I figured out I just needed to bend them around to get the proper tension.... Put back in the car, works like a champ. Around 6.5 at idle, good 7.2ish at 1000rpm+. So for those of you with aftermarket rugulators, some of 'em need to be bent to adjust properly. There you have it Now I can breath easy while night driving.

I posted a little bit in my generator polarity thread, but I figured for the convenience of others searching for this info a separate thread would be better.

Anyways, here's my problem. I got a new voltage regulator from my local parts store. Its a BWD 1115. I installed the first one and it didn't work at all, so I traded it in for a different one, installed it, still no go. So I figured it needed to be adjusted. This is where my problem developed. When adjusted to the manual specs (which give specs for air gap between the coil winding and the armature the the voltage and current regulators, not the point gap??) it just looks wrong. The air gap for the voltage control, the far right coil when the terminals are facing you (as per the photo in the manual) I adjusted to .075" between the armature and winding core. With this setting the point gad is HUGE! So big, in fact, that the spring can even hold it closed. So what do I do here? What should I set all the gaps to??? The instruction sheet that came with the regulator only outline polarizing the system, and mention nothing about adjustments.

Why lay rubber in any car?? Because its fun! I know our cars are a thing of luxury and class, but don't forget about Packard race cars in the '50s. Circle tracks, drag strips, even the Mexican Road Race... Packard was there! Everybody enjoys a good tire fry from time to time. Even my grandma put a smile on when her foot got a little heavy the last time it rained! But then again, I'm hot rodder at heart...

tinpan- pics please!!!! I'd love to see that!!!

I just watched that episode and about fell out of my chair!! Partly because they just left us hanging, but mostly because of the Packard. I wonder if Don is gonna come clean to everybody??????

I saw a video on YouTube tonight of a '48 doing a pretty decent burnout, apparently at a hill climb event. I was just curious, how many of you can break 'em loose in your Packards? I've tried to no avail in my '53 when I was in high school... Wouldn't even happen in freshly paved parking lot in a rainstorm. Maybe she needs another go now that its running tip-top?

I haven't read most of this discussion yet, but the axle in the above pic of the Packard looks like a Model A Ford piece to me... I don't have a pic to post for comparison, but I'm looking at the axle for my '28/'29 Tudor right now. At the very least, a dead give away is the boss for the spring perch. I don't know what a Packard axle would look like but I would imagine it has spring pads cast/forged into it.

Oz, thats really interesting that the axle you posted as parallel springs.. I can't really tell from the pic, is it for sure a Ford axle?

I noticed a slight difference, maybe .2 volts higher when i manually close the cut out. Would taking voltage at the Bat. terminal of the regulator be accurate as well? I'm thinking maybe the wire to the starter solenoid is corroded inside or something. Either way, I'll be running all new wires for the whole charging system...

Thanks for the diagram! I also found that because of my new cooper plug wires, my digital meter goes crazy when its too close to them. I made up some extra long leads so the meter can be well away from the engine compartment and it gives far more accurate readings now.

Today I tested the gen to be sure its putting out voltage. With the wires to the regulator removed, I grounded the field terminal to the case, and tested for voltage at the arm terminal. This gen is capable of producing well over 20volts (my meter went blank in the 20v range). Is this normal for a 6 volt gen? I also observed the regulator with the cover off will running the engine (wires all hooked back up) and there is no movement at any engine speed. I think It's safe to say its the VR that is the culprit. Is there anything that can be done to repair them beyond polishing the contacts? I ask because my neighbor restores vintage RC boats and repairs the old servos and what not, but I don't want to bug him if its a lost cause.. I know that's a pretty far stretch, but you never now if you don't ask..

I also am pretty sure the whine from the gen. is just the bearings. It makes the same noise even when the wires are all disconnected. I'll see if a good squirt of oil I'm the service port helps with that.

So I put my system back to positive (+) ground. Still no go, but now my gen. makes a whirring sound like a supercharger when the engine is running, and still no output. None of the points in the regulator move at all, so I know it must be fried, but when I ground the field terminal I still get no charge... I polarized it by jumping the battery negative (-) to Arm. terminal on the gen. I tested continuity of the wiring to verify thats not the problem, and here's what I found: Field terminal has continuity with field, arm, and ground. This seems wrong, is this caused by the voltage regulator not functioning?

I'm unfamiliar with AER, do you have contact info?

I found a couple regulators for sale for decent prices, might just go back to pos. ground. The wires on the coil need to be flipped, correct? Coil (+) to dist., coil (-) to hot?