Mke sure all the contacts, particularly at the regulator, are clean and shiny.
Corrosion causes a voltage drop. Add up a couple voltage drops and pretty
soon you're well below the 14.2 volts you need to charge the battery.
http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/howitworks.shtml
Dave
> Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:22:06 +0200
> From: midget@maxengland.com
> To: spridgets@autox.team.net
> Subject: [Spridgets] battery not charging. Midget MK3
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I have a battery charging issue on my 1968 midget. The battery doesn't
> really charge, or al least not enough. Here are the symptoms:
>
> At idle (900 rpm), the ignition light is on (but dim), which I assume is
> normal with generators. When cruising or with revs over 1000rpm it is
> off (or maybe it is so dim that I can really not see it at all). After a
> drive during the day the battery has charged very little and I never
> know whether I'll be able to crank up the engine afterwards or if the
> battery will be too low.
>
> When driving at night with lights on, the ignition light is sometimes
> off and sometimes on. It can remain on, or off, for a few minutes, then
> change. It sometimes also stays either on or off for the whole drive.
> When on, the ignition light gets brighter the more I accelerate. After
> driving at night with lights on, I am nearly sure the battery will be
> too low to restart.
>
> The battery is not the cause: I charged it for a night and was able to
> drive without problems for a few days afterwards... until it came flat
> again.
> I tested the engine earth connection and it seems good.
> I tested the current regulator according to the Haynes workshop manual
> (that is with a lead between D and F terminals clipped together and the
> generator as far as I remember) various times and was able to set it to
> the values they recommend.
> I have been having this problem for some time and recently replaced the
> generator with a spare one I had: same problem. The charcoals look good.
> The belt also looks tight. Maybe I should try to tighten it even more,
> but I have the feeling the problem does not come from there.
>
> Any ideas welcome :-)
>
> Max
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