If I start with a fully charged battery about 6.3 and then start the car and run it at idle for about 15 minutes..the battery will drain down to around 6 and unable to start the car again..the battery seems to be draining when it’s running…it was suggested that i may have a bad solenoid at starter…it was stated that I should not be getting voltage at starter while the key is off…I am getting full battery voltage where battery cable is nutted to starter..but I thought power at the starter from battery is normal but I really have no idea…the battery is new…

Set at volts so I guess I’m good with that….I guess I’ll try a new solenoid to starter?

Ok I already did the spark test and just tiny spark with some light…I just competed tests for drain and one volt meter game me a reading of 0.29 volts…my other voltmeter read it at 0.45… I then tried just the battery with both voltmeters and they were consistent so I don’t know why they are different running the. In series with a cable off… o did similar test with test light in series and the light only came on when I turned on something….but again i am getting fully voltage at starter and yes it’s the ground side of battery…it’s getting confusing…..where do I go from here..?

The ground side of the battery has 00 gauge cable routes directly to starter. When I test the voltage where cable is nutted to starter I’m getting full battery power 6.2 volts ….when I ground it to body and key is off…nothing to the selenoid…the starter shares the wire to power the horn and 10 gauge to ammeter..per original wiring diagram. So there should not be power going to the starter ?? That would explain a lot but how could it not have power when nothing in between the battery and starter?tks

So yes with key off ..starter getting full juice

No drain on battery overnight..i noticed that when trying to start it after battery was drained again I heard a spark at the starter..maybe selenoid…this starter was rebuilt last year but used on the 12 volt system…I’m think maybe the starter is causing the battery to drain..could that be possible? If there is a drain on battery it is happening after I start it for sure.

Battery is a month old

Went out and did short test using test bulb in between the battery cable and battery. the light did illuminate but then goes off when pressing in the dome light button in door jamb so according to that particular test no short is observed..I have no idea of the validity of the test but read it on line to find a short innolder vehicle…try again tomorrow

Ok thank you I just got home and will start trying to see what’s draining g the battery..the battery is new…I thought it may be the generator as the voltage only goes up one volt when grounding the field..I read it should jump higher than that….I pulled the fuse on the clock awhile ago but it is still wired …it blew a fuse when I originally wired it and the wire to it was taped off prior so it clearly had a short…I thought I should be good by pulling the fuse..I’ll check again.. what exactly is a short? Like bare wire somewhere making contact with something… and yes the longer it idles the more it drains battery

Ok did it again..battery is drained again but standing battery 6.11 when turn key over 6.05

Ok tks…I got a new regulator and still having charge issues..I’m wondering now if the car has a serious battery drain somewhere when key is on and maybe always did but I never noticed as I didn’t ever drive it to far and it was converted to 12 volts…it also has a 6 volt fuel pump mounted at tank wires to ignition switch…I bring this up as every time I recharge the battery for testing the batt cable with spark mounting it…I read here that could be a sign …? Getting same readings with new regulator …

Did tests this am..charged battery to 6.35 volts when I attached battery cable the voltage dropped to 6.2 volts with the driver side door open and dome light on. When I turn key on but don’t start it drops to 6.0 volts….that is with mechanical fuel pump on with key on..it will then start but not strong….did field terminal test at fast idle..and it jumps up approximately 1 volt …no matter the idle speed. At regular idle the battery is reading a constant 6.0 volts…..when I rev it up it will get to 6.6… then when turning car off the voltage will return to about 6.2 at battery….these are probably most accurate tests as this has been quite the learning experience for me…if anyone has any further advice it would be appreciated..I’m thinking my step be would take the generator to an arm shop and have them test the output as the regulator is new…?