beachtrvlr
02-22-2008, 09:10 PM
Hi all, first post to this forum - have been a long time viewer, and have learned a lot just from perusing the great posts. Now, unfortunately, I have a reason to post a question of my own...
I've got a 1959 series II 109" 2.25 petrol, positive earth, LHD. I've had it a little over a year, and have had piles of fun with it so far. It is all original, but has a freshly rebuilt motor. It has been running like a top, no issues beyond the usual quirky things with old trucks...Some slow starting due to bad grounds, leaking Solex, etc.
Well, my general good fortune changed a couple of days ago, when out of the blue, sitting at an idle, the charge light came on, accompanied by a loud buzzing sound from the firewall. I assumed that I had broken a belt, but a tap on the gas made the charge light go out and buzzing stop. I drove home, and there was no light or buzzing above about 2k rpm. At home, I let it idle and lifted the bonnet. As suspected, the buzz was the VR. I popped the cover off, and discovered that the buzzing was caused by the "points" in the VR opening and closing rapidly, and arcing impressively when open. I stopped the engine, checked the belt for tightness - fine - disconnected the battery, and checked the face of the "points". Very pitted at this stage. Start it back up, and now the light is on at low idle, but no buzz (points closed). when slowing pressing the accelerator, the buzz comes on for a moment, then goes away when above around 2k rpm (points open). I am pretty mechainically inclined, but I don't know the finer points of how that VR is supposed to look/act on a normal day, so please keep that in mind for your explanation (dumb it down for me, please? ;-)
I've ordered a new VR from RN, but want to see if any of you have ever run across this buzzing/arcing phenomenon before, and know what started it. I don't want to roast another VR if possible! Thanks in advance for your input!
I've got a 1959 series II 109" 2.25 petrol, positive earth, LHD. I've had it a little over a year, and have had piles of fun with it so far. It is all original, but has a freshly rebuilt motor. It has been running like a top, no issues beyond the usual quirky things with old trucks...Some slow starting due to bad grounds, leaking Solex, etc.
Well, my general good fortune changed a couple of days ago, when out of the blue, sitting at an idle, the charge light came on, accompanied by a loud buzzing sound from the firewall. I assumed that I had broken a belt, but a tap on the gas made the charge light go out and buzzing stop. I drove home, and there was no light or buzzing above about 2k rpm. At home, I let it idle and lifted the bonnet. As suspected, the buzz was the VR. I popped the cover off, and discovered that the buzzing was caused by the "points" in the VR opening and closing rapidly, and arcing impressively when open. I stopped the engine, checked the belt for tightness - fine - disconnected the battery, and checked the face of the "points". Very pitted at this stage. Start it back up, and now the light is on at low idle, but no buzz (points closed). when slowing pressing the accelerator, the buzz comes on for a moment, then goes away when above around 2k rpm (points open). I am pretty mechainically inclined, but I don't know the finer points of how that VR is supposed to look/act on a normal day, so please keep that in mind for your explanation (dumb it down for me, please? ;-)
I've ordered a new VR from RN, but want to see if any of you have ever run across this buzzing/arcing phenomenon before, and know what started it. I don't want to roast another VR if possible! Thanks in advance for your input!