TR2/3/3A tr3 generator pop

[PeterK]

I fired up the 3a today for the first time since last fall after installing the hvda, new falcon ss exhaust, repaired the floors, new seats w/heaters, carpets, hidden audio, and rebuilding the carbs. It fired right up and ran smoothly at 500 rpm. But the red light glowed brightly and didn't turn off even as I up'ed the revs. None of the new electrics are connected so no changes since we last drove it and all was well.

As I was holding rpms at around 2500 rpm, I heard a pop and cardboard type dust sparayed from the back of the generator. I have an alternator ready to install but wonder what happened to the generator? Also my car was rewired by the dpo with all red wire. It's nice heavy gauge wire but now I have to figure out how to re-wire for the alternator. So my question is: which wires on the regulator (from left to right) are connected together for the alternator install? I've read several post on this but they all say connect the yellow to the ... and I would appreciate a different approach given that none of my wires are yellow. Everything works and maybe someday I will replace the harness but not now.

Can anyone help? tia.

 

[Harry_Ward]

Peter,

I think you popped the insulation for the generator coil windings at least that's what I saw last time I looked inside an original generator. If you had all that new stuff hooked up I could tell you why but since you didn't my best guess is it overloaded due to improper polarity, age, or bad ground.

I don't have an alternator so I cannot help you with the wiring but might I suggest you get some of those numbered tape type wire tags and a good wiring diagram for a TR3 and number your red wires to the color code on the wiring diagram... ie 1 = yellow/brown 2 = red and so on.

Sorry I couldn't help more.
Harry

 

[Andrew Mace]

In all honesty, I'd get either a new reproduction "original style" wiring harness or one of the modern upgraded style that Dan Masters sells if it were my car. I've dealt with monochromatic car wiring harnesses in the past. The best thing I can say about them is that my vocabulary expanded, but not necessarily in a good way. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[PeterK]

... thing about the harness, even though it's monochromatic, is that it is rock solid and correctly gauged. Even the light glow brightly. I would guess a vast improvement over the original which would require upgrading and frequent smoke letting. So the red harness will stay until such time that I do have a harness related failure.

Once I hook up the alternator, I can't foresee any other upgrades. btw, I also have a six circuit mini-spade fuse aux circuit box that will run any add on electric like the radio and seat heaters mentioned above, keeping them isolated from the original design all-red harness.

I guess I'll work through Dan Masters schematic tomorrow and start tieing together the regulator wires for the new alternator.