CHARGING PROBLEM

I have a 1962 Rochdale Olympic that you will know is a mix of a Riley and Morris 1000 in a kit car.

The Morris engine is quite reliable and I have tried to keep everything standard, which means that I have not replaced the dynamo for an alternator. The car is stored during the winter and then pulled out of its winter home around April providing the weather is okay. My concern is that the charging system does not seem to be operating, even on a longer journey.

The brushes in the dynamo have been replaced, and I hoped this would improve matters, but things have not improved. Even in the summer I rarely use the vehicle at night, but I would like it to be capable of having the lights on without the battery going flat. I’m thinking that the problem may be with the three- bobbin regulator, but I am unsure if there are any serviceable parts inside. Thomas Berman There are not actually any serviceable parts under the cover of the threebobbin regulator, but there are adjustments that can be made. The first move is to test the output of the dynamo by disconnecting the dynamo and using a link wire between the F and D terminals. Then using a voltmeter directly on the D terminal, if there is no rise in voltage when revving the engine. Then the fault is in the dynamo.

Providing a voltage is being developed by the dynamo, then the regulator may be the problem. By removing the top cover of the regulator, you should be able to see the three bobbins and the contact points at the top of each.

The first test is to ensure that the top contacts move freely and that the contact points are clean and show no signs of burning. You should not push the contact points together with the battery connected as you will effectively be connecting the dynamo to the supply, and it will then attempt to motor, draining down the battery.

The most common failure in these units is due to corrosion and a visual inspection should reveal if the problem is simply adjustment or will require the unit to be replaced.