Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan

Posted by Joe Santana On 2020/10/20 6:55:49

I'm posting to the wind, but at least there's a record.

I reconnected the batteries. They appear to be charged to 7.2V but the light on the charger is still Red instead of changing to Green to indicate fully charged.

I made a jumper wire and connected it to the FLD terminal on the voltage regulator and to a grounding stud on the cowl. The ammeter did not show a discharge after starting and showed strong positive flow when I rev'd it. This indicates that the generator is working and the VR is suspect.

I had emailed John Ulrich who rebuilt the generator in 2018 and he thought 5,000 mi and 2 years is too soon for the generator brushes to need changing. The test suggests that, too. When I find some brushes for the GEA-4802-A generator, I'll get them for the future.

So now it looks like the Brillman VR is the problem. I will contact them today to find out what I can do to test it.

For years I just bought my 6V VR from Napa. I think it's spec'd for a Willys Jeep. But last year I sprang for a Brillman made to Packard specs and which cost about 3 times the price of the Napa version. So this VR is a year old. On close inspection of the two VRs, the way are positioned on the body, though the numbers are different, suggest both Vyou have any ideasRs are made by the same manufacturer. We will see. I left my spare parts in Oregon. I didn't take the VR I retired because I ASSUMED the Brillman would last me a while.

If you have any ideas on what else I could check or other advice, or opinion about the Optimas, anything, to explain constant charging during an hour's drive on the freeway, please Reply. Thanks.