runaway charging

[guam2250]

Good evening all in the Brain Trust. My '31 stock(mostly) truck developed a hole in the radiator, on a hot day. Noticed steam coming out the radiator cap and the overflow tube, towards the ground. The Boyce temperature gauge needle started dropping(no water to measure?) and the ammeter started showing an increase in charge (10 amps) with no lights on. I am using a '57 Ford, 2 brush generator with a voltage regulator hidden up under the gas tank, on the inside of the firewall. This setup has worked well for years. Why did the ammeter charge rate go up significantly with the overheated engine??? Thanks for your ideas!

[31Tudor]

Perhaps the steam/ water from the water flow pipe, which is close to the generator affected the voltage regulator?

[The Master Cylinder]

Originally Posted by 31Tudor

Perhaps the steam/ water from the water flow pipe, which is close to the generator affected the voltage regulator?

I think he mentioned the regulator is inside the cab?

[guam2250]

The voltage regulator is attached inside the firewall.

[eagle]

Doesn't sound like the two issues are related. Troubleshoot them independently I'd say.

[Synchro909]

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Originally Posted by eagle

Doesn't sound like the two issues are related. Troubleshoot them independently I'd say.

Ditto. It is unusual that two separate issues arise at the same time but these cars can be cantankerous.

[nkaminar]

Probably unrelated but could be that the heat caused some electrical issues, like a increase in resistance in a connection or two or in the generator or regulator. Get out the voltmeter and measure some voltages. I am a fan of a voltmeter in the car in addition to the ammeter. The voltmeter will answer a lot of questions.

Where are you located?

[Badpuppy]

Hard to connect overheating to electrical problems. Most likely an odd coincidence. Check your battery for a dead cell.

[Badpuppy]

Could also be a failed field relay in the regulator.

[jimvette59]

I had the same problem with my generator in my 59 Corvette. It wasn't water just old age. I rebuilt the generator and solved the problem.

[guam2250]

Originally Posted by guam2250

Good evening all in the Brain Trust. My '31 stock(mostly) truck developed a hole in the radiator, on a hot day. Noticed steam coming out the radiator cap and the overflow tube, towards the ground. The Boyce temperature gauge needle started dropping(no water to measure?) and the ammeter started showing an increase in charge (10 amps) with no lights on. I am using a '57 Ford, 2 brush generator with a voltage regulator hidden up under the gas tank, on the inside of the firewall. This setup has worked well for years. Why did the ammeter charge rate go up significantly with the overheated engine??? Thanks for your ideas!

* I topped off radiator and ran the truck the next day with normal readings on ammeter and temperature gauge. This engine and A have been very stable for many years, and since things have returned to normal, I can't help but wonder if this was a high heat event. Could the heat cause the contacts, on one of the regulator coils, to stay closed and allow the generator to just keep on charging? Thanks all for the comments!

[Big hammer]

Well you could try heat the regulator with a hair dryer maybe duplicate the issue, Or just go for a drive and enjoy the drive ! ��

[Badpuppy]

Originally Posted by guam2250

* I topped off radiator and ran the truck the next day with normal readings on ammeter and temperature gauge. This engine and A have been very stable for many years, and since things have returned to normal, I can't help but wonder if this was a high heat event. Could the heat cause the contacts, on one of the regulator coils, to stay closed and allow the generator to just keep on charging? Thanks all for the comments!

It could be related. Might pull the regulator and put an eyeball on the field relay and look for anything unusual.