I have a 1965 F350 (240 Ci engine 4-speed with granny gear). I was hooking up my battery after a long term storage anhd had sparks when conneting the cables (negative to ground first and then positive to starter relay). I started to disconnect the wires at the starter relay and found the wire that goes to the battery terminal on the alternator was shorted. I fixed that problem and then tried to hook up the battery again. This time I heard a pop and the alternator started to smoke. Guess I am going to replace the alternator, but do not know what really happened. Was it just time for the alternator to go or is there something else I should be looking for? There were no sparks at the starter relay with all wires connected except the alternatir wire, so I am relatively confidant that the problem is with the alternator and associated wiring.

Thanks for the help/

 

i would safely say that the alternator shorted out. replace it and see what happens

 

Once you get everything fixed, you should connect positive first then negative.

 

it really doesn't matter what order you connect them in.

 

Make sure you have the alternator wires and the regulator wires in the correct places also.

 

Thanks all for the responses.

Franklin2 - where are the correct places for the alternator and regulator wires.

Thanks
Tim

 

If the last connection is a negative connection, then ... when the wrench hits the metal frame... nothing bad happens.

Same goes for remove, break a negative connection first, it's the safe way to do it.

Jim

 

+1.......there's alot of grounded parts for that wrench to touch!

 

I know that's how your supposed to do it but if your carefull nothing will happen. Basically what I'm saying is that if you hook the positive up last it won't affect the operation of anything

 

There are two ways Ford wired their older type alternators. I am going to assume yours will be wired this way. If it has a wire on the "i" terminal of the regulator, then this diagram should be correct. If it doesn't have a wire on the "i" terminal of the regulator, there is another diagram that applies.

 

Thanks Franklin2! I compared the wiring and that is how mine is connected. I will replace the alternator and regulator and see what happens when I connect up everything.

I appratiate the help.

Tim