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MG TD TF 1500 - ammeter, nervous pointer

Dear Frinds,
just a question for you: Do you have a simmilar issue with your ammeter that the pointer is extremly "nervous" and flickering up and down. It works perfect so far, means if the engine is not running and I turn on the lights, the pointer went to an adequate level in minus. If the engine is running it wents to plus but is very nervous.
Any idea how to relax the pointer ? A small capacity may be ?
Cheers,
Guenter
GK Guenter

Guenter - What you are observing could well be a flaky regulator. Perhaps Bob Jeffers will weigh in on this issue. If not, you can contact him at bobj20@comcast.net. Bob can also convert your ammeter to solid state, calibrated for the generator in your car. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Guenter,

Try cleaning the regulator points with 800 wet n dry.
There are two sets of points - the cut out and the regulator. Most likely to be dirty cut out points.

Good Luck
Graham
TD/C 7822
G.D. Smith

Thought that was just the nature of the beast... mine bounces around every once and awhile... just thought it was normal Lucas operation? With so many mechanical contacts, would think there would be a lot of bouncing?
gblawson (gordon)- TD#27667

Guenter The first regulator I converted was put in a TC that had the nervous needle syndrome. That was 7 years ago and at last report the needle is still steady. One of the reasons is that the original regulator only corrected 50 - 60 times per second, my conversions now correct 500 times per second.( There were a few at 150 - 160 per second).

I have always had the idea that the ammeter needle was resonant at about 50 - 60 hertz. Also of course the air gaps are probably no longer in spec and for sure the hinge has lost a lot of it's tension. So your regulator is probably not running at the original speed.

You should be able to just barely tell from the ammeter that the fuel pump is ticking. The needle will flick but not very much. If you need more info contact me off the BBS.

Dave - My email address is now <bobj50@comcast.net> please correct your notes.

Cheers,

Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

Guenter, mine flickers too. I figure it's the regulator cutting in and out. It should happen more when the battery is fully charged. Try discharging your battery for a while,with headlights on and engine off. Then when you run the car, the regulator should be sending out full charge and the needle will be steady for a while if all is working as it should.
Regards, Richard.
R Payne

Bob - Thanks for the correction, address book has been corrected. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Thank you all for your help.
Bob, do you offer still the solid-state conversions of Lucas regulators ?

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et232.htm

I'm interested and I'll send you a privat mail.

Happy new year for all of you.
Guenter
GK Guenter

Yes, I still do them. I look forward to your email.
Cheers,
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

This thread was discussed between 28/12/2007 and 01/01/2008

MG TD TF 1500 index

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