one wire conversion difficulty

[maxwedge5281]

seemed simple enough so i decided today was a good day for the conversion. thought i had done everything right but obviously i did not. the bronco cranks and does not charge and will only run for a few seconds before dying. i will attach a picture of what i removed from the wiring harness. the bronco ran fine moving it out of the garage. i could not add an image...i will keep trying...i am a contributor!!!

 

[chuckji]

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/how-to-upload-photos-become-a-contributor.34373/

 

[1969miller]

did you knock the coil wire loose when you were removing some wiring?

 

[ba123]

Engine should keep running regardless of charge from alt. Like @1969miller suggested, it’s something else.

Could be that, could be a short.

If you were a contributor before, it expired..same thing happened to me and I didn’t realize why I couldn’t post. Pay the tiny amount to be a contributor and post some pics and let us help.

 

[maxwedge5281]

i got my dues paid...thanks for letting me know. i have a picture posted on my question.

 

[maxwedge5281]

the voltmeter shows that the alternator is not charging. i checked all the wires and they seem to be okay. i see in the pic of the wires removed a large black with yellow wire and that makes me wonder if it should be tied into the system??? it cranks right up but seems to run out of fuel and dies. hard to believe this could happen at the same time as the conversion.

 

[ba123]

What’s the voltage reading while running. Just cause it says you aren’t charging, doesn’t mean you aren’t (with a 1-wire).

 

[maxwedge5281]

it reads 12 volt as if it is reading the battery voltage.

 

[ba123]

That’s not good.

Which alt is it?

Did you clean to bare metal, the mounting point for the alt to the bracket and then the bracket to the head and the head surface? That’s your ground.

 

[Wild horse 75]

Did you rev up the engine? 1 wire alternators need to be excited. Some will excite themselves at idle others need a kick in the pants to start charging.

 

[m_m70]

Some will excite themselves at idle others need a kick in the pants to start charging.

This^^^^ Mine kicks in at ~1500 rpms

 

[BronCowie]

This^^^^ Mine kicks in at ~1500 rpms

Mine does the same.

 

[ba123]

That sucks but I guess fine once you’re used to it.

Mine needs nothing, or so it seems. I’ve pretty much only idled so far.

Powermaster 200 amp. I love it.

 

[maxwedge5281]

it is the one wire from wild horses...no i did not clean the surfaces but the cable and alternator are new and the solenoid post clean. i did rev the engine but no chare above the state of the battery. it cranks up but dies similarly to fuel starvation or perhaps float is stuck? just hard to think that happening at the time???

 

[ba123]

You have two things with a one wire alt.

1) Power wire
2) Ground

You need both. How’s it grounded? It’s either through the clean connection through the head and block, or another second cable to ground.

Also should prob go straight to battery, not solenoid. You can then go solenoid to battery. Prob fine how it is but most 1-wires go straight.

 

[maxwedge5281]

i thought a would post a more complete picture. this is all i removed from the 69 wiring harness. notice i snipped one small black wire which was grounded to the block. could this possibly the problem? also i did run a wire..small gauge from the back of the alternator to the block. just a note except for the top bolt that holds the alternator...long bolt...all the nuts and bottom adjustment bolt

are metric...your stock bolt is too large.

 

[chuckji]

Isn’t there a wire from the original regulator that goes to the ignition coil via the ignition key switch? Just a thought - maybe someone with more knowledge in this area could advise.

 

[ba123]

You prob removed the engine ground and that’s why it isn’t charging AND why it barely runs.

Battery negative should run straight from bat to block. I have mine attached on the starter bolt.

Put a ground somewhere and see if that fixes it.

 

[Oldtimer]

Post a picture of the connecors on your alternator.

This thread talks about the white-black stripe wire not being plugged in properly.

WH one wire alternator help

people, this is an embarrassing post but i’m going to post it anyway. somehow, I failed at a one-wire alternator installation. i’m on my third alternator now looking for some advice or diagnostic to run or... someone to come over and buy me a drink or something. here’s what happened: I did...

classicbroncos.com

 

[maxwedge5281]

as much as i hate to admit it....i evidently did not get the lower adjustment bolt tight enough and as soon as i cranked the engine and it started, it pulled the alternator toward the engine and loosened the fan belt so much that it was not tight enough to turn the alternator. properly adjustment and bingo...off and running. thanks to each who contributed suggestions...MY BAD!!!!