C2 - Does not charge when hot

[Joel T.]

Hi all;

I just got the 1965 back from restoration work.... Runs great but with one problem. When I start the car cold, the system will charge, including at idle. When the engine gets hot, after a few miles of driving, the system will discharge at idle... I need to run it up to like 1500-2000 RPM to get the ammeter to swing back into positive (or neutral) territory.

Can't be many things... basically everything under the hood had been rebuilt... alternator and regulator by John Pirkle... I'm thinking an alternator problem... almost like one of the diodes cuts out under heat.

Anybody familiar with something like this??

Thanks!!

Joel

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 - Does not charge when hot

Joel,

That sounds like the voltage regulator to me. When they get hot the voltage the regulator causes the alternator to reduce the voltage output.
There is a voltage adjustment on the regulator, see your shop manual.

[Gary C.]

Re: C2 - Does not charge when hot

Joel, sounds simple, but have you checked the belt tension? JMTCW, Gary....