Ammeter pegged...

Mattax and All -

I got so much done this weekend. Got my son's CR 85R running again (had a blown headgasket and a crankcase full of coolant). Anywho. I procured a new VR because they're only about $30. I got it last week and brought it in to work and ground the paint off a mounting hole. Late last week I installed the VR and installed a ground wire under the bolt on the ground off metal (no paint) hole. I found a bolt that served as a good ground (confirmed it with my multi-meter). Installed the ground wire and double checked the terminals of the ground wire on both ends. Good continuity to the battery ground. So that was good to go.

I couldn't find a reasonable boot for the alternator terminal so for now I just installed it with no boot. But I found a 10-12 awg eyelet terminal with a built on shrink tube and crimped it on. It looks just like the terminal in the post above, and yes, the wire is 12 awg, not 10 awg (you were right).

Hooked it all back up after tightening the alternator stud nut. I fired up El Scampo. The ammeter went a little toward the + side immediately after firing, and slowly came down as the engine warmed and as the rpm came down as I backed off the choke. That seemed normal, and then it went perfectly centered when the choke was fully off. I let it idle for a while and watched and it never pegged out. And the AFR gauge worked correctly the whole time. The AFR gauge is a tattle tale as it freaks out when the ammeter pegs (the AFR gauge is bigger brighter than the ammeter so it serves as my indicator). This idle check was on Friday.

Saturday we were at a bmx race all day. Sunday, worked on the CR 85R a while, sold my 450X, and then finished the CR 85R. Sunday evening my parents came to the Cancer center in Newnan (about 15 miles from me), and I decided to drive El Scampo and watch the ammeter, to meet them in Newnan for supper.

I did and it never pegged out and stayed nominal the whole time (about 30 miles worth). I'll keep monitoring this, but it seems I may have this resolved.

On a different note, I raised the floats (while it's been out of commission) from the suggested Edelbrock instructed float height. I raised the floats by 1/8th inch. It ran fine, but it has moved richer across the board. I didn't think a deeper puddle would affect the AFR, but had considered the possibility. I did this in an attempt to prevent the carb from running out of fuel at the drag strip. But I'll have to retune it because with a warm engine and at WOT it was running about 10.9:1, versus 12.2:1. And 12.2 gives it max power at WOT.

Thanks for ALL THE SUPPORT!


7milesout