The Ford Barn

Ruth · 12-20-2020, 01:00 PM

Oooo, baby. That ammeter got HOT!!

jm29henry · 12-20-2020, 01:55 PM

Lose wiring, can burn up the whole car!!

Ruth · 12-20-2020, 02:38 PM

Not mine!! Saw it for sale on e-Bay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Model-...e/184587393089

redmodelt · 12-20-2020, 03:47 PM

On a Model T, was wondering why it was back lit seeing the glow from the front.

Was a nice meter before that!

nkaminar · 12-20-2020, 04:06 PM

Contacts should be bright shinny metal. Use some electrical grease. Make sure the fasteners are tight. Unless you are running 100 amps through your ammeter that should keep it from burning up.

old31 · 12-20-2020, 05:08 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruth

Not mine!! Saw it for sale on e-Bay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Model-...e/184587393089

That guy is wasting his time. Just take that hot ammeter and toss it in a bucket of cold water.

Ruth · 12-20-2020, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old31

That guy is wasting his time. Just take that hot ammeter and toss it in a bucket of cold water.

Or the trash can?? Even melted the plastic off of the wire nuts!

wensum · 12-20-2020, 05:31 PM

I've had all sorts of issues trying to get my speedster running properly and when local expert Errol, suggested looking at the ammeter, I found a similar result to that in the photo. With no fuse in the original wiring loom it can be the ammeter that fails when overloaded. Mine was a repo as I needed a 30 volt reading with an alternator, and it looks like the quality may not be up to the originals?
Somehow the points in my Mallory distributor fried themselves taking out the coil too. I can't comprehend how that happened, must have been a short, but replacing both (and the ammeter) has restored the motor to robust health.

katy · 12-21-2020, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Somehow the points in my Mallory distributor fried themselves taking out the coil too. I can't comprehend how that happened, must have been a short, but replacing both (and the ammeter) has restored the motor to robust health.

Were you running a 6 volt coil on 12 volts?

Kurt in NJ · 12-21-2020, 05:42 PM

I cured the hot ammeter with new nuts and soldering the bolt heads to the internal metal--- then I had to take it apart again to paint the cleaned brass and solder flat black because I could see it

jimvette59 · 12-21-2020, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

I cured the hot ammeter with new nuts and soldering the bolt heads to the internal metal--- then I had to take it apart again to paint the cleaned brass and solder flat black because I could see it

Resistance causes heat !

GT1929 · 03-18-2021, 11:13 PM

Original ammeter cant figure out how to put it together mainly the needle it all came apart when glass broke pushing it in to small a hole in repo. dash.

john in illinois · 03-19-2021, 04:57 PM

I am thinking of switching to a voltmeter due to the risk of fire with the ammeter.

John

katy · 03-20-2021, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john in illinois

I am thinking of switching to a voltmeter due to the risk of fire with the ammeter. John

Now you've done it, I've been driving for 65 years and never realized that ammeters are a fire hazard.

Y-Blockhead · 03-20-2021, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john in illinois

I am thinking of switching to a voltmeter due to the risk of fire with the ammeter.

John

John, let us know when you find a good voltmeter that will fit in the stock dash opening. I'm sure more than one person feels the same as you.

DHZIEMAN · 03-20-2021, 11:53 AM

Dump the ammeter! Before doing so Check each terminal to the case of the ammeter! Also look for short or burn marks anywhere behind the suspect meter looking for a "not wanted ground point!" If either terminal was shorted to ground, by the backing area or the case of the meter that is the problem. If not, replace the ammeter and install loose (INSULATE THE TERMINALS) and check if it operates properly. If so, the shorted ammeter was the problem. Ground can be a good thing, and in the wrong place a bad thing!

Patrick L. · 03-21-2021, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redmodelt

On a Model T, was wondering why it was back lit seeing the glow from the front.

Was a nice meter before that!

12-20-2020, 01:00 PM	#1
Ruth Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Glide, Oregon Posts: 1,336	Hot Ammeter! Oooo, baby. That ammeter got HOT!! __________________ Ruth "Sometimes you really DO need to read the whole thread"

12-20-2020, 01:55 PM	#2
jm29henry Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: michigan Posts: 1,126	Re: Hot Ammeter! Lose wiring, can burn up the whole car!!

12-20-2020, 02:38 PM	#3
Ruth Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Glide, Oregon Posts: 1,336	Re: Hot Ammeter! Not mine!! Saw it for sale on e-Bay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Model-...e/184587393089 __________________ Ruth "Sometimes you really DO need to read the whole thread"

12-20-2020, 03:47 PM	#4
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,340	Re: Hot Ammeter! On a Model T, was wondering why it was back lit seeing the glow from the front. Was a nice meter before that! __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

12-20-2020, 04:06 PM	#5
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,889	Re: Hot Ammeter! Contacts should be bright shinny metal. Use some electrical grease. Make sure the fasteners are tight. Unless you are running 100 amps through your ammeter that should keep it from burning up. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

12-20-2020, 05:31 PM	#8
wensum Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 444	Re: Hot Ammeter! I've had all sorts of issues trying to get my speedster running properly and when local expert Errol, suggested looking at the ammeter, I found a similar result to that in the photo. With no fuse in the original wiring loom it can be the ammeter that fails when overloaded. Mine was a repo as I needed a 30 volt reading with an alternator, and it looks like the quality may not be up to the originals? Somehow the points in my Mallory distributor fried themselves taking out the coil too. I can't comprehend how that happened, must have been a short, but replacing both (and the ammeter) has restored the motor to robust health.

12-21-2020, 05:42 PM	#10
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,155	Re: Hot Ammeter! I cured the hot ammeter with new nuts and soldering the bolt heads to the internal metal--- then I had to take it apart again to paint the cleaned brass and solder flat black because I could see it

03-18-2021, 11:13 PM	#12
GT1929 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 29	Re: Hot Ammeter! Original ammeter cant figure out how to put it together mainly the needle it all came apart when glass broke pushing it in to small a hole in repo. dash.

03-19-2021, 04:57 PM	#13
john in illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,183	Re: Hot Ammeter! I am thinking of switching to a voltmeter due to the risk of fire with the ammeter. John __________________ Welcome each day

03-20-2021, 11:53 AM	#16
DHZIEMAN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Sunrise Beach, Mo Posts: 439	Re: Hot Ammeter! Dump the ammeter! Before doing so Check each terminal to the case of the ammeter! Also look for short or burn marks anywhere behind the suspect meter looking for a "not wanted ground point!" If either terminal was shorted to ground, by the backing area or the case of the meter that is the problem. If not, replace the ammeter and install loose (INSULATE THE TERMINALS) and check if it operates properly. If so, the shorted ammeter was the problem. Ground can be a good thing, and in the wrong place a bad thing!

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