Diagnosing charging system failure

[Tom in TN]

Good Morning,

I own a 1973 Ford 2000, 3 cylinder, gas tractor.
The generator light on the dashboard began glowing steadily yesterday.

Is there an effective process to determine whether it is the generator or the voltage regulator that is causing the problem?

Thanks for any advice.

Tom in TN

 

[JT in CT]

I get that every 2 or 3 years on my Lucas system after sitting all winter. The points on the voltage regulator corrode or just tarnish from sitting. I just give the points a quick cleaning and its good to go for another few years.

 

[souNdguy]

the lucas charge systems get bad raps in general. for some part.. they are deserving.

for instance. the regulators have junky movement and contacts. the gennies.. though are actually fairly decent. IMHO.. not as robust as a ford genny.. but not bad.

it's LIKELY your reg.. but to test your B circuit gen do this:

remove armature and field line at gen.

slip belt off, retighten bracket for good ground.

jump bat + to arm and field on gen. it should motor. if it motors.. gen is usually good.. most gens that motor, will charge. occasionally you get one with a field fault that will motor weekly but not charge.

Now, you have motor tested your unit, and as a bonus.. it is also correctly polarized.. though it probably was before too.

if it passed that test, then take the cover off the reg and check them contacts. grunged up contacts are the usual culpret.

 

[john 960]

Thanks for your post I got my BIL 5000 charging today, cleaned contacts on VR.

 

[souNdguy]

i've fixed many non charging lucas systems by cleaning contacts.

good luck.