Morris Minor Owners Club

Many thanks for your help but I am still struggling I think the problem is that I have fitted an alternator and discarded the old regulator .I got the instuctions from a reputable web site, but having now found the diagram on a previous thread this is completly different to the instructions I have got. Could somebody please confirm that the instuctions on the Morris Minor thread are correct because if so I will have to pull mine apart and start again.As I have said this is a total rebuild so I have not got many other electrical items connected.Most of this morning has been spent soldering on brass bullets Very boring..

Of COURSE this Minor website is correct! The wiring of an alternator could not be more simple ! Do tell us where you found a " reputable web site " - other than this one!
Best plan is to leave the voltage regulator in place - and just run cables to the alternator. Simples!<br><br>

Just one thought: The presence or lack of an alternator or dynamo has absolutely nothing to do with whether the engine will start or not. You need a well charged battery plus working fuel pump, coil and distributor. Add either a starter motor or a starting handle and you're away. A switch makes it simple to turn off, but you can take the feed direct from the battery to the various devices if what you really want is to start the car; and then worry about other things afterwards.

Probably - if the regulator has been removed - there is now no feed to the Ignition circuits !

I was thinking the same as simmitc.
Whether the engine runs or not doesn't depend on the charging system.

One thing worth noting is that is a bad idea to spin an alternator with no load on it (disconnected) I think it damages the diodes.

Does it no harm at all.

I have always been told that you should never run an alternator on an open circuit. Never tested the theory as I don't want the expense of replacing the alternator.

It depends on the design of the alternator. I can assure you that with some units it most certainly does destroy the diode pack. However, it's not a problem on most modern units.

Well - I've had wires break off etc - and no damage done! What does wreck them - is electric welding on the car. Always disconnect the alternator before any form of electric welding.