Charge rate for "49 Custom 8

Posted by prentice672 On 2020/10/15 10:45:23

It seems like the generator on my '49 Custom 8 doesn't provide any charge when the lights are on at idle. I placed an ammeter in series with the car's ammeter and drove the car for while and noted the charge rate with and without the headlights on, at normal cruising speed and at idle. With no lights on and cruising at 55 mph in OD there's about a 4 to 4.5 amp charge rate (a little high, but the battery, although new, shows a specific gravity at the edge of "good" and "fair" on the hydrometer). If I put the headlights on then the charge rate goes to about 2 to 3 amps, but when I come to a stop sign at idle the ammeter shows a whopping discharge of 20 amps! That doesn't seem right. When I do the same test on my '50 Ford, with the lights on and at idle, the ammeter still showed a slight charge. I can't find anything in the 1950 Motor Manual in the voltage regulator section that addresses this. Anybody have any ideas as to what I can adjust, or do I just need a new regulator? Thanks.