Guest Tom Timmins Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 I have '34 Packard Std 8 which I have owned for about a year. I ground and reseated the valves and it runs quite well. A few days a go it stopped charging. The orginal Packard cutout had been replaced with a more recent version, still a cutout, but not working. The brushes did not appear to be making good contact, but before removing it, the cutout was bypassed and the generator seemed to working a little. The issue was it seemed to be set up for a negative ground system. The battery is difficult to see, so I took it. The negative was the ground. It seemed to work this way. The generator is at the shop; does it change the wiring? I am a little lost as how to proceed. Any suggestions? Thanks Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 (edited) 34 Packard should be 6V + ground. Generator will work either + or - ground, it just has to be polarized. I don't know if someone changed the wiring around or just put the battery in backwards. If you have a wiring diagram you can check if anything has been changed but probably it was just the battery. Do you have an ammeter? If the battery is backwards it will read backwards unless someone reversed the wires. This should tell you if anyone changed the wiring. Edited July 18, 2015 by Rusty_OToole (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tom Timmins Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Thanks Rusty. The generator will be rebuilt, the Amp gauge wires un-crossed and the battery connected with a positive ground. I think I will go with a regulator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen_Dyneto Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 IMPORTANT! When you remove the generator take steps to insure that the bronze sleeve remains in place to hold the timing chain and drive sprocket in place!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Thanks Rusty. The generator will be rebuilt, the Amp gauge wires un-crossed and the battery connected with a positive ground. I think I will go with a regulator. I would suggest that you not install a regulator. Your car came with a cutout, it is nice to leave it appearing original. I install a heavy duty + ground diode inside of the cutout. You now have modern technology and no one can tell what is under the cover of the cutout. Never use a flame when soldering on a diode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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