Hello - I did a search and read HRL's troubleshooting techniques for a charging system that isn't working, based on the ammeter showing discharge when a load is turned on. However, I remain stumped. I have a 56 3100, restored, but as close to as-built as I could get it. So it has the original 12v generator and regulator. It will not charge, with the battery voltage staying steady at ~12.5v regardless of RPM. The generator passes the motor test, which of course polarizes it. When the engine is running, grounding the field terminal will cause current to return to the battery, also based on the ammeter indication. I have swapped out the regulator 4 times (I had 2 DELCOS, an Echlin, and a no-name regulator on the shelf). None of them made any difference. The regulator case is properly grounded. The wires from the generator to the regulator were bypassed with test leads to see if i had a bad wire - nope. Proper voltage appears at the BAT terminal of the regulator..
So - I do not know whats next, except I am not putting in an alternator
Have any ideas or anything I have missed?
