Keeps blowing fuse

[Model A Nick]

Hey guys,
Im about to give up on this thing. I had the engine compartment apart to paint and put it back together, started it and cause I had the wire on the starter instead of the fuse part, the wires burnt up. I ordered new wires and installed them per the wiring diagram. Everytime I turn on my cutoff switch the fuse blows. I followed the paper and the wiring diagram. Any ideas? I added pictures

[Jim/GA]

Brake light switch.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Your ammeter nut needs the black insulating cover, but for now it will probably have some clearance if you swap it with the other ammeter nut. Also make sure the small notch in the instrument panel, for the dash light wire, isn't cutting into the wire. The ammeter end of the dash light wire looks a little shaky also, so be sure it doesn't have a wire strand touching the conduit.

[Mitch//pa]

Everything ( the entire car) feeds from the junction box terminals... separate all your circuits there, then add them one at a time till the short comes back. Then youll know which direction to proceed using the diagram. . That being said also make sure the junction box stud / wire posts are not shorting out on the firewall very common..

[1955cj5]

I'd also disconnect the generator feed wire at the cut-out to isolate the headlight harness and light switch...

[MAG]

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Picture 2, Is that a shadow under the Red wire or is the short Black wire that should from from the connector box Driver side Post to Coil driver side (-)? If wired that way it looks, it will create a direct short through the ignition switch to the points in the dist. when they are closed and the fuse will blow.

[1crosscut]

I'm betting on the junction box studs grounding out against the firewall. Disconnect all the wires and using a voltage meter check for continuity between the studs and ground.

[Mike V. Florida]

Do what Mitch says. My guess is the dash light.

[Model A Nick]

OK, so I took it apart and started putting one wire at a time on to the box and the last wire shorted it out. The black striped one that goes to the cut out box on the generator. I have the headlights off the car, but I do have the end taped up separate from each other. I took the dash light wire off as well. I guess it needs the cutoff switch, or do the headlights need to be plugged in?

[Mitch//pa]

Do you have The yellow wires connected to the cutout terminal shown on the diagram? They feed the horn and light switch.. if so remove those and leave the yellow / black from the terminal box connected. If the short goes away keep following the diagram

A couple common sore spots are inside the light switch, stop light switch, and headlight connectors (but u mentioned those wires are taped up)

[Jim/GA]

Brake light switch.

[Growley bear]

As Jim Cannon suggested; Joining MAFCA and a local club will connect you with a wealth of information and some of the sharpest Model A people around.
Good luck

[Model A Nick]

OK, so I took the yellow wires off the cutout terminal and left the striped wire on, touched the striped wire to the junction block and it blew the fuse. So my guess is the cutout got messed up.

[Model A Nick]

Originally Posted by Growley bear

As Jim Cannon suggested; Joining MAFCA and a local club will connect you with a wealth of information and some of the sharpest Model A people around.
Good luck

I am a member of both clubs, just haven't joined a local chapter yet, as the closest one is a bit away. Once i get out there with it, I want too

[Mike]

I am a life member of the DELAWARE VALLEY MODEL A FORD CLUB BASED In BENSALEM PA . We meet th first Thursday of each month

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Sometimes the terminal screws on the cut-out are TOO long & ground out on the generator case. Remember, most good terminal pliers have a cutter, to shorten many standard sized screws.
Bill W.

[Model A Nick]

Originally Posted by Mike

I am a life member of the DELAWARE VALLEY MODEL A FORD CLUB BASED In BENSALEM PA . We meet th first Thursday of each month

It meets in bensalem? That's really close to me, would love to go to one

[Tom Wesenberg]

Stop blowing good fuses and just connect a test light, or 6 volt buzzer across the fuse terminals. When the light goes out you have found the short.

[Mitch//pa]

Well you eliminated the lighting / horn circuit ,,incld the brake light switch. Your cut out may have a bad insulator which is causing it to ground through to the case. I use the diode cutouts that the suppliers sell,, no moving parts to hang up. Read up on what a cutout does and how it operates using the search feature, its a very simple device. Others prefer the original style with moving parts. The engine can be ran without one just connect the two wires together and bypass it... remember to disconnect those two wires after shutting down or youll have a draw through the generator which will drain the battery....

Plus what tom mentioned above,,,, this should have been stated earlier... a testlight works good

[Model A Nick]

Thank you for all your help!