Mick Rae
Active Member
In a previous thread, I reported I had cured my engine stumbling by popping in new plugs - I was wrong. Once I went a decent run with everything up to temp etc, it came back with a vengeance. Now, the only thing in the ignition (other than the coil) that I had not renewed was the points and condenser - essentially as I was wary of new ones, but also as the points looked absolutely fine. I changed the condensor in a layby - made no difference (was trying to just rule out one thing at a time). So then I popped in new points - this really did sort the issue. Indeed, with a 50 mile round trip yesterday, and a further 30 miles today, I can safely say the car is running perfectly. BUT.
I was a bad boy - when I was changing points etc at roadside, I did not disconnect the battery. So maybe I screwed up, touched something etc, I dunno - however, although running super sweet, the ammeter now behaves differently. Previously, it just stayed at zero, flicked to negative when putting the lights on, but always at zero. Now, at idle it reads zero, but once cruising along at 3500 rpm, its in the positive side, say approximately 15 (quarter of way to the plus 60. I have never had an ammeter before, but would suspect thats overcharging? Which would be the regulator in the alternator right? I put a hand on the battery, its not warm or anything. So, have I fried something - wish I knew how. Or maybe its just law of sod - either way, could you let me know if indeed this is abberant behaviour in terms of charging, and whats the solution - can a regulator be changed - its a 1975 2200sc.
One last bit of information which may or may not be connected. I wanted to check my coil feed to see if I had a ballasted system feeding it. I connected meter to plus terminal of coil, where two connections feed (which is correct, one from starter, other from ballasted coil feed). With ignition on, it reads 6V. So ballasted. But, if i disconnect the feed leads and check them at their terminals off the coil, its reading 11V. I'm a bit confused by that. I'm sorry for being such a div when it comes to this stuff, I hope you dont mind me asking - I know that the answer is probably that I am not smart enough with this stuff, but I am keen to learn, hence my avoidance of taking to the garage!
I was a bad boy - when I was changing points etc at roadside, I did not disconnect the battery. So maybe I screwed up, touched something etc, I dunno - however, although running super sweet, the ammeter now behaves differently. Previously, it just stayed at zero, flicked to negative when putting the lights on, but always at zero. Now, at idle it reads zero, but once cruising along at 3500 rpm, its in the positive side, say approximately 15 (quarter of way to the plus 60. I have never had an ammeter before, but would suspect thats overcharging? Which would be the regulator in the alternator right? I put a hand on the battery, its not warm or anything. So, have I fried something - wish I knew how. Or maybe its just law of sod - either way, could you let me know if indeed this is abberant behaviour in terms of charging, and whats the solution - can a regulator be changed - its a 1975 2200sc.
One last bit of information which may or may not be connected. I wanted to check my coil feed to see if I had a ballasted system feeding it. I connected meter to plus terminal of coil, where two connections feed (which is correct, one from starter, other from ballasted coil feed). With ignition on, it reads 6V. So ballasted. But, if i disconnect the feed leads and check them at their terminals off the coil, its reading 11V. I'm a bit confused by that. I'm sorry for being such a div when it comes to this stuff, I hope you dont mind me asking - I know that the answer is probably that I am not smart enough with this stuff, but I am keen to learn, hence my avoidance of taking to the garage!