I was trying to get the '48 panel to run for the summer today and I have problem I think I might know the answer but I thought I'd run it pass the board and see what you guys, and gals, think.

First, the truck is a stock flattie V8 with 6 volt system.

I ran it all last summer without a problem but at the very end of the season the charging system quickly stopped working. I figured it was the regulator but I didn't have time to play around with it to find the problem.

Yesterday I charged the battery, today I changed the regulator with another used one I had sitting on the parts shelf. The new used regulator looks good with no burned contacts. Same thing, no charge. I pulled the positive ground cable off while the truck was running and it kept running without a hiccup so I am assuming the generator is generating. Reattached the ground, turned on the headlights they lit up nice and bright but started to flicker. Pulled the cover off the regular, played with the contacts but didn't see any change. A minute or two later noticed the needle on the ampmeter started showing a charge and the headlights were steady bright. Turned off the headlights and revved the engine to see what the ampmeter would do, showed a charge. Here's where it gets a little strange. I turned on the headlights again and this time the truck died. I tried to start it, cranked over pretty good for about 5-10 seconds, seems like it didn't have any spark, and then battery died completely. I left it sit with the intentions of later pushing it back into the garage to for the night. I came back about 30 minutes later and the truck fired right up, no problem at all but this time there was again no indication of a charge. Turned it off and it fired right back up so, the ampmeter again showed a charge so I decided to take it down the road for a little test run. I got about a block down the road and it just died, nothing. It was like some one turned of the ignition switch. I ended up having my wife and kids help me push it back home. Luckily we're the only house on ¼ mile dead end country road and don't have any neighbor to watch this.

My guess is a bad battery, not the regulator. If the battery had a bad cell this could happen, couldn't it? Also, if the battery is bad it wouldn't take a charge and it would show this on the ampmeter, correct? The battery cables are clean and tight.

 

My first thought would be a bad ground. When batteries go, they generally don't heal themselves.

Second thought is a generator brush that is marginal length or oily.

It could be more than one problem...

 

Did you repolerize that changed out regulator?
Good tight contacts and the batt cables
proper liquid levels in the batt.

 

I have to agree with the other guy . I think you have a bad ground regardless of using a 12 volt as I broke down a block away from my house in traffic in 120 degree heat in Dallas Texas . Good luck tracing it out too. Oh by the way I have a 53 Panel Delivery and it runs a Mercury Flathead . Ed Shaver

 

That's what I'm afraid of, chasing multiple problems are always a PIA.

I did repolarize the regulator. I'll have to check the water level in the battery, didn't even think of that. Most times it seems the simple things are the ones overlooked.

I'll also recheck the grounds. Even if the ground between the engine and the battery looks good there could be some corrosion between the cable and the block. I'll also check the ground at the generator and the regulator.


Thanks, guys.

 

Sounds like something is shorting out to me. I don't have a thought as to wht, but electrical things don't fix themself, unless the circuit exists, then doesn't.

My 2 cents....

 

My cyber space guess………… wiring to the ignition switch or the ignition switch.
Next time it stops (it will) see if juice is coming out of ign switch to the coil?

 

Really need to invest ~ 20.00 and the 1/2 hr or so to learn how to use a basic Volt-ohm meter. It's the best way to "see" what is going on with any electrical problems. 10 minutes of testing with one would tell you exactly where the problem is. I suspect the regulator is the culprit or a sticking circuit breaker.

 

Charge your battery while examining other possibilities, and see that none of the 3 cells are bubbling after several minutes of charging, (bad cell) or have it load tested. A battery with a failing cell will do strange things, especially one with only 6 V to begin with.

 

AX the funny thing is I run my own electrical control shop and have the tester, one a little nicer than a $20 unit. I just didn't have it with me yesterday. I have previously checked the generator and got 7-8 volts coming out of it so I'm reasonably certain the generator it good.

Industrial controls are sometimes easier to work on than these simple trucks. There are so many gremlins in these trucks from anything as simple as a dirty ground(s) that look good to bad components which also don't show any outward signs of failure. I just thought I'd throw it out there and see what what suggestions I'd get back as to what I should look into.

I never thought about looking into the circuit breaker, I'll have to crawl under the dash and see what's going on there.

That's what I thought. I seem to go through batteries in my trucks. They don't seem to last as long as the 12 volt batteries in my daily drivers. I get maybe 3-4 years out of some of them although I've had a couple that actually lasted 4-5 years. I have had 12 volt batteries last for up to 8 years and only got rid of them because I knew they were going to fail some time. I think the reason the 6 volt batteries don't last is because of the seasonal use. Once I park the trucks for the winter I get involved with other things and don't think much about them until spring when I get them out of storage.

I'm bring home the tester tonight and start going through the entire system.

 

Bob, I was just thinking..you and a few others on this forum who maintain" fleets " , may benefit from the 'Battery Tender', I know you must have heard of them. I thought one might just be the ticket for someone in your situation. You gather up all the batteries in the fall, and 'daisy-chain' them thru the tender till spring .

 

Mertz,

That's a good idea. I've heard of the Battery Tender. I store my trucks in a pole building in the back of the farm that has no electricity but I could take the batteries out and bring them to my shop. Thanks, that could solve one problem.

 

I'm running a 12v system in my "55 and the same thing just happend, not charging, the engine would just shut shut down for no apparent reason with no power to the points.
what I found was a bad ground cable, the contacks were good but a bad cable [battery to frame ] if that helps at all
good luck
RICH

 

Corrosion builds up when a vehicle sits for an extended period (battery terminals, ground straps, etc) when there is not use to keep them clean. Battery life is also deteriorated when subjected to freeze-thaw cycles when partially charged or discharged. Remove battery from vehicle and put in area that stays above freezing. Put on a wooden board if sitting on a cement floor. Fully charge before storing. A battery tender is a very good idea, I use one on the battery in my trailer. Only charges if when battery falls below certain voltage. Might be hard to find for a 6V battery tho.
AFA testing, pull a battery cable and put ammeter in series. Even a small (ma) current indicates a short or defective part. Keep checking down line until you find the draw.

 

Just want to let everyone know I really appreciate the input. I don't know if I'll get a chance to work on it tonight because of family stuff but I'll be following all of your suggestions.