Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum
General Category => Henry J & Allstate Forum => Topic started by: Don C on July 16, 2014, 01:03:42 PM
-
I just purchased a 52 henry corsair deluxe. some where along it was changed to negitive groud. what do I need to to change it back to posive ground?now every thig works okay. Don C
-
I'd leave it since it all works. BUT if you insist, how was it changed? Were all the components changed out? Regulator, Generator, Starter, that sort of thing? Light bulbs don't care as long as the voltage is 6v (if they are the original bulbs). Wonder why they switched it to Neg Ground.....
-
some where along it was changed to negitive groud
My guess is it was not changed, it was likely the battery was connected the wrong way by someone who did not know it was supposed to be positive ground. I can't tell you how many times I've seen that. Normally it doesn't cause any short term problems. One way to tell if it was truly converted is to look at which terminal on the coil is connected to the distributor. The + terminal on the coil should go to the distributor for positive ground as the points ground the coil when they're closed. If the negative terminal on the coil is connected to the dist, then it was likely intentionally changed.
The only problem you might have is the regulator or generator might burn up over time. To change it back, install the battery with the cables connected properly, then polarize the generator/regulator. You do this by a quick touch of a piece of scrap wire between the B (BAT) and A (ARM) tabs on the regulator before starting the car.
I don't know this for sure but I've heard if you convert the car to negative ground, and don't change out the headlights, when you turn them on it will get dark outside but I've never tried that (LOL)
-
Delco regulators are polarity sensitive. Their points are made of dis similar material to cut down on material transfer. The voltage and polarity is stamped on the mounting tab, example 6V P would be 6 volt positive grd.
-
Good point retired wrench. Most '52 Corsairs were equipped with Delco regulators so it sounds like that's another thing you can check.
-
I checked the volt regulator it was fine. reveased the battery back to positive ground. checkrd the voltage at plus side of coil. it was correct. guages work fine. started ok. some had installed the battery wrong. all is fine now. Don C
-
Glad to hear it Don!! ;D
-
I would love to see pictures of it
-
I can help with the pictures of the car ...
-
I can't wait to ride in it (hint, hint!)!
-
Wow, looks just like our car!!!! Beautiful
-
Hey, that's Dams Guys old car! Good purchase. I love that plaid interior.
-
It is Doug Eihler's (Dams Guy) car. A very fine example. Doug was aware of the positive ground thing. I don't remember when he sold the car. I'm guessing it was about 10 years ago.
-
So your actually saying that's the Dam car?
-
Doug was the caretaker of a couple of Dams in Oregon so he always went by "Dams Guy" on the old chats years ago. A job he could be dam proud of no doubt!
-
This HJ has been around a bit. But what a beautiful example of a HJ.
in 1996 the car was owned by Buzz Logan of Walla Walla, WA and then he sold it to Doug Eilers (Damsguy) who sold it to Lloyd Marrs until he passed and yesterday his widow Nancy sold this beauty to my chief mechanic ... Don Chamberlain. Today it rolled over to 40,000 miles.
-
Here is a photo with its current owner ... Don.
-
Gotta be a way to get those west coast beauties back east. I think there is a conspiracy working against us!
Don, does your radio work with the negative ground?
-
The 53 J I am working on had a Delco type regulator(no brand showing) ,but it was marked positive or negative ground. It has a 6 volt positive ground alternator now with a Optima battery.
The alternator keeps the battery at full charge all the time and the Optima charge does not wear down over long periods of inactivity. This is the second time I have done this and have absolutely no negatives.
-
If the radio has an original type vibrator, not a solid state replacement, the radio will work fine on negative or positive ground. Although if you do switch it, the songs may play backwards!
-
Does the key need to be in the on position when you use the jumper wire at the voltage regulator?
-
NO
-
Tried this on mine this morning and it worked perfect.
-
Fid I need clarification on this. You mean if I play a country song on the wrong polarity the guys wife comes back,his hound dog is resurrected, and his pickup is back on the road?
-
Yes of course retired wrench, and he sobers up too!