<VV> voltage regulator questions (EM)

[Frank DuVal]

Most of the time the points in the regulator corrode or tarnish while 
sitting. You clean them with clean white paper. Drag it through the 
contacts while applying slight pressure. Apply too much pressure, and 
you change the regulator settings. Usually recoverable up to the point 
where you bend something. Note the contacts may be on both the top and 
bottom of the moveable contact.

Stay away from sandpaper unless the corrosion is really bad. you just 
want to shine the contacts, not remove the surface coating. Card stock, 
notebook paper, try all white paper products you may have lying around. 
What have you got to loose? It doesn't work now....

Read the applicable section in the shop manual. It usually covers 
cleaning and adjusting.

Corrosion on the springs shouldn't be an issue. Just spray with contact 
cleaner, alcohol, WD-40...  Keep WD-40 and other oily products off the 
contacts. It just causes trouble since the contacts don't close fully in 
some operating situations.

jvh answered the condenser question.

Frank DuVal

On 7/10/2012 4:37 PM, Ramon Rodriguez III wrote:
> Hiya guys.  I'm trying to help out a guy I met online who is trying to get
> his 61 Corvair sedan running and he needs a voltage regulator.  I have
> about five spares lying around so I just went out and tested all of them
> (by installing on one of my cars and checking for charging voltage).  None
> of the five worked (no charging).  These things look so simple inside I
> can't imagine what might be wrong with them, but admittedly I have no idea
> how they work.
>
> Are there any tips out there that might help me get some of these working
> again?  Two of them look almost brand new inside and out.  The only thing I
> see is a little corrosion on the springs on the back side, but it's very
> minor on at least one of them.
>
> Also, the little condenser looking thing attached at the bottom;  What does
> it do?  I'm short on these and if they are just to prevent radio
> interference I really don't need them on the cars I don't have stereo's in.
>
>
> Thanks!
>