1964 scout battery drain

M

Maughan

Member
Its been a while sense I've asked a question from the IH family. But the 1964 scout frame off restoration that I completed last year has presented me with another problem.. btw after I finished the restoration I drove the scout every week.. but here in Arizona during the summer I've left it parked much more these last two months..
Here's the problem.. tried to start it today after not starting it for three weeks, and the battery was totally dead.. it would appear that there is some small drain on the battery, that I wouldn't notice driving it consistently, but leaving it sit, I end up with a dead battery..
in some of my other questions that I've posted in the past during this restoration, I mentioned something weird that I never resolved.....when I shut the truck off sometimes the "gen" light stays on.. if I slam the door shut the light goes off.. I never figured it out.. I tried checking the voltage regulator, but didn't see anything that would cause it..

So now I need to fix it..
I need some guidence form you guys.... where should I start looking?? What would you look for?

I appreciate any help you can offer.
 
1. Ensure the battery is topped off with distilled water, then charge the battery.

2. Ensure battery cables & connections are a) clean, and b) tight.
This will require removing the cables from the battery terminals to see if they are clean, ie. NO corrosion or dirt. Reattach properly and tightly. Put a bit of a grease layer over the completed connections.

3. In the darkness (either in an enclosed garage or outside at night) with all electrical items in the "off" position, including the engine,......remove the negative battery terminal and watch closely for a small spark between the battery terminal and battery cable fitting as you remove it. You may need to do this several times.
If you see a small spark, you have an electrical drain somewhere in the vehicle.
If no spark, then you do not have an electrical drain and the battery just needed serviced.

4. Report back with your results.
 
I couldn't see any sparking from the negitive cable at the battery..

But here's something I did discover.. when I put the charged battery back in the truck, the oil light on the dash gauge dimly lit up.. so I'm assuming that was the small draw that killed the battery.., so I went and pulled the voltage regulator connector off and the light went off.. so I pulled the cover off the voltage regulator and adjusted the spacing on the top points in the regulator.. if I adjust them looser the light goes off, but on start up it isn't charging.. if I adjust them tighter the light stays on but on start up it charges.

So I played with the adjustment for a while until the light wouldn't be on when the ignition is in the off position and the truck would charge on start up..

I don't understand how the regulator is suppose to function..

Is it suppose show small spark on this top points in the regulator when the they are touching and I manually break the points while the ignition is in the off position?
 
http://forums.ihpartsamerica.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14075&d=1311438919

Study the ignition switch in the lower schematic. The #1 term feeds the charge light and the ignition coil + side. Install the battery and start the scout. Shut it off and with the key off measure the voltage at the + ignition coil lug. It should be absolutely 0.000 volts to ground. If not, unplug the regulator and retest. Still not 0, disconnect the coil term and retest. I'm guessing the regulator is back feeding the charge light and that in turn is feeding the ignition sw hence the glow of your oil light.
 
Did the test you recommend and it reads 0 volts. So is it possible that adjusting the voltage regulator points like I did would fix it?
 
You done screwed your voltage regulator. Those things require precise testing and adjusting with a carbon pile tester and a thermometer.

You will need a NEW voltage regulator after heavy handing the contact point gap and alignment.

The light glow tells me something is screwy with either the wiring back feeding somewhere or the ignition switch is either wired wrong or not turning a contact completely off.

In the on position, voltage is fed through the light bulb to Term 4 of the VR. Internally it goes to Term F for the alternator's field winding. The winding is grounded and thus the light lites. At speed and voltage the field relay closes and feeds Term 3 which gives voltage on both sides of the gen bulb and then it goes out. Just because the light goes out with your troubleshooting does not mean the problem is solved. You more than likely duplicated what it is supposed to do when running. Now you'll need to see what the regulator does under load and in various weather conditions.

With the key off, and the bulb still has some voltage to it, it will glow. This is not normal as was stated before its circuit goes to the alternator winding to ground. Something is still feeding the bulb in the key off state. That is where I would start looking.
 
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