[Healeys] Electrics

[josef-eckert at t-online.de]

Hello Mike,
I presume the points sticked together, causing the generater to produce a 
high output voltage at the generastor D-Terminal, which resulted in an 
extremely high current which welded the points together. The generator got 
extremely hot (had to gave much more power than it was designed for) and 
the bar broke out.
Simple, but that´s to my opinion what happened.
 
Josef Eckert
Germany
 
 
 
-----Original-Nachricht-----
Betreff: [Healeys] Electrics
Datum: 2022-11-27T02:52:14+0100
Von: "Mike Sinclair" <phoenix722 at comcast.net>
An: "Healey List" <healeys at autox.team.net>
 
 
 
Need some enlightenment.  Awhile back, the car (BJ8) was running fine, but 
I noticed the little red light that says the battery isn't being charged 
was on.  (I do keep the battery on a Battery Minder" when not in use.)  
Chased the system down, and discovered the generator was putting out zero 
volts.  Adjusted the fan belt, no change.  On closer inspection, the rotor 
was damaged (a bar was actually missing).  Had the unit rebuilt, and it is 
working fine, but still had the little red light wouldn't go out.  Checked 
all the connections, continuity, voltage regulator, couldn't find any thing 
out of the ordinary.  Finally, upon closer inspection of the regulator with 
a mirror, found the contacts on one of the coils were welded together, and 
the leaf spring holding that contact was completely severed.  According to 
the manual, this is the "cutoff coil".  New regulator solved the problem.
Now the questions.
1. What could cause the rotor to be damaged?
2. What could cause the points to weld together?
3. Which likely failed first?  Did one cause the other?
4. I'm guessing the points stuck together first, and caused the leaf spring 
to break, so first the points were always "closed", and then always "open".
5. Would any of this cause damage to anything else, e.g., the battery?
Again, everything seems normal, now.  Battery holds charge well.
Mike

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