Duke
Donation Time
What was I thinking…cross country in a Tiger……….
……………with a generator.
I get up at 0350 on Thursday morning with a 740 mile trip to Round Rock, TX ahead of me. The Tiger had been extensively prepped for the trip to include a fresh pan of oil and pressure blead brakes. I even put the hard top on the car to the detriment of the paint under its feet.
I am on the road at 0500 in the dark and rain. Around 20 minutes into the drive I notice that the AMP meter is reading a steady 10 amp drain. I step on the clutch and let the engine drop to idle hoping that the generator will pick up the load again, it does not. At 0620 I am in Lawrence, KS (in the rain) looking for an auto parts store. I need another voltage regulator. The regulator on the car is only a month old. I turn off the lights and am running on the parking lights only to the dismay of fellow motorist that insist on notifying me that my lights are not on by flashing.
I pull into an Advance Auto parts story and turn off the engine. For grins I try to start it again, not even a click from the solenoid, the battery is dead. The store opens and hour later and to my dismay find out that they do not have a regulator. In fact no one has one in that town. Advanced could have one delivered from another store at 1100…..so I wait. The battery is pulled (in the rain) and put on a charger and I go and get breakfast….in the rain. An hour later, I push the car under an overhang at the front of a closed grocery store and install the battery. While waiting a guy pulls up and introduces himself as a fellow Tiger owner. We talk for awhile, he offers any help he can and then I get a call from the store that my part has arrived. I quickly install the regulator and am on my way…in the rain. The AMP meter is showing a nice +10 amp. The generator is working again.
In fact, it is working too well……..the amp output never drops off even after hours of driving. The new regulator is over charging and over volting the system. My temp and fuel gauge max out due to the over voltage. I continue on and even disconnect the generator for two hours of driving. I finally get to my destination at 2200. I also have a nice ticket from a Police Officer that I received 4.5 miles from my destination. 90 in a 65, I was feeling froggy and passed some traffic at the wrong time. It was I 35 and had four lanes to play with. The radar detector on the dash did not help as he came up behind me.
The next day, I go to the local Advanced Auto parts and order another voltage regulator. I also decide that I must have a spare generator for the return journey. I get on the internet and phone looking for a generator. Absolutely no luck, I even get laughed at by some people. I did get a tip to call Thrall salvage in Thrall, TX. The guy tells me he has several on the shelf and it is only 30 minutes from my location. I drive there and pick one up, in good condition and for $40. I then drop it off at Texas Alternator and Starter for it to be rebuilt. The new regulator arrives and I install it. The system is now charging properly but I fear that the generator on the car is on borrowed time due to the overcharging ordeal. Before I head back up to Kansas on Friday, I will install the rebuilt generator and use the other as a spare.
On my return trip Friday, I look forward to stopping by Andy Walkers place, meeting him and seeing his car.
Hopefully it will be a non eventful return trip………………………………yea, right.
……………with a generator.
I get up at 0350 on Thursday morning with a 740 mile trip to Round Rock, TX ahead of me. The Tiger had been extensively prepped for the trip to include a fresh pan of oil and pressure blead brakes. I even put the hard top on the car to the detriment of the paint under its feet.
I am on the road at 0500 in the dark and rain. Around 20 minutes into the drive I notice that the AMP meter is reading a steady 10 amp drain. I step on the clutch and let the engine drop to idle hoping that the generator will pick up the load again, it does not. At 0620 I am in Lawrence, KS (in the rain) looking for an auto parts store. I need another voltage regulator. The regulator on the car is only a month old. I turn off the lights and am running on the parking lights only to the dismay of fellow motorist that insist on notifying me that my lights are not on by flashing.
I pull into an Advance Auto parts story and turn off the engine. For grins I try to start it again, not even a click from the solenoid, the battery is dead. The store opens and hour later and to my dismay find out that they do not have a regulator. In fact no one has one in that town. Advanced could have one delivered from another store at 1100…..so I wait. The battery is pulled (in the rain) and put on a charger and I go and get breakfast….in the rain. An hour later, I push the car under an overhang at the front of a closed grocery store and install the battery. While waiting a guy pulls up and introduces himself as a fellow Tiger owner. We talk for awhile, he offers any help he can and then I get a call from the store that my part has arrived. I quickly install the regulator and am on my way…in the rain. The AMP meter is showing a nice +10 amp. The generator is working again.
In fact, it is working too well……..the amp output never drops off even after hours of driving. The new regulator is over charging and over volting the system. My temp and fuel gauge max out due to the over voltage. I continue on and even disconnect the generator for two hours of driving. I finally get to my destination at 2200. I also have a nice ticket from a Police Officer that I received 4.5 miles from my destination. 90 in a 65, I was feeling froggy and passed some traffic at the wrong time. It was I 35 and had four lanes to play with. The radar detector on the dash did not help as he came up behind me.
The next day, I go to the local Advanced Auto parts and order another voltage regulator. I also decide that I must have a spare generator for the return journey. I get on the internet and phone looking for a generator. Absolutely no luck, I even get laughed at by some people. I did get a tip to call Thrall salvage in Thrall, TX. The guy tells me he has several on the shelf and it is only 30 minutes from my location. I drive there and pick one up, in good condition and for $40. I then drop it off at Texas Alternator and Starter for it to be rebuilt. The new regulator arrives and I install it. The system is now charging properly but I fear that the generator on the car is on borrowed time due to the overcharging ordeal. Before I head back up to Kansas on Friday, I will install the rebuilt generator and use the other as a spare.
On my return trip Friday, I look forward to stopping by Andy Walkers place, meeting him and seeing his car.
Hopefully it will be a non eventful return trip………………………………yea, right.
