<VV> Generator light on - not now!

[FrankCB at aol.com]

Doug,
    Sounds like a voltage regulator problem to  me.  Next time it happens, 
leave the engine running and tap on the  regulator with the handle of a wrench 
or big screwdriver.  If that makes  the light go out, then that proves it's a 
regulator problem.  I like to  plug a voltmeter into the cigarette lighter to 
measure the system voltage.   Stock Corvair regulators are notorious for either 
charging too much (too high a  voltage e.g. over 14.5 volts when fully 
warmed) or not charging enough (e.g.  less than 13.5 volts)  Either way you're going 
to have electrical  problems.  Replace the regulator, using a solid state 
("transistorized")  unit if possible.
    Good luck,
    Frank "sparky" Burkhard
 
In a message dated 8/12/2006 7:48:53 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
dougmackintosh at yahoo.com writes:

Need  some advice from the wise sages of Virtual Vairs. My daughter's '64 
Spyder was  working fine when parked (about 5 days ago). When she started it 
today to go  visit a friend the generator light would not go out. Revving the 
engine did  not make it go out. Grounding the Field terminal (jumper from 
generator Field  terminal to the battery ground strap) did not make it go out. 

About an hour later we were doing a few final checks before  replacing the 
generator. Checked voltage from the Regulator BAT terminal to  the battery 
ground strap. Read about 12.67 V before starting the car. Read the  same or less 
after starting, likewise when revved up. Shut car off and Leigh  said the light 
had gone out just before shutting off. Re-started. It read  13.01 V while 
idling, Grounded field terminal, it read 17 + Volts. Seems to be  working fine now 
(we just finished a 1 hour cruise). 

So what could have caused this? Could the brushes have developed an  
insulating coating while it sat for 5 days, which "wore off"? Or is it an  
intermittant problem that means we should go ahead an swap out the generator  now.

The generator is an old one of unknown  provenence "borrowed" from my project 
car about 4 years ago. The brushes were  replaced a couple of years ago.

Thanks!


-- Doug Mackintosh