Charging system blues

Hudsonrules
Hudsonrules Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
:confused:Here I go again. My '49 Super "6" is not charging according to the light on the dash. This has been going on for some time, the better part of a year. I do not drive the car much do have neglevted to stay with and fix the problem. I had the generator rebuilt at Renop Generator in Reno, Nevada. It is the third brush type and they adaprted brusehes to it as they could not find any. I put it on and following the Hudson repair manual, I flashed a jumper wire between the armature and battery connection on the startewr, still no charge. I then rwmoved the wire from the field and touchred the battery on the voltage regulator still no charge. I grounded the field on the generator and the light dtill stayed on. I do not understand the third brush as the book says it can be adjusted, I admit that I get lost there. Is it possible that I need a new regulator? I want to use the heater as the weather is turning cooler and also drive it after dark in a Christmas Parade. I have even thought of using an alternator either 6 volt or change everything to 12 volt/ Any ides or help will be apprecitatyed. Thanks in advance, Arnie in Nevada

Comments

  • EssexAdv
    EssexAdv Expert Adviser, Member
    Arnie, take the gen and the VR bakc to the shop. They can check them both out.
    Adjusting the 3rd brush increases/decreases the output of the gen. YOu want to set the output to about 25 amps (which is what the shop should have done. I
    Adjustong it is a simple matter of moving it in the correct direction with an ampmeter in series. Not a hard thing to do but if you set it too high the gen will overheat.
    You might want to check the wire going to the idiot light. If it is touching a hot wire under the dash the lamp will stay

    Good luck
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Without being there, it sounds like a bad voltage regulator. Thats assuming all the wiring is correct and in decent shape . Are you just running off the battery?
  • Hudsonrules
    Hudsonrules Senior Contributor
    :)Thanks guys, I am going to look for abad wire under the dash, I do run off the battery to the best of my knowledge. However the lights do not dim and the battery stays up for quite awhile. I seldomdrive the car after dark and if I do it is just a short distance. i do start the engine at least once a month even though I only put a couple hundred miles a year on the Hudson. I would like to drive it more often, but for now I just am not sure about the charging system. The voltage regulator that I put on a couple years ago was a new one. Every thing was working before I did a valve job last year and had taken alot of items off the engine prior to painting it. I really appreciate your sujjestions and will find the culprit. Thanks again, Arnie
  • duncan
    duncan Expert Adviser
    You painted the engine maybe you have a bad ground ? When we got our 54 Hornet there was a wire hooked to the generator that was also hooked to the side splash panel . Ground can be EVIL. duncan
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Check the ground wire especially after you painted the engine. also check the ground cable for corrosion. Corrosion can build under the insulation and cause problems also on braded cables.

    I had a ground cable looked fine when I cut the insulation back it was corroded inside, changed cable and fixed problem.

    Good Luck

    Wayne
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    All good advice above, except that Lew meant to say the GEN light will stay on if the wire to it from the VR touches ground, not a hot wire (the light gets power from the ignition switch, and the wire to the VR supplies the ground connection when the generator's not charging). One other check to make ... be sure the VR is well grounded to the fender panel or firewall, wherever it's mounted.
  • Hudsonrules
    Hudsonrules Senior Contributor
    :):)Yhanks again for all the help. I ran a jumper wire between the field on the generator and grounded the other end. The light went out. However the light stays out when the engine is running, but glows when the ignition is turned off. I disconnected the hot cable on the battery and it was hot, like pulling current. I am sure the VR is faulty, but will check all my grounds. Am I on the right track.? Where can I get a Vr quickly as I need to drive the car in aparade in less than two weeks. Arnie
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    NAPA / Echlin VR-25 is shown in the reference books for '48-'49.
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    Dave Kostansek is usually pretty good about getting stuff to you quickly assuming he still has a stock of them and you let him know you're a little in a hurry.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    I have the original VR off my 49 Super Six. It was working when the system was changed to 12 volts and an alternator. You are welcome to it..free.. If you are going to PF this week. I'll bring it along. otherwise I can ship it.
  • Hudsonrules
    Hudsonrules Senior Contributor
    :)Hi Super Dave, Thanks for the offer, slight problem though, I live out in Nevada. If you can saen the VR to me, I would be very happy to pay for shipping and give you something for it. I am pretty certain that the VR is at fault as the idiot light goes off with the engine running but glows when the ignition switch is turned off. Let me know where you live and I will send payment for the postage. Thanks, Arnie M.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    PM me with your mailing address and I'll get it out priority mail tomorow. Send the postage after you get it.... and it solves your problem.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Hudsonrules wrote:
    :)Hi Super Dave, Thanks for the offer, slight problem though, I live out in Nevada. If you can saen the VR to me, I would be very happy to pay for shipping and give you something for it. I am pretty certain that the VR is at fault as the idiot light goes off with the engine running but glows when the ignition switch is turned off. Let me know where you live and I will send payment for the postage. Thanks, Arnie M.



    You have some pretty basic wiring problems if the light glows with the ignition off. Voltage is supplied to the lamp by the ignition switch, and on your model the ground is supplied by the fourth terminal on the voltage regulator. You need to check where the voltage is coming from to make the light glow before you try and do anything else.

    Geoff.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    My Hash did that when the voltage regulator failed. I shut the engine off and the light came on. Started the car and the light went off and stayed off but would glow when the lights were on getting brighter with higher rpm's. I changed the regulator and cured the problem. I think the light stayed on because the regulator shorted out inside and stayed to ground. When I restarted it the points must have openned but the regulator was gone.



    Harry
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