First drive

[Bambi Girl]

Hi Rudi
Hi all
Thank you for your reply.
Since my last post I have:
Checked connections F , N , E on the alternator ( 3 pin plug ) and the wire loom.
Checked connection B on the alternator and single plug wire loom.
Lost a 12 mm socket that fell and did not fit the floor.
Checked grounding.

Clamp Amp meter AC no problem sadly DC no.
I can not say I have seen a DC clamp meter.
In measuring the voltages I notice a voltage drop across the fuse link to be 0.50 of a volt.
The connection all look good with no corrosion.
For testing can I run a 6 mm wire from the alternator point ( B ) to the battery and measure first voltage then fit an inline amp meter .
Can I put a test inline amp meter on the WL wire between the fuse link and the battery.
Also while all this is going on I now have lost all movement of the amp meter.
I know they did not work from new but you always get a small movement I thought.
Well it did a week ago.
The last big Question is this Gell battery suitable to be charged by 1982 technology?
Thanks for your help
Cheers Peter

...via IH8MUD app

 

[bj40green]

If you have a 50-0-50 Ammeter in your cluster ('79 and later) you'll see only a "twitching" movement when you have the hazards on.

That's a hell of a battery. If that battery is not fully charged than there will be a heavy charge current which can explain the 0.5V voltage drop.

You can put a DC amp meter (select the highest DC Amp function on your Digital Multi Meter) in series anywhere between the alternator and the battery. Easiest probably on the battery side. The big question is..... how much amps can your multi meter deal with.
My own DMM is labeled 10ADC but when I look at the test leads I wonder how long before they start smoking.

Or skip this and recharge the battery overnight with a battery charger and go from there.
Every battery charger has an Amp meter so it will tell you how full (or empty) your battery actually is.
When your battery is fully charged we can go from there.

Rudi

 

[Bambi Girl]

Hi Rudi
Right on
The Gell battery is on charge with the Gell battery charger . Sadly I went for the poverty pack charger @ $75.00 instead of the deluxe version the latter having an amp meter.
Cheers


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[lostmarbles]

Hi Peter.

I can see you'll have to bring your FJ40LX when you drop around here so we can sort this out..(I have a DC clip-on ammeter we could use.)

If that fusible link is getting warm/hot from battery charging then your ammeter (in your FJ40 combination meter) should be giving you decent readings. Is that the case?

And your alternator is not OEM (if I'm not mistaken).

An OEM alternator would have an output of only 40 amps I believe. So what is the output of this aftermarket alternator?

Whatever it is, it is bound to be considerably more than 40A and this in my opinion will be the reason for your fusible link getting hot (because the aftermarket alternator will be sending far more current to your battery than the Toyota loom designers anticipated).

If you've upgraded your alternator and still want to protect your loom with a fusible link (and it is crazy not to have protection I think), I believe you have no choice but to reduce the safety-margin of your fusible link. In other words, instead of having it 2-sizes smaller than the wire it protects, perhaps make it only one size smaller.

- Tom

PS. When your fusible link is heating noticeably, it does (or SHOULD) give you wide needle-swings on your ammeter (which is nice because that gives you clear indication of whether your battery is charging or discharging) but the unfortunate side-effect is that when your fusible link is hot/warm it is also susceptible to "blowing". (And I prefer reliability over ammeter-performance.)

 

[Bambi Girl]

Hi Tom
Hi All
Yes agree on what you are saying . For the time being till this is sorted I will be fitting a 25 amp inline fuse to protect the loom.
I changed the voltage reg back to the OEM unit and I now have a lower volt reading 12.3 to 12.6 .
The current draw must be less because the link is just , just warm.
However I did fully charge the Gell battery using a Gell charger.
To investigate this matter further I need to install an amp meter.
Work has got in the way again as today I prepare to come to your part of the world tomorrow.
Quick trip this time as I'm home Thursday.
Today I'm dropping my seats into the seat upholster to be reworked. I had planned to fit Recaro seats that I had already purchased BUT on fittings the seats I found them uncomfortable and the forty just did not look right so off to the upholster it is.
Nats giving me the hurry up. Must go.
Cheers Peter .


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[dancar]

Peter,

Apologies for the tardy reply. Am up at Woomera for work at the moment.

