never went above zero on ammeter when running and accelerating. Any ideas appreciated. here or [email protected] thanks in advance, Pete K

05-25-2024, 09:22 PM	#3
mass A man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Danvers, Ma. Posts: 715	Re: electrical charging problem Try just cleaning the commutator of the generator. A small cloth with solvent, no metal sharp tools of course. --Pete K.

05-26-2024, 06:38 AM	#4
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 4,118	Re: electrical charging problem Another possibility is that the generator needs re polarization. The field magnets may have lost their residual magnetism. __________________ 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.

05-26-2024, 07:46 AM	#5
Jim/GA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Young Harris, GA Posts: 1,845	Re: electrical charging problem Pete, you don't say if this is an original generator with mechanical cut out, generator with EVR and/or diode cut out, or alternator. I would diagnose each of those slightly differently. __________________ Jim Cannon Former MAFCA Technical Director "Have a Model A day!"

05-26-2024, 01:01 PM	#6
Epetek1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 153	Re: electrical charging problem Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) original generator and cutout. pete

05-28-2024, 08:33 AM	#10
ndnchf Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia Posts: 812	Re: electrical charging problem The covers are spot welded on, usually with 2 spot welds, except the early type with tab terminals that have 4 spot welds. Filing the edge alone won't be enough to remove the weld. If you look close on the sides of the cover, you can see the spot weld. It goes maybe 1/8" - 3/16" down the side. You don't want to file it down that far. I refurbish a lot of cutouts. To remove the cover I grind the weld edge just flush. Then use a carbide bit in a Dremel to grind the inside surface of the spot weld until it is through or almost through the inner surface (the cutout base). Then turn it upside down on a solid surface, and use a tiny flat blade chisel (made from a very small flat punch) and hammer to split the weld completely. Then the cover can be removed. My video explains this and how to test and service a cutout. https://youtu.be/rnuukBeJ6Zs?si=_OBDwb75aJ3jXF_7