Post to the EFV-8 Forum
Post Classified Ads
Shop the Online Store

User Login

Not Registered Yet? Click Here to Sign Up!

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

FORUM RULES: Users agree to these Rules when using Forum.

The site administrator reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the user agreement without prior notice to the user. It is the responsibility of the user to regularly review the terms of this agreement.

The user agrees to the following terms:

All information that you provide to us for your membership is correct.
You will not use your membership to spam, harrass, or exploit other members in any way.
Vulgar, Abusive, Racist and Sexist Language will not be tolerated.
Commercial-type sales postings will not be allowed.
No mass posting or flooding of the boards is allowed.
No Advertising of parts or cars; no Ebay or business/commercial ads (please use the "Classified" for ads Wanted or For Sale).
VIEWING MULTIPLE TOPICS ON SCREEN: You can choose to see more than 10 Topics at a time ... Log In and choose "Preferences" from the top bar on the Forum page. Scroll down and Change the "Default Topics Returned" parameter to 25 or 50, and save the changes. Since this setting is stored in your browser 'cookies' (if enabled), it seems to use that stored value even if you are not logged in. So, if you use a PC that you haven't logged into the forum from, the setting still seem to remain at the default.
EXTERNAL PHOTO LINKS ON FORUM: You can still use external photo links in your posts on the new forum. They follow the rules of any link in that they have to have the URL link qualified down to the full image file name (example: .jpg). The links will open in a new browser window, the same as an uploaded image attached to a post. Since an image attachment to any post does not display inline with the post, the results are the same. You can use multiple external links within a post. This link is from photos on a site from Don Clink's 'Deuce@75' albums:

http://donclink.com/deuce_75_1/images/dscn2950.jpg

Using links from photo sites such as Photobucket can help in "size" issue with uploaded attachment files. For best viewing in web browsers, photos should be around the 800x600 pixel range, and probably not more than 1024x768. Most cameras today store HUGE jpg image files, as the default settings are in the 7, 8, 10, and 12Mb image sizes. The image files that are then attached are very large, and the browser can't display the full image size without using the scroll bars. Use the re-sizing functions of your photo editing software to reduce the image to 800x600, which reduces the file sixe and the image load time in the browser. Don uses Google's free Picassa3 software, which is an excellent photo management product. All of the photo albums of the Deuce, Grand National, and Auburn that are links on the NORG site were built using Picassa's web creation functions. And it's free? (THANKS to Don Clink for the info!)
HOW DO I SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS ALONG WITH MY USERNAME? You can LogIn on the Forum, and select PREFERENCES. On this page Members can add optional information such as their City,State, Country; Occupation; Hobbies: list a Homepage; list AOL Instant Messanger Handle; Signature; "Make Email Address viewable to others;" and even change the number of Default Topics shown on a page. WHEN others click on your profile, they will see this information.

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Charging on 1942 ford 6 volt

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion

<< previous || next >>

Posted By

Discussion Topic: Charging on 1942 ford 6 volt -- page: 1 2

Parkopup1218

12-16-2018 @ 1:33 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 20
Joined: Dec 2018

Hello. I am new to this site and look forward to all your experience. I have a 1942 ford business coupe -6 volt system that has a 1946 ford flathead v8. Symptoms of my car are it will not hold a charge. I have a new 6 volt bat,new volt regulator. The entire car is frame off resto with all new wiring. When I turn the lights on, they are very dim. Here is my question: Do I need to polarize the generator since I have installed the new batt and should this fix the charging or is there something else I am missing?Thanks!

12-16-2018 @ 1:46 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1247
Joined: Nov 2009

Is it that the ammeter does not show a charge when the engine is running? Does the ammeter show a discharge when the engine is not running? You should make sure that all ground connections are metal to metal contacts. - Remove any paint at ground connections. You might have a parasitic drain from a wiring error.

This message was edited by MG on 12-16-18 @ 1:48 PM

Parkopup1218

12-16-2018 @ 1:55 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 20
Joined: Dec 2018

Hello and thanks for responding. When running, it shows a small discharge. I was thinking about the wire connections also. That makes sense and off I go.

cliftford

12-16-2018 @ 8:34 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 845
Joined: Jan 2014

It sounds like a generator problem to me, but I would get a Chiltons or Motors manual for that era and go through the trouble shooting steps. You might also check previous posts on this subject.

