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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Adjusting the Voltage Regulator

After my 'situation' with my car dying, I removed the battery and slow charged it for a day or so. I then took it my friend's local garage and had it checked. It load tested fine and the electrolytes are good.

I then proceeded to check all the wiring and found that the starter cable was loose. Snugged it up and am getting ready to get it all back together.

Now is a good time to check the voltage regulator output and make any adjustments necessary. The generator has tested OK.

I went to my trusty MGA repair manual and ran into som bad luck. IT has been very, very wet here with several typhoons in the neighborhood bringing lots of low pressure. My poor car cover just couldn't keep all of the water out and hence the contents of the trunk got wet. Including the manual. Oops!

In other words, the pages with all the regulator and cut-out adjustments are illegible (read: stuck together).

Anyone have a condensed rundown of directions & specs (RPM/output/cut-out etc.)?

Tommy

Tom:

http://www.1978mgmidget.com/manuals_and_booklets.html

Follow the directions carefully. I didn't and burned out a fuel pump. Apparently the best Facet pump 30 dollars can buy doesn't like 19 volts. Luckily the rest of the A didn't care much.

Have fun,
Bill

Bill Eastman

Bill,

Great site. If you don't mind, I'll pass it along to my Sprite buddy.

Will attempt the adjustment tonight.

BTW I, too have a $30 facet!
Tommy

consult barney
dominic clancy

1 more thing to add. Check your voltmater against another one. Many digital meters may not read correctly due to the noise on the line. My "good" digital mater read about 1 volt different than my VERY GOOD Simpson 260 analog meter. Generally I am in favor of digitals but in this case.....I use my analog.

Chuck
Chuck Schaefer

An analog meter should be used for regulator adjustment. Because the regulator is essentially a pulse width modulator, it has an on-off action and a digital meter will not average the pulses out, it will jump back and forth as the voltage changes between sampling periods.

By the way, if your regulator turns out to need replacement, Bob Jeffers bobj20@adelphia.net makes a solid state replacement that he builds into your original case. I had him do one for our TD and it works great.
Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Yes agree with David it is nigh on impossible to set up the regulator with a digital meter. I simply place a moving coil meter, (analogue) across the battery and rev the engine up and down adjusting the voltage bobbin so that it never gives more than 14.5 volts. and with regard to regulation that is it!
Bob (robert) I am turning? yes I once owned an MGWasp!!

This thread was discussed on 13/10/2006

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