So you're back to the OEM voltage regulator and are not having issues?

 

[Bambi Girl]

Hi Dan
Woomera been there .
Great photo.
The name means throwing stick ( don't quote me as I was about 5 when I lived there.)
Testing my memory but found by Len Bardell as a place to let off a bomb.
The SA Suzuki 4WD Club had Len as a guest speaker many years ago.
What a great Australian.
That's an opening for you to fill in the gaps.

Work always seems to get in the way.
I'm off to NZ tomorrow so the Toyota is back on hold again.
I had a drive of the forty this morning with the old OEM reg and the volt meter was reading just over 12 volt .
A little low . I think this voltage reg is trying to tell me something.
I will fit a amp gauge next to see what charge is going to the battery.
I was told today there are camel races on at Tara ( west of Brisbane 3 to 4 hour drive ) think this will be my next adventure.

So with all of that what do you know about adjusting mechanical voltage regulars
Cheers Peter




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[lostmarbles]

....found by Len Bardell as a place to let off a bomb.
The SA Suzuki 4WD Club had Len as a guest speaker many years ago.
What a great Australian...

I'm only a kiwi ... but don't you mean Len Beadell Peter. (Who bush-bashed a Landrover through remote parts of the outback accurately surveying tracks via the stars for a small follow-up crew to bulldoze.)



(With one track called the "Anne Beadell Highway" near Laverton in WA even bearing his daughter's name.)

...posted 4am in the morning (New Zealand time)

 

[Bambi Girl]

Hi Tom
That's the Guy .
Made the Gun Barrel Highway . This one is on my bucket list.
May be a good trip for you and the BJ40.
4.00 am who posts at that time.
Can you turn to the Sun Gods and turn up the heat for my arrival. Told to expect 15 deg C or below is that right?
Just found out that there is no Qantas lounge at Auckland domestic.
So 3 hours to explore the airport. Should be fun.
Dan what type of job takes you to Woomera?
Cheers Peter




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[Solace in Solitude]

Great picture @dancar !!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Hi Tom
That's the Guy .
Made the Gun Barrel Highway . This one is on my bucket list.
May be a good trip for you and the BJ40.

The Gunbarrel Highway looks like the perfect trip for you and Tom to make together, Peter!!

That's a drive I'd love to make... But, with proper planning for a LONG excursion!

 

[Bambi Girl]

Hi All
The Gunbarrel
Danny is coming to. The way to go.
Can we also invite The Coolerman and Rudi , could be handy on a break down .
Think we also need Ken and Dan for some Australian content.
What do you think Tom?
This could be the Mud event of a life time.
Cheers



...via IH8MUD app

 

[Solace in Solitude]

I'd love to participate... But I can't afford to bring 44 to Oz... the US-Oz ferry is way too expensive... And the bridge won't be finished for few centuries...

It's always good to take electrical geniuses along, like @Coolerman and Rudi (@bj40green), but don't forget, as I said earlier, "I can help you short out your electrical issues".

It would be a MUD event of a lifetime though...

Edit: HERE'S a movie about it!!

 

[Ken White]

Sounds like work is definitely getting the way Pete. As for Woomera I don't believe that Len founded it. He was commissioned by the British government of the time to survey a test site for the nuclear bomb and used Maralinga just out of Woomera. He then went on to survey and build the highways in outback W.A. I have read all his books and they are a great read if you ever get the chance.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

@Ken White

Thanks for the testament! I am always on the hunt for good books!!

 

[Ken White]

 

[Ken White]

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Thanks Ken!

I've been reading up on him and his adventures... What a job! A new adventure every day!!

I'll be reading all his books.

Thanks again!!

 

[Ken White]

I have his full set of books here and they are a great and funny read. He was truly one of the last bushmen in Aust and his skill to get him out of a situation was amazing. Just a pitty he didnt drive a 40 when he did all this.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

I have his full set of books here and they are a great and funny read. He was truly one of the last bushmen in Aust and his skill to get him out of a situation was amazing. Just a pitty he didnt drive a 40 when he did all this.

Yes, it is...

... And it doesn't look like the fishing is very good in that area...

But, it would be a real adventure to experience!