MTFCA Forum

I noticed that the battery wasn't charging and the cutout was not closing. If I manually make contact with the cutout, it charges! Why won't the generator build up to make the cutout work?

jonathan wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 04, 2021 5:10 pm

I noticed that the battery wasn't charging and the cutout was not closing. If I manually make contact with the cutout, it charges! Why won't the generator build up to make the cutout work?

Likely the cut-out has reached its life expectancy. I assume its the relay type, non a diode, with contact points. Usually they stick closed and drain the battery. Instead of thinking about re-gaping the points upgrade it with a diode. This link explains https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19562

In he meantime I will just make contact manually I guess. Thank you

dont run it, unless you ground the gen output terminal. you can still operate on battery dead loss or on mag.
hand crank to save power.

continued... you dont want to burn up a good generator. the gen will try to charge to 30v untill it burns itself up.
bad cutouts are generator killers. you are fortunate to notice it was not charging.

The points probably need to be filed and the closing voltage needs to be set at about 6.5 vokts. This can be done but don't recommend it if you respect your generator.
Art Mirtes

Jonathan,
Just send me an email, I will try to walk you through the test and rebuild of the cutout and generator.

Andre
Belgium

Have you tried to flash the generator? You can do this by starting the engine running at a fast idle, take a short piece of wire and connect between the generator output and the battery on the opposite side of the cutout. Do this for just a few seconds and then check the ammeter. If it shows a charge, you are OK. If not, you might very well need to replace the cutout. Do not run for any period of time with the generator disconnected from the battery by a pad cutout, because it will cause overheating and burn out the generator.
Norm

if while the car is running, I remove the cutout cover and press the contact, the generator charges. When i shut the car off and restart it, the contact does not make contact. I can run it that way, I just have to remember to push the contact.

The cutout is bad and needs replacement. The coil which pulls down the points is not working, probably open.
Norm

Flashing is done with the engine NOT running and only need to be done if the car has been sitting for many years and the generator has lost its residual magnetism and is not working as a test if not charging, after a rebuild (sometimes) or if the polarity has been change (someone setup for positive ground and is being changed back to correct negative).

Mine is doing the same thing. This is a timely post.