Found a short, here is what it was...

[Great Lakes Greg]

My car stopped running three times this morning, each time blowing the fuse. After extensive wiggling, probing and checking, I found my metal conduit tube shorting against a flag terminal end in the junction box. I have heard of this before, just never experienced it. I thought I would pass it along in the event a mysterious short happens with your own car.

 

[Badpuppy]

Must be missing the conduit grommet, same one as the battery cable clamp grommet.

 

[Jim/GA]

Must be missing the conduit grommet, same one as the battery cable clamp grommet.

No, he's talking about the metal pipe that runs from terminal box to generator, along firewall and side of engine. If pushed too far in, it will short out. No grommet there. (Grommet on ignition cable.)

 

[midgetracer]

Not one of Henry's best ideas. i had the same problem and nearly burned up a fresh restoration.

 

[Growley bear]

The Ford service bulletins page 423--Feb. 1930 state: New Terminal Block To
Generator Conduit. The metal sometimes cracked or broke. So to eliminate that condition the metal was changed to a pliable black lacquered loom.
No mention of electrical short circuits occurring but one has to wonder.

 

[GPierce]

My Brattons wiring harness came with that pliable black loom from the junction box to the generator.

 

[Badpuppy]

Forgot the early ones were metal. (Now I get it.) I would wrap the end with friction tape to insulate it, if you want to keep it strictly original. (They had friction tape back then.)

 

[chap52]

Forgot the early ones were metal. (Now I get it.) I would wrap the end with friction tape to insulate it, if you want to keep it strictly original. (They had friction tape back then.)

Yeah but it was the cloth type, not the plastic stuff you get today.

 

[SeaSlugs]

Yeah but it was the cloth type, not the plastic stuff you get today.

They sell cloth friction tape - check in sporting goods stores - usually to wrap basebal bat handles, hockey stick handles, etc. Grippy and sticky as hell I have a roll that is rather useful to have around.

 

[FRANK PKNY]

HOME DEPOT CARRIES IT IN THE ELECTRICAL SECTION. I use it a lot on old style electrical wiring. Good stuff.

 

[ericr]

it is such a tight fit within that box, I wish it had been made slightly wider.

 

[Bob Bidonde]

Paint the end of the conduit with a few coats of POR-15, and it will not short again even if it touches the terminal stud.

 

[Badpuppy]

Yeah but it was the cloth type, not the plastic stuff you get today.

Got a roll at WalMart last month, buck and a half or so.