What output should you expect from the regulator?

[LewisK]

Hello! Finally, two days ago, got to stretch the 1500's legs. Now, it runs hot - uncomfortably for me. Haring down the A5 causes the gauge to creep above the 3/4 mark but - fortunately - stay there. It shows no signs of overheating or boiling over - even after parking it up and letting it sit.<br>
<br>
Normal running around town sees it settle just over half on the gauge. <br>
<br>
Now, I'll be renewing the coolant tomorrow anyway but I'd just ask wether it could be the gauge. It's needle doesn't seem to settle at 0 - instead sitting just to the right of it and does 'jump' now and again. <br>
<br>
I put the voltmeter across the voltage regulator with the ignition live but not cranked, and it showed 12v on the input, but on the output it was fluctuating wildly.<br>
<br>
Is this normal? I assume it's just a simple relay or somesuch but I thought it just stuck out a constant ten volts?<br>
<br>
To check I took one of the spare ones I've got and it did exactly the same - fluctuating all over the place.<br>
<br>
Normal or broken? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Ta!

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<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves, we can't lose! You're on!</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p><i></i>

[dollysteve]

Sounds broke to me, guages should run a steady 10 volts otherwise the readings will be out. I changed mine for a club one and the guages were a lot steadier.

<p></p><i></i>

[LewisK]

Is this what contributes to the magical 'sleeping' rev counters then? My 1850 or Sprint never did it, yet my 1500 does. You have to tap, or rev it, for the gauge to awaken from it's slumber <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.antchip.com/sig2.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves, we can't lose! You're on!</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p><i></i>

[Jod Clark]

The output from a standard regulator does switch on and off, thereby generating an 'average' of 10V. No idea what causes 'sleepy' rev counters but when EDY was an 1850 that did it too.<br>
<br>
I wouldn't worry about your gauge reading, as long as it gets so far and rises no further I would say all is ok, after all its only an indication, not a scientific instrument. If the car survives the post-shutdown heatsoak without boiling over there is probably nothing wrong.<br>
<br>
You might have an 88 degree theromstat in there, would be worth a look. In my experience, the difference between 1/4 and 3/4 on the gauge is about 9 degrees.<br>
Jod

<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.towingandleisure.co.uk/images/bash.gif" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></p><i></i>

[tinweevil]

Agree with jod, pushrod jobs are pretty indestructible. Wouldn't do same on an alloy top tho.<br>
<br>
tin

<p>1978 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> Blue, a bit tetley.<br>
1972 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> No name, in bits.<br>
1968 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> Little blue, nice!<br>
1973 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> VA41, seriously tetley. - Current daily drive.<br>
1980 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/864">Dolomite 1500HL</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> Orange, Really quite tidy.</p><i></i>

[LewisK]

Aye, I think it is an 88 - grabbed it off the shelf in halfrauds - I think. I'll have a look when I take it out again tomorrow <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.antchip.com/sig2.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves, we can't lose! You're on!</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p><i></i>

[tinweevil]

Just noticed I made a bit of a mistake editing my sig at the beginning of the week. I'd think twice about driving VA41 250 inches, blue breezed the 250 miles on Monday and deserves the credit.<br>
<br>
vvvvvv should be better vvvvvv Hijack over.

<p>1978 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> Blue, a bit tetley. - Current daily drive.<br>
1972 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> No name, in bits.<br>
1968 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> Little blue, nice!<br>
1973 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> VA41, seriously tetley.<br>
1980 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/864">Dolomite 1500HL</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> Orange, really quite tidy.</p><i></i>