[Healeys] Fwd: Battery Not Charging Part 3

[Steven]

Hello Gents,

Well so far I'm surprised at the lack of responses to my dilemma. Has no 
one ever experienced this or something similar (see full history 
below)?  I was thinking that possibly if the field wire is grounding out 
inside the yoke of the generator, that might cause the generator to 
continue to send electricity to the battery.  The mechanics manual 
states to do an ohms check and it shouldn't be "much" below 6 ohms.  The 
resistance in my test leads is 1 ohm and the resistance on the generator 
is 5 ohms (one lead on the field terminal and one on a ground).  So that 
gives me a resistance of 4 ohms.  Is 2 ohms "much" below the recommended 
6 ohms?  The manual states that if the ohms are "much" below 6 ohms that 
the insulation around the field coils has broken down.  Does anyone know 
if I'm on the right track?  Please help a brother out.....

Thanks in advance,
Steve Meyer
61 3000 BN7


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Battery Not Charging Part 2
Date: 	Sat, 15 Feb 2014 15:08:34 -0700
From: 	Steven <stevesylvia2 at comcast.net>
To: 	healeys at autox.team.net



Update: I disassembled my generator again and noticed that my commutator 
grooves were pretty flush so I re-etched the grooves, sanded it 
smoothly, reassembled the generator and walla, my battery began 
receiving a charge.  Now the bad news.  The more I revved the engine, up 
to 3000 RPM, the higher my voltage was reading at the battery, up to 
18.5V!  So now my batter is overcharging.  I did some reading and 
watched Moss TV on the voltage regulator and noticed that the point 
would jump to the open position after start up but the battery continued 
to receive a charge so I tried adjusting the voltage regulator and 
nothing made a difference.  Moss TV says that the point is supposed to 
chatter (open and closing)  but it was just remaining open because my 
batter was receiving a continuous charge so I figured the regulator was 
bad.  So I ordered a new regulator from Moss, one that was adjusted, 
cleaned and tested.  I installed it and the same thing.  I double 
checked my wiring at the regulator and it's correct.  At idle the 
battery is receiving about 12.5V but when I begin revving it, it won't 
level off at around 14.3V like it should.  How can the battery continue 
to receive a charge with the contact point in the voltage regulator in 
the open position?  I'm completely stumped!

Steve Meyer
61 3000 BN7


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Battery Not Charging
Date: 	Sat, 01 Feb 2014 18:51:05 -0700
From: 	Steven <stevesylvia2 at comcast.net>
To: 	healeys at autox.team.net



Hi all you smarter than me gents.  I have a 1961 Austin Healey 3000
BN7.  About a year and a half ago I finished a full frame off
restoration and have been driving on and off ever since.  Last month I
discovered that my bushing in the generator had gone bad so I removed
the generator and replaced the bushing and reassembled it. I should
mention that the internal guts of the generator has never been touched
but I did replace the brushes about a year ago as well as a new voltage
regulator.  Of course all the wiring harnesses are new as well.  Now
then, before I disassembled the generator to replace the bushing the
battery was receiving a charge just fine but since I worked on the
generator.....no more charging.  I thought maybe the brushes didn't seat
so today I took it back apart and made absolutely sure the brushes were
in contact.  I don't know much about electricity so I had to watch
videos on how to check to see if the generator is working.  From what I
read and watched, I performed a polarization test on the generator with
the belt removed and the pulley wheel began to turn so that seems to
check out, but for some reason I cant get a reading at my generator
because the number start jumping all over the place as soon as I get the
volt meter prods even remotely close the the back of the generator so I
check at the battery.  With the engine off the battery reads 12.5.
After I start the car and turn on electrical accessories, it dips to
about 12.27 and even if I rev the engine for a little bit, the volts
won't jump up in the mid 13's.  I tried checking the voltage regulator
using Moss Motors video by running a jumper from the hot on my battery
to one of the terminals on the voltage regulator that goes to the
generator but it kept arching so I stopped.  Oh, and my ignition light
is also on confirming no charging is taking place.  Any ideas before I
have to go to my local mechanic?

Steve Meyer,
61 3000 BN7