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| | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 199 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 199 | 59 1/2 Ton Stock new harness with ballast resistor out of the picture and a new Mini HEI with external round coil. Not running yet as I am finishing wiring.
In checking the new harness, I had no head lights etc so I realized that I had not affixed the wire from the headlight switch up to the ammeter. I looked up under the dash and saw it was off. I pulled the gauge assembly to hook it and the instrument bulbs etc into the gauge panel. My instruction sheet says the red wire goes headlight switch to C side of ammeter gauge and the black wire( direct from top of starter) to the D side of the ammeter gauge. Hooked up battery with no issues and BINGO I checked headlights and I was good.
Disconnected battery and Reinstalled gauge panel and when I touched battery cable to post...SPARK short.... I pulled the black wire from ammeter and I can hook cable up. Foot stomp circuit still good.
Did I cook the gauge or somehow create a dead short in it? I rechecked to determine that I had red on one terminal side of gauge and black on the other.
Ralph
Last edited by rasman57; 08/10/2008 9:08 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | An ammeter passes current through it. It is not grounded. It is highly unlikely to be shorted internally. Your short must be in the circuit the black wire goes to. Touch the black wire momentarily to the red. If it sparks the short is in the circuit. Do not hook up to the ammeter till you solve the problem. That much current can fry it.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 199 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 199 | Wow, As I started to sort this out I discovered the horn relay was the culprit. It was VERY hot and somehow had failed. It will be replaced after I check to see if it was wired in correct. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | Be sure to check the wire that snakes up the steering column to the horn button. The horn relay is only a dumb slave...it closes when commanded to do so by grounding the column wire through the horn button itself.
Your horn probably doesn't 'toot' either, other wise you would have heard it, right!
Stuart | | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 199 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 199 | You are right about the horn. I do not have the wheel on but I am gonna check to see if I mashed the wire and caused some issue. | | |
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