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generator control box

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M

markberry

Jedi Trainee
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Hi All,
I started working on a plastic welding repair to my generator control box and it sparked interest in me to take the cover off and have a look inside. The thing had never given me any trouble so I never took any interest in messing around with it. However, now that I looked closely at the points I've noticed that the "normally open" set of contacts is almost gone. There's almost nothing there but some white powder. Does anyone have any experience with these? I don't know how much material was on those points when they were new or "how bad is bad" for these. If they were ignition points I'd be wondering how the car was still running! I looked at the service manual and saw how to adjust and clean them. Then I watched John Twist's youtube video about them, but I was wondering if any of you have any "in service" experience with them? Anyway that's the first half of my question. The second is: Has anyone purchased one of these lately from the usual suspects? They seem cheap.... which sends up a big warning flag for me! I've had horrible luck with the replacement parts I've been purchasing for this restoration from the major catalog suppliers. The last thing I want is to start chasing down charging system problems two months after I get this car on the road again. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about!
Regards and thanks
Mark
 
The white powder is pretty common to find on these when they have a lot of use. If the contacts are not too badly eroded, you can clean them with a special, diamond-surface file made specifically for cleaning relay contacts. You can get them from any good electronics place. The Sources of Great Wisdom say not to use sandpaper or other abrasives, as the grit lodges in the contact surfaces and prevent good electrical contact.

If the contacts are mostly gone, however, you need a new control box. I don't know how good the ones from Moss et al. are, but I think you're wise to suspect them. I'd get a good used one, preferably original Lucas, from eBay. Plan on having to readjust it, but you now know how to do that.

Or, maybe this is the time for an alternator conversion. It's easy, and the money you'd spend on the control box will pay for a good chunk of the alternator. There's a lot of info for doing this in the Wiki, in previous posts, and elsewhere in the internet.
 
Miss Agatha is running one from Moss, no problems. Bolted it in and good to go.
 
Thanks Jack and steve,
I wrote Moss Motors yesterday about my concerns with buying electrical system restoration parts that are most likely copied/reverse engineered in emerging industrial countries who maybe aren't looking at the reliability as close as they're looking at making the part "appear" original. their technical department wrote me back immediately and said they understood my concerns completely and that they've sold a great number of these and only had one returned (which has yet to be investigated). Anyway, it sounds like finding a good replacement will be easy.
 
I'm sure you will be happy with the Moss product. However, that said they all prob come from the same line reguardless of vendor.
 
jlaird said:
I'm sure you will be happy with the Moss product. However, that said they all prob come from the same line reguardless of vendor.
Click to expand...

That's what the Moss Tech thought. Apparently when they're looking for vendors for a particular item they purchase one from each available and run them through a gauntlet of tests before deciding who to source their stock from. the gentleman I spoke with said they couldn't tell one from another. They apparently all are being made in the same factory. I came across this though:
https://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et232.htm
Kind of interesting. I don't think I'll do it though.
Mark
 
I've seen that MGAGuru page before. It interested me, because I (being a card-carrying Electrogeek) once started to make a similar regulator to replace the electromechanical one in my Bugeye. The problem I encountered was heating--there is no good way to dissipate the heat of such a device, if you mount it in the original control box. If you can't get rid of the heat, it won't last long.

Finally, I just converted to an alternator. The improvement in battery charging and overall operation of the electrical system is dramatic. Unless you're doing a concours restoration or have some other specific reason to keep the generator, that's a really good way to go.
 
I'm sure that an alternator would be a much better choice but I'm trying to do a period correct restoration. I'm using all original type components except for urethane bushings up front, wire wheels and disk brakes. I'm not going to take it as far as putting all original british fasteners back on either. I've gotta draw the line somewhere!
thanks for sharing your experience with the electronic regulator!
Mark
 
DPO of my bugeye managed to wire in a unfused direct short that fryed the control box and generator. He then replaced the control box and when it would'nt charge he started cranking away on the control box adjustment screw's. [They're factory set and sealed with a dab of paint].
I found it very difficult to reset the box. Course I did'nt have the factory recommended equipment. Points gap is easy of course.

BTW where is a good place to get a tach drive generator rebuilt?
Tnx, Kurt.
 
BTW where is a good place to get a tach drive generator rebuilt?
Tnx, Kurt. [/quote]

That's a good question. Also another area of the car I should look closely at before the car goes back into service. I did notice that Moss Europe and AH Spares both list them in their online catalogs.
 
My word, Hi Mike, glad to see you guys made it here.

You know we just love folks that love old Brit cars.

Guess I must ask, what do you have.
 
I've got one of the tach drive generators currently being offered and it use's a standard gen rear housing with a screw spigot for the tach drive glued in to the bearing housing. Guess what?! Glued in spigot came loose!! I resurrected it by JB weld and three pins made of wire drilled in from the side and glued in also. I'm getting by but have two original tach drive gens I'd like to rebuild someday. I'll keep starauto in mind.
Thanks folks
Kurt.
 
Wow, just read Mikes info on his web site at starauto and I now see no reason to deal with the usual suspects for Lucas needs.
I'm impressed!!

Kurt.
 
starauto said:
Mr. Barry if you are still looking to have your generator rebuilt, we can gladly help you. Please visit our web site: https://www.starautoelectric.com


Best regards,
Mike
Star Auto Electric Company
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike. I think my generator is OK, however I'm going to consider one of your generator control boxes and read up on the generator tach drive servicing mentioned here that you offer.
Regards
Mark
 
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