Had to replace my altenator (shorted), but the voltage won't go above 12.5 running. The old altenator didn't have anything connected to its ground pin. I was wondering if it's possible for the ground to be conducted through the body of the altenator. The new one is painted, which would hinder electrical conductance.

I tried running ground to the ground (-) battery post with some 10 ga wire, but that didn't seem to help. The stator pin was and is hooked to the choke (near as i can tell)

Also, I asked for a 90+ amp altenator, and the guy at NAPA only had them with stator plugs in that size. Said they don't come that big for an 83 (no plug, just pins). Is that the truth, or is he just misleading me?

(the regulator and battery are new, as is the solenoid and starter)

 

The stator wire should go to the choke. One thing you can try doing is flashing the field. Hook a jumper wire from a 12v sorce and touch it to the field post on your alternator. If the alternater is new it should start charging by just revving the engine but in some cases, different applications, I have had to flash the field to get them to start charging.

Good luck,
Bruce

 

I can connect a 12V wire to the field and the engine idle will lower, but it will come back up again when the wire is removed. How long does it take to "charge" the altenator, and is this best done with the engine running or off?

I should also note I never had the field wire and the 12V wire connect to the field pin on the altenator at the same time

 

You should just have to touch it momentarily with the engine running. Did you check the voltage after you did this to see if it was charging normally? If it wasn't charging normally check the voltage with the jumper hooked up to the field pin while the engine is running and see what voltage you have. If this does not work take it to someone who can test it and see what voltage
it puts out on a test bech.

Good luck,
Bruce

 

It didn't appear to be working after I re-hooked up the field line. I'll check it with the 12V wire attached after I recharge the battery (ran outta enough juice to start).

I guess it's possible the voltage regulator, despite being new, is bad. I suppose I could apply 12V to the field line while it's connected by contacting it where the field line meets the voltage regulator, but i'm not sure if this will fry the regulator

 

Well,

I'm not sure. That usually does it for me. I would get the alt. tested if it doesn't charge with 12v to the field. I think it's free at some parts stores.

Good Luck,
Bruce

 

Problem solved. I fried the external voltage regulator. Morale of the story:

ALWAYS unplug the voltage regulator plug before unscrewing it, becaue that ungrounds it.