Tom Wesenburg - Parade Question

[jthomas6]

I haven't (yet) taken on a parade with my Roadster, but probably will in the future. I've been wondering about the 'no generator output with cutout not engaged' - due to low RPM crawling at parade speed. Possible 'lights on and lots of AHOOGA action'.

I noticed one of your responses in another thread, but didn't want to hijack, so I posted my own.

"BTW, if the cutout is bad you can use a short jumper wire between the input and output terminals to get home. Just be sure to remove the jumper when the engine isn't running."

Would this be an acceptable practice to jumper during the parade activity so the generator could supply sufficient charging to insure 'Ample Parade Activity'??

[J Franklin]

When your engine is running the cutout should be working.It opens the circuit when the engine is stopped.

[Tom Wesenberg]

You don't need to jumper a good cutout because the cutout should only close when the generator output voltage is higher than the battery voltage. This should happen when the generator is turning about 700 RPM or faster, which means the engine is turning just under 500 RPM. My car idles at 500 RPM, so it's charging whenever the engine is running.

You shouldn't need lights during the parade, and the horn current will be fine. Even if you had the lights on and saw some discharge, just drive around after the parade long enough to recharge the battery, or use a charger on it.

[Kurt in NJ]

I have never had any problem with long parades and lots of horn use---with my car I back off the horn adjustment 1 click to have the best tone at idle voltage
A properly restored stock car should idle in 1st at a walking speed without riding the clutch or brake, without battery problems for hours of parade speed, minor speed adjustments can be made with the spark lever

[Fullraceflathead]

I have a battery disconnect on my '28 Roadster Pick up and with the engine at idle I can turn off the Disconnect and the engine still runs. I was thinking that the output would be low and create a misfiring at idle but I was wrong. This is the same Pick up I bought that has sat for 34 years. I never even energized (Polarized) the generator before my first start up. Seems kinda strange to me but I also believe in "Never Argue with Success".

[Mitch//pa]

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I don't run lights and periodically hold the R's up a few hundred more for periods at a time

[Willie Krash]

I would not run my car open circuit even at an idle.

[mshmodela]

FWIW, I did a 2 mile, 1 hour parade (stop and go) in June in near 90F heat. As it turned out my battery was in bad shape at that point but the car did fine my old Ford Script battery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz3WXcIj_O8

[jthomas6]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

This should happen when the generator is turning about 700 RPM or faster, which means the engine is turning just under 500 RPM. My car idles at 500 RPM, so it's charging whenever the engine is running.

I'm pretty sure I don't get charging at idle (I'll check tomorrow), but I'm not sure what RPM it idles. I think I have to run the RPM up a little (with throttle lever) to get charging.

Thanks for all the responses guys (all you parade veterans!).

[Fred K-OR]

Hi, if you think you may have a bad battery, it would seem like a bit of a risk to run a parade. But that is just my guess. If you have a good battery, I would think you should have no problem. I have taken grandkids in a number of parades without problems but I do not use lights.

[J Franklin]

jthomas6, your ammeter doesn't read in milliamps use a voltmeter.

[midgetracer]

Parade use is hard on any car. I work on a lot of Model A Fords that only run parades and then back in the trailer to go home. I spend more time repairing them than I do on my 6 Model As that rarely see parades.

[silversink]

the most important thing to remember in a model A in a parade is the candy and lots of it................the kids can be brutal.......don't ask

[mccsix]

In a military parade where the color guard leads the parade you need to re-tune your idle speed to more closely match the march cadence. Just figured this out after our Pensacola Vets Day parade.