Ford Wiring Dilemma

You should have three wires to the output side of the cutout. Horn , light switch, and
terminal box. Which one is blowing the fuse, the light switch or terminal box?
If the terminal box some of the reproduction boxes let the screws that the wires
connect to short out to the firewall on the back of the box.
 
Get a circuit breaker to replace the fuse. After finding the problem, repair or replace to eliminate it, then throw the fuse in your spare parts and continue to operate with the circuit breaker. I use a 30 Amp, but some reccoment 20 amp. Your choice.
 
[QUOTE A light may not find a short easily. It will tell a person that there is power coming through a wire or not but it could still blow fuses till you find the bad wire. It isn't very helpful on cross shorted wires either. ][/QUOTE]


It has been a very helpful tool for me for many years. A light placed in place of the fuse with alligator clips just tells you if there is current flowing. I find it a big help that you can see when it goes out from anywhere near the front of the car. Also with longer jumper wires it can be placed where it can be seen from under the car or even from the rear. :)
TOB
 
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Well, you are getting closer to solving the puzzle. You now know that the wire to the terminal is causing the short. As Bob said the screws may be shorting out. If you have the original style armored cable to the distributor that can be shorting out the terminal screws too. There is a grommet that goes on the cable where it enters the terminal box to prevent the short. Carefully examine the terminal box. Disconnect the wires going to the ammeter to see if the ammeter has an internal short. Disconnect the wire going to the ignition switch to see if there is a short there. Continue with this line of investigation. Use your ohm meter to see if the terminal screws are shorting out to the firewall.
 
I got my electrical issue resolved thanks to Doug & Jerome from the Dallas Model A Club. They discovered that there was an insulator missing on the cutout connection. With that solved they were also able to get the car started for the 1st time. These guys are awesome!
 
Glad you got it fixed. Enjoy your car. There is noting like some experienced help.

I am a little confused by term "cutout connection." What is that?

OK, I got it. The generator cutout. I was thinking something in the junction box or instrument panel.
 
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That's exactly why I suggested pulling the wire of the cutout and seeing what happens.What you had is something I have seen a lot of.People get to fooling around with the connection,drop a fiber washer,or twist the screw too tight so something turns and grounds out.I've seen little steel washers put there from owners not getting the insulating thing needed there.I've seen the little nylon insulating block in the repros spun around from overtightening.
 
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With electrical issues, it usually seems that the most basic of issues can really lead down many different rabbit holes.
 
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