mistamick
Junior Member
This is a follow up to an earlier question I had, which was............
I have a '36 pickup with a '53 flathead engine and a perplexing problem. When I purchased the truck, it had not been run for a while and needed many items replaced. One of the first things noticed was the fact that it was not charging the battery. I replaced the battery, battery cables and voltage regulator. The generator was putting out voltage and not replaced.
The system is a 6 volt negative ground but the voltage regulator I purchased was stamped as a 6 volt positive ground but I was assured by the parts dealer that it didn't make any difference and would be OK once it was polarized. Everything worked well for a time but in a few weeks, it ceased charging or would charge only when the engine was raced at high RPM's. I took it to a mechanic who adjusted the regulator and got it to charge properly.
It worked well for the 15 mile ride home but the next time it was started it reverted back to charging only when raced. The mechanic has suggested replacing the battery but it doesn't make sense to me, as the battery is only about a year old.
I have since replaced the voltage regulator with a new one of the same type but still no luck. At my wits end and frustrated as to why it charges for a time and then quits.
Does anyone know if using a positive ground regulator on a negative ground system could be the problem? Could the generator be at fault?
Any thoughts or suggestions are most welcomed.
First of all, thanks to those who have replied and offered suggestions.
Since then I have determined that the generator is putting out almost 8 volts. I charged the battery with a charger and it held the charge. However, when I drive the truck the ammeter still does not show plus reading and eventually the battery discharges. I am thinking that perhaps the problem is the regulator being a 6 volt positive ground one while the system in negative gorunded.
I am contemplating switchimg the system to a positive ground one. I will switch the coil wires and battery cables and ammeter wires around to do this. Does anything else have to be done?
I am at my wits end trying to fix this problem which has persisted on and off for about a year.
I have a '36 pickup with a '53 flathead engine and a perplexing problem. When I purchased the truck, it had not been run for a while and needed many items replaced. One of the first things noticed was the fact that it was not charging the battery. I replaced the battery, battery cables and voltage regulator. The generator was putting out voltage and not replaced.
The system is a 6 volt negative ground but the voltage regulator I purchased was stamped as a 6 volt positive ground but I was assured by the parts dealer that it didn't make any difference and would be OK once it was polarized. Everything worked well for a time but in a few weeks, it ceased charging or would charge only when the engine was raced at high RPM's. I took it to a mechanic who adjusted the regulator and got it to charge properly.
It worked well for the 15 mile ride home but the next time it was started it reverted back to charging only when raced. The mechanic has suggested replacing the battery but it doesn't make sense to me, as the battery is only about a year old.
I have since replaced the voltage regulator with a new one of the same type but still no luck. At my wits end and frustrated as to why it charges for a time and then quits.
Does anyone know if using a positive ground regulator on a negative ground system could be the problem? Could the generator be at fault?
Any thoughts or suggestions are most welcomed.
First of all, thanks to those who have replied and offered suggestions.
Since then I have determined that the generator is putting out almost 8 volts. I charged the battery with a charger and it held the charge. However, when I drive the truck the ammeter still does not show plus reading and eventually the battery discharges. I am thinking that perhaps the problem is the regulator being a 6 volt positive ground one while the system in negative gorunded.
I am contemplating switchimg the system to a positive ground one. I will switch the coil wires and battery cables and ammeter wires around to do this. Does anything else have to be done?
I am at my wits end trying to fix this problem which has persisted on and off for about a year.