Amp gauge question

[jackb]

and when you get them back and have your battery charged.....clean all electrical connections with wire or file and away you'll go..

[CodyC]

Thanks for the input warrlaw and Jack. I called a shop and they want a little more money then I can afford right now.The battery was 8 years old. I thought it said 3/11...apparently it was 11/3 haha. So I looked in the cells and one of them was very dirty(it's a 12v system btw). I got a new battery. Put new brushes in the gene' and cleaned the cables. re polarized the generator via the VR and that dang dial still wont go over to the charging side. So the only things I can think of is that there is a grounding issue somewhere, the generator has been toasted in some way or there is a bad wire.
It's just so odd how this happened. At first it was when I was driving on the freeway the meter would jump over to discharging and stay there for a bit and then come back. And then intermittently after that. And now it won't charge at all.
Will the "taking the negative battery connector off and using a test on the cable to the terminal" work with a generator or is that only for checking alternators?
Thanks again for all the input!

[warrlaw1]

That test should work with either. It sounds like a short, somewhere in the wiring, when the ignition is turned on. If it was a direct short it would drain the battery even when parked. A 12V trouble light with a couple of alligator clips would let you go down the wiring harnesses and isolate a short. There should be two harnesses, one from the dash forward, and the other from the dash back. Find your short and your discharge should disappear.

[StudeRich]

Have you checked the wire terminals on the back of your aftermarket Ammeter for good tight connections? Is your Gen. idiot light disconnected?

[aaronmrozik]

I'm having a similar problem. I have a 59 Lark, V-8. before I drove it on a long haul, the amp light was on but as I drove it around the house, the battery stayed alright and I could restart it. I get out on the road and I'm going through batteries. The car runs, but my battery isn't charging. Will definitely apply some of what i read today and keep you all posted on the process.

[StudeRich]

In your case Aaron, did the AMP light stay on? If so, it is not charging, so it has one of the above issues, Wiring, Cables, Generator, Regulator etc.

Most Auto Parts Stores like O'Reilly's, Advance, Pep Boys etc. are able to test charging system output to determine which unit is defective, just be sure they understand they are dealing with a GENERATOR and know the correct procedure, as they are uncommon nowdays.