charging issue 56
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2024
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charging issue 56
I am at wits end! have a 56 manual transmission. Rebuilt engine and transmission. Dual quads. Have spent two years going through it. Starts great, runs great but just will not charge. Had generator rebuilt. Replaced voltage regulator and have polarized it. Battery reads about 12.46 v resting. When I turn it over the voltage hardly changes at all. Rev to 2000 rpm multimeter reads about 12.3 volts. have traced wires as best I can with no different results. I am looking for any advice. Where to next ? I have tried to follow wiring charts as best I can but admit it is not easy. Starter is new and solenoid is new. Dash lights a little dim but I assume because I am running straight off battery not charging. Could it be a bad battery? That is less than a year old also. Any advice appreciated. I am not a mechanic but know enough to be dangerous.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: East Central Florida
With engine running and voltmeter on A terminal to a good ground, momentarily Ground the F terminal while observing meter.
Make sure your light switch is OFF so you dont burn out your bulbs too.
It should read around 15+ volts.
If it does, likely the new VR is bad. I've had 2 brand new VR's fail once.
If not reading 15+v, still around 12.3, bad generator. Check to make sure brushes are released from their "lock" position and touching the armature copper contactors.
Also ensure the generator ground is a good connection, and the 1/4-28 bolt to ground it to the generator harness is not too long.
And verify your F + A generator harness wires are going to their proper terminals on the VR.
You can also "motor" the generator but you need to measure current draw for best process.
Release the drive belt. Disconnect harness to regulator. Connect Bat+ to A terminal via a Ammeter, ground to case. Then Ground F terminal and it should spin. Reading should be around 4 to 5 amps.
E. G. Here....
Rich
Make sure your light switch is OFF so you dont burn out your bulbs too.
It should read around 15+ volts.
If it does, likely the new VR is bad. I've had 2 brand new VR's fail once.
If not reading 15+v, still around 12.3, bad generator. Check to make sure brushes are released from their "lock" position and touching the armature copper contactors.
Also ensure the generator ground is a good connection, and the 1/4-28 bolt to ground it to the generator harness is not too long.
And verify your F + A generator harness wires are going to their proper terminals on the VR.
You can also "motor" the generator but you need to measure current draw for best process.
Release the drive belt. Disconnect harness to regulator. Connect Bat+ to A terminal via a Ammeter, ground to case. Then Ground F terminal and it should spin. Reading should be around 4 to 5 amps.
E. G. Here....
Rich
Last edited by rich5962; Jul 1, 2024 at 09:46 PM.
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I am at wits end! have a 56 manual transmission. Rebuilt engine and transmission. Dual quads. Have spent two years going through it. Starts great, runs great but just will not charge. Had generator rebuilt. Replaced voltage regulator and have polarized it. Battery reads about 12.46 v resting. When I turn it over the voltage hardly changes at all. Rev to 2000 rpm multimeter reads about 12.3 volts. have traced wires as best I can with no different results. I am looking for any advice. Where to next ? I have tried to follow wiring charts as best I can but admit it is not easy. Starter is new and solenoid is new. Dash lights a little dim but I assume because I am running straight off battery not charging. Could it be a bad battery? That is less than a year old also. Any advice appreciated. I am not a mechanic but know enough to be dangerous.
Disconnect the field wire from the regulator. With engine running at fast idle and your digital volt-ohm meter connected to the battery use a jumper wire to ground the field terminal of the generator to the generator case. If you get 15 + volts you have a functional generator and a problem regulator or the wiring between them.
Dan
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5th Gear
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I will be trying all these suggestions. Appreciated. Another question...Is the generator being connected to the engine via its bracket sufficient ground or should there be any additional grounding via strap etc.?
Le Mans Master
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From: Western Massachusetts
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Evidently I posted at the same time as the other fella, same advice.
Dan
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: East Central Florida
But... is your regulator grounded?
Correction. Thats for 58-62. On a 56/57 its in the engine harness, a blk or blk/white tracer wire, i forget.
Regardless, verify VR is a solid ground, and ensure that ground is connected to the VR metal base with a screw and lockwasher, not the insulated rubber mount screws.
Rich(the other fella....lol)
Last edited by rich5962; Jul 2, 2024 at 08:31 AM.
Le Mans Master
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From: Western Massachusetts
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Yes, brackets bolted should be fine, but a simple ohmeter or test light could verify that.
But... is your regulator grounded?Normally the generator harness is wrapped inside a shielded "ground" braid.
Correction. Thats for 58-62. On a 56/57 its in the engine harness, a blk or blk/white tracer wire, i forget.
Regardless, verify VR is a solid ground, and ensure that ground is connected to the VR metal base with a screw and lockwasher, not the insulated rubber mount screws.
Rich(the other fella....lol)
But... is your regulator grounded?
Correction. Thats for 58-62. On a 56/57 its in the engine harness, a blk or blk/white tracer wire, i forget.
Regardless, verify VR is a solid ground, and ensure that ground is connected to the VR metal base with a screw and lockwasher, not the insulated rubber mount screws.
Rich(the other fella....lol)
Dan
