Flickering lights

[Bryant Cottam]

First off this forum is more addicting than . . . well . . . something addicting (insert your other addiction). I love all the help offered here.
Now for the good stuff. When I turn my lights on with my scout at idle they do fine and no problems. However, when I rev up the engine the amp meter guage begins to jump back and forth and simultaneously all the lights begin to go bright and dim in sync with the guge needle. But when I push in the glow plug "trucky" button it stops and they do fine. (yet another use for that astheticaly pleasing "trucky" button) Is this an internal alternator problem or loose belt or what? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Mike Moore]

Your diesel is possessed by the jealous demon of a gasser! You need an exorcist, man!

Seriously, that's odd. This is going to sound generic, but check the ground connections at both ends of the ground cable from the battery to the engine, and also the engine to the frame. It might be grounding back through the glow plug cicuit or sumthi stupid like that. That's odd, though...I'll give you that!

[John Donnelly]

Clean and adjust your Voltage Regulator as well.

Mike Moore is correct also.

The Grounds on Diesel Scouts are worse than the grounds on Gasser Scouts.

Check the condition of your ground wire from the - terminal on the battery to the connection on the block (should be on one of the motor mount bolts from the mount to the motor itself).

If the cable isn't attached there, attach it there. If your cable is sketchy, replace it.

Make sure the ground stud on the body is connected to the Engine flywheel housing as well. This should be a white ten-gage wire that runs from the body to the housing... it is near the starter.

The voltage regulator needs to have it's contacts cleaned, and the gaps checked and/or adjusted as well.

Keep on Dieselin',

John

[Paul "Misterfixit" Schulz]

the brushes in the alternator could also be of concern causing the symptons you describe.

[Baradium]

I vote it being a ground somewhere. Bad grounds can cause some weird stuff.

So can plugging up a trailer without drying the connector first when it's raining...

[Bryant Cottam]

Well it's taken a while but I have now grounded everything as much as possible with no nonsense ground wires and the the problem is . . . . worse. Yes, that is right worse. However, now I can say the needle bouncing is more responsive and quick. (that observation did not make me feel better at the time).
I am contemplating what to do now. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Keep dieseln, even if you are a driving a moving strobe light.

[John Donnelly]

Originally posted by Bryant Cottam
Well it's taken a while but I have now grounded everything as much as possible with no nonsense ground wires and the the problem is . . . . worse. Yes, that is right worse. However, now I can say the needle bouncing is more responsive and quick. (that observation did not make me feel better at the time).
I am contemplating what to do now. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Keep dieseln, even if you are a driving a moving strobe light.

You should have a good ground from the engine to the battery.

You should have a heavy ground strap from the engine to the body.

THEN....

Run a ten gage wire from the alternator body "E" (for EARTH) to the (neg) terminal on the Battery.

This usually cures the pulsing issue.

Do not confuse the power lug on the back of the alternator with the "E" connection.

Did you inspect your voltage regulator?

Keep on Dieselin',

John

[drobson]

I'm with John, check the regulator. These regulators are adjustable, and do have some wear over the years. I had a bad reg in my gas Scout, and it did the same thing you describe. When it would pulse toward "C", the battery was being overcharged, which is bad. Also, clean the connector at the regulator as well. There is also a bullet connector at the starter which is the main feed out of the alternator/ammeter. Check and clean as well. Good luck.

[Bryant Cottam]

thanks guys I will need to run a 10 guage line off the "E" terminal on the battery. How do you check to see if the regulator is good or not? Thanks for any help.

[John Donnelly]

Originally posted by Bryant Cottam
thanks guys I will need to run a 10 guage line off the "E" terminal on the battery. How do you check to see if the regulator is good or not? Thanks for any help.

Bryant,

Do you have the Diesel Scout engine service manual?

It is outlined in the electrical section.

The manual is CTS-2790, and is available from Binder Books, www.binderbooks.com if you don't have it, which you should.

If you don't, post here, and I will try and get you through it without the manual, but it won't be easy.

Keep on Dieselin',

John