1981 F250 Start up!
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1981 F250 Start up!
So I finally got the truck to start !!! I had to get fuel to the pump but after that she sounds pretty good ! Id say it idles kinda high but other than that its GREAT! So now on to the not goods ha...
Like I said before the truck starts fine but , thats with the battery charger on, After that it'll run no problem. Soon as I take the charger off the truck wont start until the charger is back on. All it does is try to turn over but then clicks. Its a new alternator, red top battery and reused starter. So im not sure. Maybe i wired the alternator wrong, so if anyone knows the correct wiring please let me know. That leaves the starter and alternator. I am going to have the alternator tested and battery today, but does anyone have any other input ??
-1981 f250 custom 4x4
-351m converted to 400 and bored .040 over
Like I said before the truck starts fine but , thats with the battery charger on, After that it'll run no problem. Soon as I take the charger off the truck wont start until the charger is back on. All it does is try to turn over but then clicks. Its a new alternator, red top battery and reused starter. So im not sure. Maybe i wired the alternator wrong, so if anyone knows the correct wiring please let me know. That leaves the starter and alternator. I am going to have the alternator tested and battery today, but does anyone have any other input ??
-1981 f250 custom 4x4
-351m converted to 400 and bored .040 over
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From: Orlando area
My guess is that you ran the battery down trying to start her, and you have not had it running long enough to charge back up. Did you notice if the Amp gauge was showing charge while running?
If you put the charger on slow charge all night, that should be enough time to get a full battery charge. And the battery should be fully charged before load-testing battery or testing charging system.
Are you running the stock 1G alternator with regulator on the fender? If so check that the regulator is well grounded to the fender. Some like to run an extra ground wire to regulator mounting bolt.
If you put the charger on slow charge all night, that should be enough time to get a full battery charge. And the battery should be fully charged before load-testing battery or testing charging system.
Are you running the stock 1G alternator with regulator on the fender? If so check that the regulator is well grounded to the fender. Some like to run an extra ground wire to regulator mounting bolt.
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Alright so i got a new battery. Truck fired up perfect!
Drove it about a half mile down the road turned it off for about 10-15 min and it almost didnt start ! So that leaves the alternator . Right ?
Drove it about a half mile down the road turned it off for about 10-15 min and it almost didnt start ! So that leaves the alternator . Right ?
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From: Angier, NC
If you want to say that with out testing then go ahead.
With it running at idle take a voltage reading at the batt. and tell us what you have.
Did you run a ground wire from regulator to fender or better the batt.?
Dave ----
With it running at idle take a voltage reading at the batt. and tell us what you have.
Did you run a ground wire from regulator to fender or better the batt.?
Dave ----
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I keep seeing people say something aboit an external regulator. What exactly is that ? I only have 3 wires for the alternator. An orange, yellow/black and a solid thick black one. Can someone please explain where these go
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From: Angier, NC
Ok you should have a box on the fender well or fender
Here is a picture of the box and wiring removed to do a G3 upgrade
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...1&d=1476664469
Here is a picture of the box and wiring removed to do a G3 upgrade
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...1&d=1476664469
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I had saved a post on the 3G ALT swap that I thought had the wiring but because of the Photobucket screw over there are no more pictures 
Going to be fun when I do the swap with out them.
Dave ----
Going to be fun when I do the swap with out them.
Dave ----
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alright with new alternator and battery. Truck fired up no problem drove around for a few minutes and then it wont start. It sat for about and hour and fired up ? Wth is going on lol. Also i dont have 4 wires coming off my alternator. So i have a thick black that goes to the red post so thats the battery. And i have an orangish looking one on the black post is this the starter? And a yellowish one on the whute post so this is the field
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Ok my 2nd picture is showing 4 wires but 1 of them I think is a ground?
Look at your picture and you can see at the bottom a post with 2 nuts that is where my ground is.
The red post is the out put and should go to the batt.
The white post looks to be to the regulator "F" or field iirc.
The black post I don't know where it goes but think to a joint in the harness then inside and to regulator but not 100% sure.
Neither of my trucks have any wiring and as you can see from the picture the project trucks wiring was a mess.
The parts truck wiring, picture of just the regulator, had different wiring at the ALT then the project truck so I would need to do something to make it work.
That is why I will go with a 3G ALT when I get that far.
Dave ----
Look at your picture and you can see at the bottom a post with 2 nuts that is where my ground is.
The red post is the out put and should go to the batt.
The white post looks to be to the regulator "F" or field iirc.
The black post I don't know where it goes but think to a joint in the harness then inside and to regulator but not 100% sure.
Neither of my trucks have any wiring and as you can see from the picture the project trucks wiring was a mess.
The parts truck wiring, picture of just the regulator, had different wiring at the ALT then the project truck so I would need to do something to make it work.
That is why I will go with a 3G ALT when I get that far.
Dave ----
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From: Angier, NC
ALT wiring
1G Wiring
3G Wiring
The top wiring is of the 1G ALT and how yours should be wired so you can see when the wires go to.
The bottom one you need to look at as it is for the 3G ALT.
Dave ----
Last edited by FuzzFace2; Jul 10, 2017 at 03:27 PM. Reason: To add JPEG
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It looks to me like the "bat" wire and the "field" wire are on the wrong studs. It's hard to tell by the wire color. The larger wire is usually the "bat" wire. Put your meter on it and see if it has 12 volts. The "bat" wire goes to the terminal with the red insulator.
But if you "never took any wires off" the alternator, then it is probably hooked up correctly.
But if you "never took any wires off" the alternator, then it is probably hooked up correctly.
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It looks to me like the "bat" wire and the "field" wire are on the wrong studs. It's hard to tell by the wire color. The larger wire is usually the "bat" wire. Put your meter on it and see if it has 12 volts. The "bat" wire goes to the terminal with the red insulator.
But if you "never took any wires off" the alternator, then it is probably hooked up correctly.
But if you "never took any wires off" the alternator, then it is probably hooked up correctly.