It STILL hates me!

[David K.]

Ok, took out the regulator out of the '62 and took the cover off and the center coil was toast. My friend ( had to leave) had a rebuilt regulator for a '58 laying (rebuilt in 1990) and hooked that up. Hey, we are charging! He calls me and says we are good to go and I can have my car for the weekend! I am thrilled, I have not really driven the car since '92. I get there, pack up my extras and get ready to hit the road with my Dad following. Guess what, we are not showing charge again. Is there, or could there be another problem than the regulator? Is there something that is damaging the regulator? Dreams of driving this weekend just hit the curb.........

[Gary C.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

Dave, has anyone put a clip on induction ameter over the generator output wire to make sure the generator is properly putting out? It's either the generator or the regulator. Sorry for the problems you're having. On the other hand just look at all the experienced you've gained. Regards, Gary....

[David K.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

Good point. Just think, I can be the guru of regulator/generator issues. I am a genuis in the making!

[David K.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

Gary....QUOTE], has anyone put a clip on induction ameter over the generator output wire to make sure the generator is properly putting out?[/QUOTE]

I guess I need some help with that test tool. Does it "load" the gen. as well as tell voltage and amp. output? The urge to get this resolved is driving me crazy!

[Gary C.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

Dave, it's simply a clip on or hold over the generator output wire; i.e. induction tool that will tell you if the generator is putting out any charging voltage. Works like an amp meter only it's via induction rather than a through the meter connection. Very cheap meter that should be available at any parts store. Gary....

[Rob M.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

Are you sure your battery is not fully charged now, when it is it doesn't need addition amps...

greetings,
Rob.

[David K.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

Yes, new Delco battery fresh of charger. With key on and not running, no load, the needle is straight up. When running but no load, it is a needle width into discharge. If lights of any sort are on, the discharge increases.

[Michael B.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

david, when I put new reg on my 60 I had to polarize it, before connecting generator, Michael

[David K.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

Did that also.

[Michael B.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

the only advice I can give you is to be careful I burnt up a wiring harness fooling with older reg,

[Terry D.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

Dave
You don't say how much it was charging when it was workig for that brief period. If the battery was fully charged it should only show on the plus side for a short time and not peg the needle to the right.
Take the generator to an old parts store, they will be able to test it and at least eliminate that part of the equation
Terry

[Dick G.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

David: Stop for a moment and call John Pirkle and be standing by your car. John restores generators, alternators, starters, regulators, relays, caps etc.. You can find his name in the archives. Good man. You said your car has sat for some time. The residual flux in your generator's field may be lost. How did you flash the field of your generator? If you are not sure how to do this call John or any automotive alt./gen. repair shop and they can tell you how to do this. Look for the old man. DG

[David K.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

I am headed to the car to just start over so I don't leave anything behind. When it was working (about 3 days ago) at intial start, it would show about 25amp.+ charge after the start and then drop to about a needle width into the plus side, with no load. Turn the lights on and there would be an immeditate 15amp draw and then soon to about a needle width into the + as the regulator did it's job.

I have a guy fairly close, that runs a gen. shop. I would think in this rural area where old tractors are still very common,I should find someone locally that can put a hand on this for me. I was praying to be driving it this holiday weekend. But, the local guys need a holiday also. Maybe some are working this morning.

I will let you know what I find to fix it.

[Mike E.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

Dave--
With a fully charged battery and no radio or lights on, you can drive that a SIGNIFICANT distance with no concerns about running out of juice. Drive it for a while during the day over the weekend, and put the charger on at night--you can still enjoy!

[Mike M.]

Re: It STILL hates me!

Hi Dave,
I also have a 62, I had problems with my charging system it would charge/not charge, I knew it was the regulator after testing so I purchased one at the local parts store but it did no solve the problem, a friend of mine told me to put a Delco regulator in their, I called a parts store that handled Delco parts and they told me the 62 regulator was by itself, when I installed it the problem was solved. I'm pretty sure the early generators are 30 amp & the 62 is 35 but I have no idea how this relates to the regulator.
The Delco # is D621
The GM # is 1119168
Hope this helps you out.