more starting/charging problems. Novice

[rob1954]

My wifes "new" 1954 minor has been stood for 10 years and I'm having some charging problems. Initially the red light wasn't going off when started. A new regulator seemed to cure this. However, the tick over was a little high. I adjusted it down and now the red light is back on but will go out when revved.
Am I looking at a new dynamo? I've stripped it down and checked the brushes, cleaned the commutator and it seems all ok. In fact there's very little to go wrong.

Any ideas?

[steve4063]

its quite common for the red light to be on at tickover

as long as it goes out immediately once you touch the throttle its fine

[picky]

as steve says, sounds like nothing is wrong. if you increase the idle speed a little bit the light may go out.

[Welung666]

My 63 4 door daily car used to have this problem. I changed the bushes in the dynamo but still the same so I turned the tickover up a touch and the light hardly ever comes on now when running.

[rob1954]

Oh right.

Thanks guys. I've got to get used to this 1950's motoring.

[MoggyTech]

A little trick is to set the idle speed so that the charge light just goes out, but comes on dimly when the clutch is pressed. The Moggy thrust bearing creates drag on the clutch plate and slows the engine a tad.

[bmcecosse]

It's the reason alternators are fitted - they are designed to spin faster without falling apart (smaller pulley fitted) and so can provide a useful charge when idling. More important these days than it was in the 50s when traffic jams were unusual!