[Amc-list] Oh generator, thou doth suck.

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

We drove to a restaurant last night in the little American, because it 
warms up in one block (antique head design has it's advantages), about 8 
miles through typical LA stop and go surface traffic. When we went to 
drive off, whirrrrrrrr click. No battery! And we're in an inside parking 
lot with valet service (it's just an inexpensive Thai restaurant, but 
parking is precious) so we looked like loons pushstarting an antique car 
with peeling paint. Bumped it going easily.

(No -- valets refuse to drive it once they see three pedals and two 
sticks; I park it myself and STILL have to pay the $2!)

Put the little BATTERY MINDER on it and just now got back from 
diagnostics. Prognosis: SNAFU. Battery is fine (12.6V after 15 seconds 
of cranking). Gen puts out ~30 amps under test. Removed regulator, 
wirebrushed all the connections (they were corroded, but were not the 
problem). Passed all the TSM tests. Result: ITYS (I Told You So). 
Everyone said "generators suck in city traffic" and lo, it's true. Never 
had a problem before, but must have been s**t luck. But since it was 
(LA) "winter" fan was on high and the headlights were on, and it had sat 
for a week while I drove the Classic wagon. There you go.


PS: I found the car's serial number stamped on the cowl under the 
regulator. Matched the stamped stainless tag on the distributor side 
spring tower.
_______________________________________________
Amc-list mailing list
Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list