MTFCA Forum

I've been working on my T lately, getting it ready to make a longish trip to a friends house. When I started it this afternoon to take it for short test drive after readjusting the brakes and resetting the timing a bit. Starts fine, but the generator is showing about 8 amps of charge, not really a problem, but perhaps a bit more than needed, anyhoo, whilst driving about, everything seemed normal, even the ammeter went down to normal. Get home, drive into the garage, turn the key off and bloody ammeter is showing a 15 amp discharge. I immediately suspect the bloody cutout, so I tear up the hood and feel the cutout thinking it to be hot, but it is cool, even the generator is cool to the touch, but the meter is still showing discharge, I test the lights, they're working run round the car to make sure none of my tail and or brake lights are on (they weren't), then I disconnect the cutout and of course the ammeter returns to 0.

Next I start checking my wiring, everything for the switch to the block on the firewall, nothing seems amiss, so I ask you folks, have I missed something? What else should I check? I know I need to readjust the generator, I think the charge rate is a bit too high, but other than that what else have I not done...I'm stumped.

Evidence points to stuck cut-out points. The discharge was the battery trying to "motor" the generator. It will take much longer than you gave it to heat up the cut-out or generator, though it would have eventually killed the battery.

Yeah, I kind of hoping it wasn't that. Do you think that the high rate of charge may have fused the points?

Probably not

In any event, they were likely pitted and welded shut by only the very smallest area and should be able to be "popped" apart. Best bet is to purchase a Voltage Regulator and follow instructions to set output...yours is high if your meter is anywhere near correct. In the absence of finding a VR these days, a diode cut out will likely solve your problem.

A quick check with an OHM meter will show if the points are still stuck...will read continuity from post to post on the cutout. They can be filed, but you might knock it out of adjustment if you bend anything inside, though if you're careful you should be able to do it. This is no substitute for a fresh product, though.