voltage regulator restoration

[Ronald C.]

Anyone have a good source for voltage regulator restoration? I have 2 for my 1956 coupe that were rebuilt by someone else; and while they look fantastic they operate poorly. One is putting out almost 20 volts and the other wont maintain a voltage, oscillating 10-18 volts. I have contacted J. Pinto but he says he can not help me. I have tried to contact John Pirkel but cant seem to get a return call. I am desperate as regionals and nationals are fast approaching.

[Gary B.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

Ron,

I know Bill Caldwell's ad in the Driveline only mentions 63-68 voltage regulators, but he might have a suggestion for whom could restore your '56 regulator if you call him. His ad is on page 103 of the latest Driveline.

Gary

[Ronald C.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

Thank you for the quick replay... and I apologize for the typo. I ma actually looking for a 65 voltage regulator.

[Gary B.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

Ron,

Well then, Bill can almost certainly provide you with a regulator that works properly. Of course, his niche is installing solid state guts into original housings, and the downside to that is it may then fail a PV test, since solid state behaves differently from the original 1960's technology. But for Flight judging, I think you'd be OK.

Gary

[Dan P.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

I had trouble with my 9001 regulator on my 1957 after it was restored . This what i found out .ALL and I mean ALL any of these people do is clean and reset the points.So weather you take it to a local re builder or send it off and pay the big dollars all you get is the points cleaned and readjusted .Some people say there is a coating on the point contacts and after they are cleaned a couple of times it is gone . I do not know if this is true.Mine would quit when it warmed up. So there was a problem in one of the components .I could find NO one willing to fix it .I spent hundreds of dollars on it because it was dated for my car and I could not find another .I had two choices throw it away or have it converted to solid state.I had it converted and it worked great .On my next 57 if by very lightly cleaning the points the regulator does not work it will converted to solid state .I will NOT send another off to be rebuilt.

[John H.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

I had trouble with my 9001 regulator on my 1957 after it was restored . .I had two choices throw it away or have it converted to solid state.I had it converted and it worked great .

Dan -

Where were you able to get it converted to solid-state for use with a generator?

[Dan P.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

Robert Jeffers did a great job fast turn around and very reasonable. 603 654 9852.

[Patrick S.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

Another recommendation For Mr Jeffers, He did my 62 and after many hours trying to get the original mechanical to work, it now acts like it should.

[Gary B.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

Dan and Patrick,

I'm confused. Does Robert Jeffers do more than just a cosmetic restoration? Does he use solid state internals? Or original internals? Does he do something different to the internal components compared to what others have been criticized for?

Gary

[Patrick S.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

He converts the regulator to solid state. Work great!

[Domenic T.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

I had trouble with my 9001 regulator on my 1957 after it was restored . This what i found out .ALL and I mean ALL any of these people do is clean and reset the points.So weather you take it to a local re builder or send it off and pay the big dollars all you get is the points cleaned and readjusted .Some people say there is a coating on the point contacts and after they are cleaned a couple of times it is gone . I do not know if this is true.Mine would quit when it warmed up. So there was a problem in one of the components .I could find NO one willing to fix it .I spent hundreds of dollars on it because it was dated for my car and I could not find another .I had two choices throw it away or have it converted to solid state.I had it converted and it worked great .On my next 57 if by very lightly cleaning the points the regulator does not work it will converted to solid state .I will NOT send another off to be rebuilt.

Dan,
I bought a bunch of points (no arms just the small button thatis attached), and they did not have a coating on them.
They were for ignition points.

I did a few Delco regulators that had pitted points and found that the points have to be polished to a gloss to last. Another thing was to make sure tha gasket was good and install the cover without letting any oxygen in.
The oxygen seems to let the points oxidize after a while so I use nitrogen when putting the covers back on.
They were all re adjusted and it's been many years with no problems.

DOM

[John H.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

He converts the regulator to solid state. Work great!

Patrick -

Is Mr. Jeffers an elderly gentleman in his 90's?

[Gary B.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

John,

Based on a google search I did, I think Mr. Jeffers passed away in 2013 and his business was closed.

Gary

[John H.]

Re: voltage regulator restoration

John,

Based on a google search I did, I think Mr. Jeffers passed away in 2013 and his business was closed.

Gary

Gary -

That's what I was getting at - he made a solid-state regulator for a friend's '61 that works perfectly, and that owner indicated that the fellow had passed away recently.