CharlieStephens

12-16-2018 @ 11:19 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 877
Joined: Oct 2009

When someone says "it will not hold a charge" I think they mean it is fine when you park it at night and the battery is dead in the morning. Is this what you mean?

Charlie Stephens

ford38v8

12-16-2018 @ 11:43 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 2734
Joined: Oct 2009

New wiring and new regulator doesn't always cut it. Wires and cables have to be adequate for 6 volts, not off the shelf 12 volt wire. New regulators can be sourced from overseas, and some of those have proven inferior. As stated above, paint on a new restoration will insulate, so all electrical connections to firewall, engine, and frame must be bare metal/metal, and greased to assure oxidation doesn't occur. Wire bullet connectors can be loose also (solder them), and don't forget ground connections from headlite buckets. While you're at it, check the starter mount face which is the only ground connection the starter gets. You'd think the mount bolts are good enough ground, but not so.

If any of the above conditions are true of your car, the restorer took advantage of your inexperience in not stating up front that his expertise is not 6 volt Fords. All these things can take a few days to sort out, and are not expensive to do, but for your satisfaction, do it yourself, and please get back to us to tell how you did! Good luck and keep asking questions!

Alan

TomO

12-17-2018 @ 6:54 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 7243
Joined: Oct 2009

Do you have a voltmeter and know how to use it?

Do you have a 6 volt battery charger?

Does the battery go dead when the car is sitting?

You have a generator charging problem and it could be the voltage regulator, generator or wiring. The easiest way to determine what is wrong is to use a voltmeter to check things out.

Pleas answer my questions and I can then give you some suggestions on how to isolate the problem without replacing parts that are in good working order.

Tom

Parkopup1218

12-17-2018 @ 9:40 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 20
Joined: Dec 2018

Hi Tom. I do have an ammeter yet have not checked it yet. I have it on a trickle charger now which the takes little time to recharge but once I begin to start, the batt does not last long. It is new and I had it rechecked and the batt they say is good. I am keeping a charge on it as I have just gotten out of surgery and not able to pay attention to it until March or so.

In reading some of the great responses from everyone, I need to check the wiring to make certain all are clean and paint free.

This site is great and I am very appreciative for all the responses and experience.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

Parkopup1218

12-17-2018 @ 9:46 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 20
Joined: Dec 2018

Thanks Alan and I agree that doing the inspection and repairs myself is the only way to learn. I have picked up an original repair manual for the year of the car to help.

TomO

12-18-2018 @ 7:23 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 7243
Joined: Oct 2009

Here is a short list to get you started on determining what the problem is;

Disconnect the grounding cable from the battery and let the battery charge on the trickle charger for a few days.
Then :
Disconnect the charger,
Connect the ground cable,
Turn on the headlights for about 30 seconds,
Then check the voltage across the battery. The voltmeter should read about 6.5 volts if the battery is fully charged. If it is not fully charged, disconnect the ground cable and connect the charger for at least another 24 hours and repeat the test. If you cannot get the 6.5 volts, you either need a new battery or charger.

When you get the battery fully charged,
Connect you voltmeter across the battery and have an assistant press the starter button for 15 seconds with the ignition switch OFF, while you read the voltage. The meter should read above 5.5 volts while the engine is cranking and return to at least 6 volts when the engine is not cranking.
If the voltage drops below 5.0 volts when cranking and returns to above 6 volts, you have a problem with the starter drawing excessive current.

If your car passes the above test, leave the battery ground cable connected and the charger disconnected for a day. Then read the battery voltage again with the headlights on and the engine not running. The meter should read 5.8 volts or more. If it does not, you may have a short.

Post the results of the tests and I can give you further checks to make. If you have to wait fo March to make the tests, do a search for your user name and update this post.

Take care of your health and when you are ready, we will be here to help.

Happy holidays to you.

Tom

<< previous || next >>

PAGE: 1 2

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

Merchandise Questions

Membership Questions