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charging question

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by NCKalex, May 7, 2010.

  1. NCKalex
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 188

    NCKalex
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    '58 mercury medalist, 312. 12v with a generator.

    voltage reads the same at idle as it does when i rev it up, no change. if i drive it around a bit the voltage drops significantly. when i turn the car off and let it sit for a few hours the voltage will read almost a full charge, and still read it when i turn it on. wtf? battery is new, i had them test it. generator is a working generator as well.

    i know when i rev it it's supposed to read higher than 12v but it has no change.
     
  2. garcoal
    Joined: Nov 15, 2006
    Posts: 277

    garcoal
    Member

    voltage regulator isnt functioning. did you polarize it
     
  3. NCKalex
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 188

    NCKalex
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    yeah i polarized it, no dice.
     
  4. Labold
    Joined: Nov 1, 2007
    Posts: 1,219

    Labold
    Member

    I'm still bettin on voltage regulator.
     

  5. NCKalex
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 188

    NCKalex
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    i'll pick one up tomorrow. hopefully it fixes it lol.
     
  6. 90% of the time, all things being equal, it's a problem with the regulator...
     
  7. NCKalex
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 188

    NCKalex
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    got a new voltage regulator. same problem? what gives?
     
  8. 29nash
    Joined: Nov 6, 2008
    Posts: 4,544

    29nash
    BANNED
    from colorado

    Last edited: May 14, 2010
  9. torchmann
    Joined: Feb 26, 2009
    Posts: 787

    torchmann
    BANNED
    from Omaha, Ne

    the battery will come back up on the voltage a little after discharging but the discharged state causes a lead sulfate or something to form on the plates and it isn't soluble. As it builds up, eventually it will insulate the plates from the solution or as it drops off as a precipitate from vibration it will accumulate under the plates until it rises high enough to short the cell.

    I have adjusted the regulator before it the windings are good. The old ones you can get into maintain and adjust just like points and have a high and low limit setting
     
  10. NCKalex
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 188

    NCKalex
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    i polarized the VR according to the Ford way. F to B.

    the battery is a fresh one, i dont think the first part is possible, and i didnt understand your second part?
     
  11. Frankie47
    Joined: Dec 20, 2008
    Posts: 1,877

    Frankie47
    Member
    from omaha ne.

    The first part is possible, and will cause a bridge between the plates killing your battery, ie dead short. The battery is useless after that unless you want to use a little redneckery and drop the battery from about a 3 to 6 inch height and break loose the bridges, don't forget to wear your hazmat suit:eek:!
    I would strap down the acid covers if you choose to try this.:D:DAlso your contacts are adjustable on your VR.
     
  12. 29nash
    Joined: Nov 6, 2008
    Posts: 4,544

    29nash
    BANNED
    from colorado

    Also, is the generator a 2 brush or 3 brush, the polarizing steps are slightly different.
     
  13. NCKalex
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 188

    NCKalex
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    battery is brand new though? ill try another battery.

    how do i adjust the contacts?
     
  14. NCKalex
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 188

    NCKalex
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    2 brush.
     
  15. torchmann
    Joined: Feb 26, 2009
    Posts: 787

    torchmann
    BANNED
    from Omaha, Ne

    it takes along time for a battery to get "crusted" from sitting low on voltage.
    like months.

    VR-
    the cover comes off and there are coils with contact points. Use a point file to clean them up and there should be screws.
    One is a maker that energizes the windings in the generator upon low voltage and the other is a breaker that pulls the points apart when voltage is high.
    If you can adjust a pressure switch on an air compressor you can figgure out a vr.
    first vr's had a removable cover held on with screws
    Then they riveted the covers on and people just bought new ones when they started acting up
    if your running a modern vr they are solid state...buy a new one, you cant do anything with those.
     
  16. NCKalex
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 188

    NCKalex
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    alright mines removable. how do i know how much to adjust?
     
  17. NCKalex
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 188

    NCKalex
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    problem solved. turns out the wire inside for the armature had desoldered and the generator wouldn't motor also. swapped out the generator and rewired everything and now its charging
     
  18. torchmann
    Joined: Feb 26, 2009
    Posts: 787

    torchmann
    BANNED
    from Omaha, Ne

    cool! if you would have had to ajust the vr you need to hook up a voltmeter and watch it. one set of ponts does the low voltage kik in and the other does the high voltage kikout
     
  19. Labold
    Joined: Nov 1, 2007
    Posts: 1,219

    Labold
    Member

    Glad your all fixed up.
    New wiring to boot, nice work young man.
     
  20. rattrod805
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 13

    rattrod805
    Member
    from Ventura

    i just bought the car from alex and unfortunately its doing the same thing. not charging. soooo should i just repeat what you guys suggested to him?
     
  21. NCKalex
    Joined: Nov 23, 2008
    Posts: 188

    NCKalex
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    Try taking the voltage regulator cover off. I noticed that when i had the voltmeter hooked up the battery the charging voltage dropped. i dont know if its enough not to cause it charge put i left it off. i completely forgot about it when i put it back on. try that and see if it works.
     
  22. rattrod805
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 13

    rattrod805
    Member
    from Ventura

    will do . thanks man
     

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