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Old 06-07-2019, 04:21 PM   #1
wild_williamdog
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Angry Electrical

I have a strange one. Replaced lights in headlamps. Worked fine when headlamp switch turned lights on with ignition on but not running and when running at idle but when revving engine lights would go off and ammeter went to around 15 on the disharge side. I touched nothing other than in the lamps. I then unplugged the wires to to the lamps to see what would happen. No problem running with light switch off but when I turned the switch left (parking lamps) ammeter went immediately to discharge. When switch turned right for hi and low all fine until engine revved and then we go way negative! Replaced cut-out on generator but that did not help. Neither did moving the 3rd gen brush help. When multimeter put on at starter and on cut-out without motor running I get 6.3 volts but when motor running multimeter reading went all over the place so I couldn't even get a reading. Any thoughts? This all happens if headlamp wires connected or disconnected. Thanks a bunch!
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Old 06-07-2019, 05:47 PM   #2
Gary WA
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Default Re: Electrical

old style connectors in headlight may be touching one another?
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Old 06-07-2019, 07:45 PM   #3
Bob C
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Default Re: Electrical

I would disconnect the wires for the lights and horn at the cut out and see what happens. That would at least tell you if the problem was in the switch.


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Old 06-08-2019, 09:03 AM   #4
DHZIEMAN
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Default Re: Electrical

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary WA View Post
old style connectors in headlight may be touching one another?
Those darn headlight connectors are the main reason I added a line fuse, and also wired around the connectors, (left them in place for looks) and no more problems!
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Old 06-08-2019, 09:56 AM   #5
Badpuppy
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Default Re: Electrical

May be something loose inside the lighting switch.
Very odd.
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Old 06-08-2019, 10:56 AM   #6
Purdy Swoft
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Just a guess but the field coils in the generator could be connected backwards . If the field coils are connected backwards the ammeter will show a charge but moving the third brush will have no effect on the charge rate .
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Old 06-08-2019, 11:12 AM   #7
wild_williamdog
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Default Re: Electrical

Thanks for the replies. Can't think it has anything to do with lights as they are unplugged. As per Bob's suggestion I took the horn and light wire (which are connected together with one connector) off of the cut-out. With engine off I get the correct voltage at starter and cut-out but when I start car there goes the multimeter all over the place and cannot get any reading. As noted in first post I touched nothing other than in the headlamps. All working fine until I put the LED's in but again the lights are disconnected. Never touched generator or light switch. Bob with your suggestion tried. And no difference what does that tell you about light switch? Thanks all
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Old 06-08-2019, 12:10 PM   #8
Bob C
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Default Re: Electrical

You need to use an analog meter, there is to much interference from the ignition
for a digital meter.


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Old 06-09-2019, 10:52 AM   #9
Badpuppy
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Default Re: Electrical

Voltmeter may not tell you much. Check the ammeter with the light/horn wires disconnected at the cutout. If still showing high discharge, it's not lights or horn. About all that's left is the coil. If problem goes away, inspect your lighting switch and any new wiring.
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Old 06-09-2019, 05:47 PM   #10
wild_williamdog
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Default Re: Electrical

Thanks all. Will report back later.
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Old 08-19-2019, 05:28 PM   #11
wild_williamdog
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Default Re: Electrical

Finally figured it out. The right lamp plug in at the rear of the lamp housing was twisting and making improper contacts. Once secured all of the issues disappeared. Hooray
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