faulty ammeter?

[benji]

On my 36 , 6 volt, the ammeter guage never shows on the + side. While driving with nothing else on, the guage stays dead center, neither pos or neg. When I turn lights on it reads on the negative side. Do I have a faulty ammeter-shouldn't it show on the positive side when I am driving at a high RPM with nothing else turned on? How do I check accuracy of guage?

[31chevy]

Sounds like your charging system isn't working?

[rotorwrench]

If you turn on the headlights and honk the horn with the engine off, you should see a discharge on the needle. If not, the gauge is the problem. If the tiny little bearing surfaces that hold the needle swing are stiff or there is corrosion in the works, the gauge would need to be repaired or replaced with a serviceable part.

Kerby

[benji]

I turned lights on and blew the horn with engine off and the needle does not move. I will check out the guage. Thanks Jim

[G.M.]

You need to adjust the 3rd brush on your generator. The brush is located on the drivers side under the steel band. Up on the brush lowers amps and down increases it. You want maybe 10 amps at 30 MPH. If you drive a LOT at night at 30 MPH with the lights on 2 or 3 amps + on the gauge. To high and the battery will boil in the day time. G.M.

[Randall Hornback]

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Hello, i have a question almost like yours. I have a 1941 Ford flathead v/8 and my ammeter when car is not running the neddle on the ammeter is in the normal place. But when i start car neddle goes on the negetive side and does not go to charge when i increase the rpm of motor. And when i pull on the lights it really goes on the negetive side, and does not go to charge when i increase the rpm's of motor. The Batt. has been replace, the volage regulator replace, the starter has been rebuilt, the started sel. has been replace. Everything but the generator has been rebuilt. What couls be the trouble with this flathead, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Randall

[FLA48]

Did you polarize the voltage regulator? You can also check the output of the generator.

[Randall Hornback]

Yes i did polarize the voltage regulator, and i will be checking the output of the generator and rebuilding if needed. A big thank you for the information.

Randall

[George/Maine]

The best thing to do is put a volt meter acroos battery and see if its charging.
Not running about 6 volts
running may go to 6.5 to 7 at fast idle.
If your battery does,nt go dead you should be ok.

[Randall Hornback]

Good morning George, took your advice and check the battery voltage. Not running had a good 6 volts acroos the battery. Running at a fast rpm acroos the battery i had very little change in the voltage. The car is starting very good, turnning over very fast. Also with the car not running i turn the lights on and i see a discharge on the ammeter hand. Turn lights off and the amp hand goes back to normal. where do i go from here, all help appreciated.

Thanks
Randall

[wga]

If at fast idle, you do not show an increase in voltage, then check the generator. Could be the brushes and a commutator cleaning. Also, all of your connections should be very clean, good grounds, etc. When you polarized the generator, what wires did you touch?
To polarize the generator,(with the ignition off) place one end of a jumper wire firmly against the armature terminal on the voltage regulator and then touch the other end momentarily to the battery terminal of the voltage regulator.

[Randall Hornback]

Wga, recevie your information a big thank you. When i polarized the generator i did it through the voltage regulator (with ignition off). I went by the instructions that was with the regulator it said to take off the FLD. wire from regulator and touch the Bat. wire of the regulator you will see a spark and this was too polarize the unit. The voltage regulator that i used was a NAPA VR401. This is where i am at with this flathead ford.
Randall

[ora masters]

Originally Posted by wga

If at fast idle, you do not show an increase in voltage, then check the generator. Could be the brushes and a commutator cleaning. Also, all of your connections should be very clean, good grounds, etc. When you polarized the generator, what wires did you touch?
To polarize the generator,(with the ignition off) place one end of a jumper wire firmly against the armature terminal on the voltage regulator and then touch the other end momentarily to the battery terminal of the voltage regulator.

my new reg from napa said with key on

[George/Maine]

If you have been driving the cat for more then 30 days and your battery is still ok,my thought you don,t have a problem.If you are driving it in day times takes very little to keep battery up and very little amps.

[Randall Hornback]

Originally Posted by ora masters

my new reg from napa said with key on

Was your voltage regultor a VR 401 ?.

[Randall Hornback]

Originally Posted by George/Maine

If you have been driving the cat for more then 30 days and your battery is still ok,my thought you don,t have a problem.If you are driving it in day times takes very little to keep battery up and very little amps.

George i have not been driving the cat for more than 30 days. I would drive it now and then, then i had the problem and this is what i am working on now so i can get it back to where it was. So i can have enough faith in it to go and get back with it.

Randall

[George/Maine]

How many times have you had to charge your battery?
Whos charging it.
I don,t like digital meters.If you see voltage" increase" at higher rpms even 1/2 volt,I don,t see a problem.
If your meter isn,t any good the voltage would,nt encrease.

[Randall Hornback]

Originally Posted by George/Maine

How many times have you had to charge your battery?
Whos charging it.
I don,t like digital meters.If you see voltage" increase" at higher rpms even 1/2 volt,I don,t see a problem.
If your meter isn,t any good the voltage would,nt encrease.

George, i put a new battery in the car back in March of this year. I had to replace it about 2 weeks ago because of the problem i was having with the car. The list of things that i had replace and rebuilt. when i had it in the shop about a week ago the man charged up the battery. I have a battery charger that i can give it a slow charge if needed. i have both types of meters digital, and vom. I just want to see the ammeter work like it did when i first got the car.

Randall

[George/Maine]

Few things to check.
- to -, + to + 6 volt battery not charged backwrds.
Battery NOT in backwards.
When running look for encrease in voltage across battery.
Stil problems have gen checked

[Randall Hornback]

Originally Posted by George/Maine

Few things to check.
- to -, + to + 6 volt battery not charged backwrds.
Battery NOT in backwards.
When running look for encrease in voltage across battery.
Stil problems have gen checked

Good morning George, did as you said check battery -to-, +to+ found a strong 6 volts. Then checked the battery with car running at i higher RPM, saw no encrease in voltage across the battery. I will have the generator checked out and get things up and going.

Thanks
Randall

[Randall Hornback]

Good morning to all the men of (FORD BARN) who gave me help and assistance on the 1941 Ford Super Deluxe flathead i have. The one i was having trouble with the ammeter showing discharge all the time. From battery, starter, starter sel. voltage regulator, and generator being rebuilt i can now say it is doing what Henery Ford put it out to do. Ammeter working, and starting like a flathead should.

I give all you men a (BIG THANK YOU) for the help i do appreciate it very much. You all have have a super day.

Randall Hornback

[wga]

Thanks for the feedback