The Ford Barn

imacrazy · 08-25-2019, 07:34 AM

Took my s/w out Saturday for a drive, the amp meter was charging all the way over and was hot to touch ,wires also. Could this be a bad cut out or a short somewhere?

Thanks

Bill

burner31 · 08-25-2019, 08:54 AM

Was it doing this the last time you drove it?
You could crank your third brush down, tap your cutout, replace your cutout, etc....
Hot to touch wires are a big red flag warning...take heed.

Purdy Swoft · 08-25-2019, 08:55 AM

I would first try the simple thing like the third brush adjustment . Raise the adjustable brush in the generator to reduce charge rate , lower the brush to increase charge rate .

eagle · 08-25-2019, 09:14 AM

Your going to have to take some accurate voltage readings in order to make any informed decisions about what is going on. Check battery with car off, idling, and driving rpm.

Bill G · 08-25-2019, 02:55 PM

If the ammeter was hot, then it might be that the connection to the ammeter is getting hot due to one of the crimp-on connectors going bad and inserting some resistance. The generator uses the current coming back from the battery to determine how much to put out. If there is resistance in the loop somewhere the generator will just keep on chugging away. It's worth a shot to check that. Such was the case with my car when I first got it.

Badpuppy · 08-26-2019, 10:01 AM

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Ammeter post shorted to tank, likely.

rotorwrench · 08-26-2019, 12:35 PM

Any loose connection will cause resistance. Resistance results in heat generation near the site of the resistance. Resistors get hot. Dead shorts to ground usually get way hot way fast and burn something up. It could be any connection on instrument panel or in the terminal box but it's likely close by there somewhere. Check all of them and make sure they are tight and conductor wires are in good condition.

Mike V. Florida · 08-26-2019, 09:53 PM

The stock cut out is just and on and off switch.

08-25-2019, 07:34 AM	#1
imacrazy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 163	Charging to much Took my s/w out Saturday for a drive, the amp meter was charging all the way over and was hot to touch ,wires also. Could this be a bad cut out or a short somewhere? Thanks Bill

08-25-2019, 08:54 AM	#2
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Charging to much Was it doing this the last time you drove it? You could crank your third brush down, tap your cutout, replace your cutout, etc.... Hot to touch wires are a big red flag warning...take heed. __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

08-25-2019, 08:55 AM	#3
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Charging to much I would first try the simple thing like the third brush adjustment . Raise the adjustable brush in the generator to reduce charge rate , lower the brush to increase charge rate .

08-25-2019, 09:14 AM	#4
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Charging to much Your going to have to take some accurate voltage readings in order to make any informed decisions about what is going on. Check battery with car off, idling, and driving rpm. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

08-25-2019, 02:55 PM	#5
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: Charging to much If the ammeter was hot, then it might be that the connection to the ammeter is getting hot due to one of the crimp-on connectors going bad and inserting some resistance. The generator uses the current coming back from the battery to determine how much to put out. If there is resistance in the loop somewhere the generator will just keep on chugging away. It's worth a shot to check that. Such was the case with my car when I first got it.

08-26-2019, 10:01 AM	#6
Badpuppy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Guthrie, OK Posts: 1,144	Re: Charging to much Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Ammeter post shorted to tank, likely.

08-26-2019, 12:35 PM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,422	Re: Charging to much Any loose connection will cause resistance. Resistance results in heat generation near the site of the resistance. Resistors get hot. Dead shorts to ground usually get way hot way fast and burn something up. It could be any connection on instrument panel or in the terminal box but it's likely close by there somewhere. Check all of them and make sure they are tight and conductor wires are in good condition.

08-26-2019, 09:53 PM	#8
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Charging to much The stock cut out is just and on and off switch. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II