bikeman,
In 1970, I bought a JC Whitney generator and voltage regulator for my 1948 Chevy 1/2 ton Panel Truck. After installing the parts and seeing the ammeter read "Charge", about 6 friends and I took off for a 200 mile ride to the beach. At about 11 pm at night, about 50 miles from the beach, the lights got real bright and then quite dim. The regulator stuck and the generator got so hot that it melted all soldered parts. I'm glad you have avoided a melt-down.
By the way, the Shop Manual suggests that you should always polarize the regulator/generator system when installing a new/rebuilt generator (and/or after the battery has been disconnected for a long period). Using any jumper lead, momentarily touch it to the Battery & Generator leads on the voltage regulator (after all parts have been installed and all leads, including battery cables, have been connected). You will see a little spark at the jumper lead. This procedure is not alway necessary but it is easy to do and will not hurt anything.
If the generator is not polarized, it will try to run backwards when you turn the engine off (and it would run down the battery).
Tim
