The Ford Barn

rosenkranswa · 07-31-2019, 09:35 AM

The battery in my '29 Roadster was completely dead the other day. Hooked the charger up for a couple hours and could get it started, but the ammeter showed only a couple charging volts during a checkout run around the block. Noticed a very slight current draw on shutdown, so pulled the fuse.

The next morning I was going to look a little deeper and out of the corner of my eye saw a small flash over by the radiator when I replaced the fuse. Closer inspection revealed that the headlight conduit had moved and was shorting out against the radiator frame. Pulled it back into position and put some tape where it was contacting the radiator and voila, everything was back to normal.

Moral of the story - pay attention to the little flashes...

Bob C · 07-31-2019, 10:08 AM

You still have problems as it should not matter if the conduit touches the radiator shell.

Bob

Badpuppy · 07-31-2019, 11:23 AM

Conduit and radiator are both at ground potential. And there should be no voltage present in that area with the headlights off. Horn conduit has a hot wire in it though, check for frayed insulation there.

Bill G · 07-31-2019, 02:00 PM

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I agree with the last two comments. You have a bigger problem than you realize. The rubber grommet between the radiator shell and the conduit is only there to keep the conduit from rattling in the radiator shell hole. It is not there for electrical insulation.

07-31-2019, 09:35 AM	#1
rosenkranswa Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Malvern, PA Posts: 361	Pay attention to the little flashes... The battery in my '29 Roadster was completely dead the other day. Hooked the charger up for a couple hours and could get it started, but the ammeter showed only a couple charging volts during a checkout run around the block. Noticed a very slight current draw on shutdown, so pulled the fuse. The next morning I was going to look a little deeper and out of the corner of my eye saw a small flash over by the radiator when I replaced the fuse. Closer inspection revealed that the headlight conduit had moved and was shorting out against the radiator frame. Pulled it back into position and put some tape where it was contacting the radiator and voila, everything was back to normal. Moral of the story - pay attention to the little flashes... __________________ Wayne @ Barb Malvern '19 T Speedster '26 T Touring '29 A Roadster '30 AA Stakebed '30 A Pickup '30 A Town Sedan '31 A Station Wagon '38 Columbia Girls bike (WWII) '40 Elgin Boys bike (WWII) '42 Super Deluxe Tudor '42 Willys MB Jeep '43 Willys MBT Trailer '43 M3A4 Hand Cart '43 Harley Davidson 42WLA with sidecar

07-31-2019, 10:08 AM	#2
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,747	Re: Pay attention to the little flashes... You still have problems as it should not matter if the conduit touches the radiator shell. Bob

07-31-2019, 11:23 AM	#3
Badpuppy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Guthrie, OK Posts: 1,144	Re: Pay attention to the little flashes... Conduit and radiator are both at ground potential. And there should be no voltage present in that area with the headlights off. Horn conduit has a hot wire in it though, check for frayed insulation there.

07-31-2019, 02:00 PM	#4
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: Pay attention to the little flashes... Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I agree with the last two comments. You have a bigger problem than you realize. The rubber grommet between the radiator shell and the conduit is only there to keep the conduit from rattling in the radiator shell hole. It is not there for electrical insulation.