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  • #1

    Ammeter Issue

    I need help. I was driving the Hawk all day without any issues, then on the way home from a friends business I noticed the ammeter pinned all the way to the plus side. This happens at above 1800 rpm, below 1500 to 1800 it goes back to either dead center or a needles width to the minus side.

    What is happening, why, and is it dangerous to drive? Do I need a new volage regulator? Forgot ato add, the battery is only two weeks old. and when hooked up to a charger it says full charge.

    Thanks very much
    Bill
    Tags: None
  • #2
    What year Hawk? Sounds like a voltage regulator, the fact that it is
    NOT regulating voltage is the clue for me. Is this a Generator or a
    later altenator car? If its an older generator car, you can take off
    the voltage regulator cover and clean the points.

    Tom

    '63 Avanti, zinc plated drilled & slotted 03 Mustang Cobra 13" front disc/98 GT rear brakes, 03 Cobra 17" wheels, GM alt, 97 Z28 leather seats, soon: TKO 5-spd, Ported heads w/SST full flow valves, 'R3' 276 cam, Edelbrock AFB Carb, GM HEI distributor, 8.8mm plug wires
    '63 Avanti R1, '03 Mustang Cobra 13" front disc/98 GT rear brakes, 03 Cobra 17" wheels, GM alt, 97 Z28 leather seats, TKO 5-spd, Ported heads w/SST full flow valves.
    Check out my disc brake adapters to install 1994-2004 Mustang disc brakes on your Studebaker!!
    http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...bracket-update
    I have also written many TECH how to articles, do a search for my Forum name to find them

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    • #3
      quote:Originally posted by sbca96

      What year Hawk? Sounds like a voltage regulator, the fact that it is
      NOT regulating voltage is the clue for me. Is this a Generator or a
      later altenator car?
      1956 GH with an Autolite Generator with Green Tag. Autolite Voltage Regulator. Never had any issues with this in 23 years. Strange it started today. Thanks

      Comment

      • #4
        It's the HFH, Billy... What ya expect?

        [)]

        Matthew Burnette
        Hazlehurst, GA

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        • #5
          I've seen a failure of a generator that caused this behavior. I guess a field coil was shorted to ground. So it could be EITHER the generator or the regulator, best bet is to take them both together to a good auto electric place and have them tuned up. (I had an extra generator laying around so I never investigated farther.)

          the funny thing is, the problem showed up AFTER I cleaned all the high resistance connections in the car, the natural oxidation of the connections provided enough resistance that the ammeter readings were about normal UNTIL I fixed everything, then it unmasked the problem with the generator

          Didn't I sell you a "spare" generator once upon a time? I didn't offer any guarantee on it, but I'm sure I must have checked it out to make sure it at least functioned properly... would be easy enough to swap it in and see. If it still doesn't work right, I'd suspect the regulator.

          nate

          --
          55 Commander Starlight
          http://members.cox.net/njnagel
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          • #6
            Yah, I will bow to Nates knowledge on generators, my experience with
            them was years ago with the Hawk, before I change it to a Honda alt.

            You might take the regulator cover off and look inside, if its toast
            it could be visually telling.

            Tom
            '63 Avanti R1, '03 Mustang Cobra 13" front disc/98 GT rear brakes, 03 Cobra 17" wheels, GM alt, 97 Z28 leather seats, TKO 5-spd, Ported heads w/SST full flow valves.
            Check out my disc brake adapters to install 1994-2004 Mustang disc brakes on your Studebaker!!
            http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...bracket-update
            I have also written many TECH how to articles, do a search for my Forum name to find them

            Comment

            • #7
              I wouldn't say I have "superior knowledge" just that I've seen failures both ways, so both parts are suspect.

              nate

              --
              55 Commander Starlight
              http://members.cox.net/njnagel
              --
              55 Commander Starlight
              http://members.cox.net/njnagel

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              • #8
                I had the field relay contacts stick in the regulator of my 1962 Hawk a couple of years ago and that caused the generator to go to full charge. I disconnected the field wire from the regulator and got the car home without destroying the battery or other electrical components. Fortunately I had a spare NOS Autolite regulator on the shelf to swap for the bad one. Bud

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                • #9
                  quote:[i]

                  Didn't I sell you a "spare" generator once upon a time? I didn't offer any guarantee on it, but I'm sure I must have checked it out to make sure it at least functioned properly... would be easy enough to swap it in and see. If it still doesn't work right, I'd suspect the regulator.

                  nate

                  Your generator has been in the car for about three or more years. I am going to suspect the VR. One thing that I noticed was the generator was hot to the touch, but I have to admit, I have never touched a generator after it was running.

                  I have a 352 in the corner with a VR still attached. I will exchange them and see what happens.

                  Now, I am waiting for a custom made braket for 56J's that will allow using an alternator. If that does come in, do I disconnect the ammeter and where does the "one wire" go?

                  Thanks

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Can you substitute a Delco Remey VR for an Autolite?

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