Bad Voltage Regulator?

[Steves46]

When I started out for work this morning in my 55 F-100 (stock 6 volt system), everything was running great however as I approached the air base, there was a long line (as usual) for ID check so as I was creeping along for about 10-15 minutes, I started to notice my dash lights were getting very dim to include my headlight so I pulled the choke very slightly to increase RPMs which barely helped. I turned-off the headlights with just the parking lights and some of the lighting on my dash came back. When I finally parked and turned off the light, I let it run for a couple minutes (ran great) then shut it down, I tried re-starting.....nothing....low battery. Sure sounds like the voltage regulator. Good thing I'm parked on a slant so that I can push start!

 

[oldskool]

i would check for poor conections first ,clean battery terms,check and clean connections at regulator and generator, a loose fan belt,, for a quick check of the regulator ,hook up a jumper wire from the F terminal on the gererator to a ground start car if it charges then you have a bad regulator if not you should have the generator checked,you should have a volt meter to check voltage,when everthing is working properly you should be reading 7.2-7-5 volts at a fast idle. im sure others will chime in to offer more help..good luck..al

 

[ford1]

ok, heres where i get called and idiot, to find the problem fast, dis connect the ground cable while car is idling, if it dies it the generator, no juice getting into the system, if it keeps running its the regulator, juice getting into the system keeping motor running but not letting gen charge batt. you are going to get all kinds of answers as to what will happen if you do this, your engine will freeze up, your battery will explode, your generator will be fried, your wiring in the cat=r and it will burn down, none of these things will happen, for one reason you will only do it for a second, either engine will die, or keep running in which case you just put the cable back on the batt. its just a quick check to isolate which is bad, gen or reg, it doesnt tell you why either one isnt working tho

 

[jimvette59]

Check if the generator is putting out. Charge battery and check if it is holding a charge.
Battery must be in good shape or it will not hold the coil in to let the regulator charge. I have always started at the battery. Just my way of checking.