Register now to get rid of these ads!

Stock Model A Electrical Trouble

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Jimmy2bottle, Jun 21, 2009.

  1. Jimmy2bottle
    Joined: Dec 29, 2004
    Posts: 233

    Jimmy2bottle
    Member

    I really wanted to fix this problem on my own but can't seem to figuare it out. I have been driving my stock 31 5w every day to work now that I'm stuck in Seattle. About a month ago it started blowin fuses and headlights. One night I even tosted my ammeter. The first thing I thought was bad ground, so I checked the ground strap off the battery and sure enough it was real dirty and not even tight. After I fixed that it still poppin lights. Haven't blown the fuse again... Yet. Any one got any suggestions? One more thing, after I fixed my ground strap it seemed to only blow lights at high speeds... When they were there brightest... Could it be my cut out? Or my generator?.. Any help is appreciated..
     
  2. crackerass54
    Joined: Jun 1, 2009
    Posts: 364

    crackerass54
    Member
    from dallas

    voltage regulator is probably stuck closed
     
  3. Jimmy2bottle
    Joined: Dec 29, 2004
    Posts: 233

    Jimmy2bottle
    Member

    I don't think I have a voltage regulator... Or is that the same as the cut out?..
     
  4. Rich Wright
    Joined: Jan 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,922

    Rich Wright

    cut out and regulator serve the same purpose and are essentially the same.

    Rich
     

  5. Hoop-in-JAX
    Joined: Nov 7, 2007
    Posts: 184

    Hoop-in-JAX
    Member


    The cutout is not really a regulator since it does not regulate electrical current. Its purpose is to disconnect the generator from the battery when the engine is not running ... otherwise the battery would try to run the generator as a motor.

    A cutout is just a switch.

    A regulator is a more complicated switch since it turns on and off using the generator power when needed and to keep the battery from being overcharged, regulating the charge.

    On a stock Model A the generator's output is controlled not by a regulator but by adjusting the "third brush" on the generator ... when the engine is running the cutout is closed at all times pumping out power whether it's needed or not. The faster the engine runs, the more it pumps.

    Yours may be set too high. Only one possible cause of your problems, of course.

    Here's a link. It's says Model T, but it applies the same:

    http://www.modeltcentral.com/model-t-ford-generator.html
     
  6. Jimmy2bottle
    Joined: Dec 29, 2004
    Posts: 233

    Jimmy2bottle
    Member

    So the cut out realy has only one job in life and if it wasen't working I would be having a discharge problem. I will look at the 3rd brush to see what I can see but at this point I'm not too optimistic that this will solve my problem... Thanks for the imput thus far.
     
  7. gregg
    Joined: Feb 28, 2002
    Posts: 397

    gregg
    Member
    from Fulton IL

    I drive my stock '30 almost every day too. I had a similar problem last year. I had adjusted the third brush to max amps so I could drive at night. The cutout went bad & the lamps would burn out. I found the cheapest fix was installing a 6v alternator from Mac's. The generator is sitting on the shelf with a new cutout just in case. Hope this helps.
     
  8. gregg
    Joined: Feb 28, 2002
    Posts: 397

    gregg
    Member
    from Fulton IL

    Oh yeah, check your battery too. You're probably boiling the water out of it.
     
  9. Hoop-in-JAX
    Joined: Nov 7, 2007
    Posts: 184

    Hoop-in-JAX
    Member

  10. Elrod
    Joined: Aug 7, 2002
    Posts: 3,566

    Elrod
    Member

    You should pull the band on your generator and move the 3rd brush. It just slides in there back and forth, one way lowers the output and one way increases the output. Seems like you have it turned up way to high.

    On the stock model A, the faster you go, the more power the generator puts out. If someone before you just drove around at slow speeds they may have pushed the brush up so that the lights would be as bright as possible, but now that you are using it as a daily commuter, you need to adjust that brush back.
     
  11. orcas tow
    Joined: Nov 23, 2004
    Posts: 282

    orcas tow
    Member

    I had a similar problem, burnt points, blowing bulbs, blown fuse, I think the generator is only supposed to put out about 4 to 5 amps, mile was pegging the amp gauge when running, I adjusted the 3rd brush as described above & all's well now.
     
  12. Jimmy2bottle
    Joined: Dec 29, 2004
    Posts: 233

    Jimmy2bottle
    Member

    I am gonna look at the 3rd brush today and see if that helps.. I'm also gonna do the "ground" test outlined in the Les Andrews trouble shooting book... Seems like it wouldn't hurt to see If I'm getting a good ground... I really thought I had this problem solved when I found that crappy ground connection to the battery... I let ya'll know if it keeps happening after I check it out today..
     
  13. Jimmy2bottle
    Joined: Dec 29, 2004
    Posts: 233

    Jimmy2bottle
    Member

    So I just went out there and hooked the volt meter to one side of the ammeter and to ground... 6.25 then when I start the motor the reading goes all over the place... Up and down hovering around 18v I think.. Like its pulsing... Is this bad?... Wtf!
     
  14. Jimmy2bottle
    Joined: Dec 29, 2004
    Posts: 233

    Jimmy2bottle
    Member

    I did blow up the ammeter the other night when I was going to work.. Had to by pass the fuse cause it blew to get to work.. Started smoking real bad and doesn't work no more.. Probly cause I let the smoke out!.. But I don't under stand how that would give my multi meter such a crazy reading?...
     
  15. Jimmy2bottle
    Joined: Dec 29, 2004
    Posts: 233

    Jimmy2bottle
    Member

    I have the generator band off and I couldn't figuare out how to adjust the 3rd brush. Took the back off to get a better look and now I'm even more confused... And btw I have the newer style gen. I think its called the cyclinder style.. Not the power house
     
  16. Jimmy2bottle
    Joined: Dec 29, 2004
    Posts: 233

    Jimmy2bottle
    Member

    Well here's the up date.. Sorry to elrod. Didn't mean to sound rude about the 3rd brush thing.. I finnally figuared out how to adjust it. And now feel like a dumbass since it was so simple ater I figuared it out. It was all the way to the increase side of things and now is back down to where it needs to be. Now all I gotta do is replace the ammeter I fried and should be ok... Thanks for the support!
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.