Evan Lewis
Member
I posted the below plea back about middle of August and want to update the Ford Barn about what has taken place: Sorry for this too lengthy post.
First let me say I apprediate all who responded with their suggestions! I did all the tests suggested, but could not get the ammeter to show a charge. I called the owner of Fun Projects and he was kind enough to talk with me late on a Friday afternoon even though his wife was waiting on him, he was most helpful. Don Turley spent a generous amount of time on the telephone with me too! One of Don's suggestions was to borrow a known good generator and cut-out and try it. I also took my generator with the cut-out to a generator/starter rebuilder here and he confirmed the generator and cut-out as working. Still no charge showing on my ammeter.
Last Thursday, my local Model "A" mentor, Wiley Higgins (I prefer to think of him as a Model "A" Master), came to my house with an extra generator and cut-out he has and we put it on my "A", I started the car and the ammeter showed charging: That proved the ammeter good as well as Wiley's genreator and cut-out as good! We then put my generator back on with Wiley's cut-out and the ammeter worked, thus proving my generator as good and my EVR/cut-out seemingly bad. Wiley loaned me his cut-out until I could get one. I was back on the road, thanks to Wiley!
Saturday afternoon I decided to put my EVR/cut-out back on my generator just to see what would happen. Sure enough, the ammeter showed a charge, my EVR/cut-out was working! I can't explain it and still do not know what was wrong. I guess by taking generators on and off and swapping cut-outs back and forth, the problem was inadvertantly fixed. Or maybe it was simply a matter of 'The Master's Touch'! Wiley had worked his magic again as he has so often for me and so many other Model "A" folks. Thanks Wiley! And thanks to all who offered their suggestions and their help!
Evan Lewis
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I sure need your help, Fordbarners! I noticed on Mon. that my amp meter was not showing a charge, just discharge. Following is what took place before this:
Last Thurs. afternoon late, I was driving my A and had the head-lights on when I noticed that the amp meter was moving erratically! I turned my lights off immediately and headed for home. Oh, and another thing, my horn would not work right. Instead of Ahoooga, it would only go "gaaaaaaaa"?
Sat. afternoon I worked on it and found that the wires that are supposed to be attached to the output terminal on the cut-out (Wiring harness wires and the wire from the terminal box.) were so loose they were about to come off because the screw holding them to the output tab on the EVR/cut-out had become loose and would not tighten up.
I then noticed the head-lights nor the cowl-lights were working. With a test light I determined there was juice to both high and low beams on both head-lights and both cowl-lights. I looked at the bulbs and the filaments appeared O.K., but I tried a new bulb in one of the head-lights any way, and both high & low beams then worked. Then the other head-light and then both cowl-lights and all the lights worked fine. Even though the bulbs looked O.K., they must have been burned out. The tail-lights were and still are O.K., they have the LED inserts in them. The horn is now working normally too.
I was 'messin' with the car today and noticed that the amp meter is not indicating any charge when the engine is running, but does indicate a discharge when the lights are on, the horn button is pushed and when the key to the ignition switch is turned on. But there is absolutely no charge indicated on the amp meter when the engine is running.
My question is: Would the loose wires on the cut-out tab have effectively made the circuit operate without the cut-out and blown the bulbs? Ruined the generator? Ruined the EVR/Cut-out?
Tomorrow I plan to do some testing on the components (Generator, amp meter & EVR/cut-out) per the books I have. I have had an EVR/Cut-out on it instead of a regular cut out for about 5 years and it has worked great since I put it on.
Any ideas or input would be greatly appreciated!
First let me say I apprediate all who responded with their suggestions! I did all the tests suggested, but could not get the ammeter to show a charge. I called the owner of Fun Projects and he was kind enough to talk with me late on a Friday afternoon even though his wife was waiting on him, he was most helpful. Don Turley spent a generous amount of time on the telephone with me too! One of Don's suggestions was to borrow a known good generator and cut-out and try it. I also took my generator with the cut-out to a generator/starter rebuilder here and he confirmed the generator and cut-out as working. Still no charge showing on my ammeter.
Last Thursday, my local Model "A" mentor, Wiley Higgins (I prefer to think of him as a Model "A" Master), came to my house with an extra generator and cut-out he has and we put it on my "A", I started the car and the ammeter showed charging: That proved the ammeter good as well as Wiley's genreator and cut-out as good! We then put my generator back on with Wiley's cut-out and the ammeter worked, thus proving my generator as good and my EVR/cut-out seemingly bad. Wiley loaned me his cut-out until I could get one. I was back on the road, thanks to Wiley!
Saturday afternoon I decided to put my EVR/cut-out back on my generator just to see what would happen. Sure enough, the ammeter showed a charge, my EVR/cut-out was working! I can't explain it and still do not know what was wrong. I guess by taking generators on and off and swapping cut-outs back and forth, the problem was inadvertantly fixed. Or maybe it was simply a matter of 'The Master's Touch'! Wiley had worked his magic again as he has so often for me and so many other Model "A" folks. Thanks Wiley! And thanks to all who offered their suggestions and their help!
Evan Lewis
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I sure need your help, Fordbarners! I noticed on Mon. that my amp meter was not showing a charge, just discharge. Following is what took place before this:
Last Thurs. afternoon late, I was driving my A and had the head-lights on when I noticed that the amp meter was moving erratically! I turned my lights off immediately and headed for home. Oh, and another thing, my horn would not work right. Instead of Ahoooga, it would only go "gaaaaaaaa"?
Sat. afternoon I worked on it and found that the wires that are supposed to be attached to the output terminal on the cut-out (Wiring harness wires and the wire from the terminal box.) were so loose they were about to come off because the screw holding them to the output tab on the EVR/cut-out had become loose and would not tighten up.
I then noticed the head-lights nor the cowl-lights were working. With a test light I determined there was juice to both high and low beams on both head-lights and both cowl-lights. I looked at the bulbs and the filaments appeared O.K., but I tried a new bulb in one of the head-lights any way, and both high & low beams then worked. Then the other head-light and then both cowl-lights and all the lights worked fine. Even though the bulbs looked O.K., they must have been burned out. The tail-lights were and still are O.K., they have the LED inserts in them. The horn is now working normally too.
I was 'messin' with the car today and noticed that the amp meter is not indicating any charge when the engine is running, but does indicate a discharge when the lights are on, the horn button is pushed and when the key to the ignition switch is turned on. But there is absolutely no charge indicated on the amp meter when the engine is running.
My question is: Would the loose wires on the cut-out tab have effectively made the circuit operate without the cut-out and blown the bulbs? Ruined the generator? Ruined the EVR/Cut-out?
Tomorrow I plan to do some testing on the components (Generator, amp meter & EVR/cut-out) per the books I have. I have had an EVR/Cut-out on it instead of a regular cut out for about 5 years and it has worked great since I put it on.
Any ideas or input would be greatly appreciated!
