Electrical conections - star washers everywhere!

[DonaldSmith]

My generator wouldn't charge the other night, on the way back from a cruise/show; the headlights were dim. After getting home, the battery was too low to start the car.

I thought I had checked out and fixed the generator, straightening a bent post. But I was missing one crucial element - star washers!

After playing mind games with 6v alternators, 12v alternators, 12v wiring, etc., I downloaded some instructions on checking the generator. The first item, check the wiring.

The regulator is grounded to the inner fender, which is grounded to ...? I added a ground wire from the regulator to the body. I already added a heavy ground wire from the engine block to the body.

I added star washers to the ground wire connections, between the painted sheet metal and the wire connector, so that the washer would bite into the sheet metal and connector, cutting thirugh paint and corrosion. The star washer also keeps the conector from twisting as the nut is tightened. (I should also add a star washer under the nut, to keep it tight.)

I also added star washers at each of the generator and regulator posts, under the wire connectors.

Now the generator works! Star washers everybody.

[TodFitch]

Or "Shakeproof lockwasher (external teeth) Cad plated steel." as they show up in my old parts book. But "star washer" is probably much better understood by people.