Hi,
I've called Randy so many times recently with troubles over this that I thought I'd relieve him and ask the group for help.
About a month ago, I kept blowing fuses on my 37
1/2 ton, and at one point I fried my Runtz voltage reducer on the gas gauge. Randy diagnosed the problem as spiking ignition and advised that I wire a direct wire from the positive battery cable to the ignition switch. I did so, running a 10 gauge wire with fuse from the battery to the fuse panel, from the panel to the ignition. Everything works well now except the ammeter. When at idle it reads right at zero; but when I rev the engine or begin to drive, it spikes over toward 20. If at idle and I turn on my lights it goes far left into the negative, but if I rev the engine or begin to drive it, it again goes over toward 20. Randy suggested that there is a short somewhere in the system and advised me to track it down. I worked on it all day yesterday. What I did was begin removing each accessory, gauge, etc., one by one, seeing if I could eliminate the problem. Finally I had disconnected everything except the ammeter and the ignition switch--same thing. FYI, the ammeter is wired one side to the starter post, the other to the alternator (I have one of Randy's nice 12V internally regulated alternators). The ignition switch is fed directly from the battery through the fuse panel; the only other wire on the ignition switch is the one that goes to the coil--I had taken everything else off.
Since I was desperate at that point, I thought maybe something was wrong with the alternator, so I took it off and took it to NAPA for a bench test. It tested out good. Then I got another ignition switch and tried it--same thing. Then I dug out another 37 ammeter that I had and tried it--same thing. Then I found a newer ammeter from a JD tractor and tried it--same thing.
At this point I don't know what else to try--I've eliminated all the other connections, tried 3 different ammeters, and checked the alternator. I hesitate driving any distance for fear that I'll fry my battery. Help please!! Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Jim
