Electrical: 1956 Golden Hawk starting & charge problems

[Ernie Baily]

Hello, I have been working on my brothers 56 GH and I have been having problems with the charging, I have had the generator rebuilt and put on a new Regulator (I polarized it as well). It still shows a discharge when I turn on the lights. The gauge reads 0 all the time except when the lights are on, or turnsignals or I put my foot on the brake pedal then it shows a discharge(seems excistive). It does not show that it is charging at all. I also have been having a staring issue, it starts great when cold, but after a short drive it won't start. All that happens the amp gauge just pegs all the over to discharge and then nothing. I then use a start button under the hood and it starts right away. I think something is getting hot and it won't let it start.
Does anyone have any Ideas?

[altair]

Check the power supply, there is a hot battery wire to one side of the amp gage and the other side goes to the ignition switch, check that all terminals are tight. Also check the wire from the start position terminal on the ignition switch is tight. If it hand starts from the relay would indicate a loose terminal back up the line. I had a similar situation where as the main supply terminal was loose (I think from the factory) and over the years of arcing when engaged eventually oxidized the terminal to a point of half failure. On inspection the main supply terminal was excessively rusty where as all the other terminals were clean and rust free. By this time the nut holding the wire had rusted solid in place and had the false appearance of being tight. With removal and a thorough cleaning and replaced the original nut with a stainless steel nut the problem no longer exists. You must remember these cars are over 60 years old and any thing can happen. In my case the terminal was loose from the get go, however it was clean and worked fine, only after many years of arcing caused the corrosion and failure.

[bezhawk]

Golden Hawks have a junction block on the firewall, Check those connections. Also, they have a different starter solenoid than most people are familiar with. Make sure you get the four terminal solenoid that is mounted on the starter, rather than the typical Chevy 3 terminal that some try to sell you.

[PackardV8]

X3 on checking all the connections:
1. Start at the battery. Fully charge it. While it is charging, clean the battery terminals and inside the cable terminals. Go to the end of the ground terminal; remove it, clean the terminal and contact point. Tighten.

2. Remove and clean all the terminals at the junction block on the fan shroud, all the terminals at the voltage regulator and at the generator.

3. Remove, clean and retighten all the terminals on the ignition switch and the ampmeter.

4. Take the generator to an auto parts store and have them run it up on their tester to verify it is in fact charging. While you're at the auto parts store, new battery cables are not a bad investment. I've seen more than one instance where the terminal ends looked OK but there was corrosion inside where the wire was crimped.

5. I run an additional ground from the starter mounting bolt to the battery ground terminal mounting point.

Let us know when you find the problem.

jack vines

[StudeRich]

All are good suggestions, but my money is on the "Special" Packard Solenoid drawing High Amps. that are showing a discharge when hot.
Just like the Starter mounted Solenoids on Chevy's very often eventually do.

[brngarage]

Just in case someone is looking for the junction block on the firewall; my early Vernon built car does not have that junction block! From the 1956 chassis parts catalog it looks like only serial numbers starting with 603.... (South Bend built cars) MIGHT have this junction block. The mysterious ways of Studebaker. Since Ernie's problem can be circumvented by using a remote starter button connected to this junction block (even when the car is hot), my conclusion is that it is NOT the starter mounted solenoid causing the problem (I do NOT know what IS causing the problem, but I don't think it is the solenoid). I hope someone can help Ernie and I resolve this issue. Thanks, Howard