How to Install a 12-Volt Regulator
- 1). Disconnect the negative battery cable. This will prevent any accidental shock.
- 2). Unbolt or unscrew the voltage regulator and disconnect the wires. The regulator should be right on top of the alternator. There will be a red wire, a black wire, and a white wire. Remove the regulator.
- 3). Slide the new regulator into place. Clean the existing brushes with electrical contact cleaner, then lightly sand the contacts with sandpaper. If the brushes are excessively worn, you will need to replace them.
- 4). Adjust the brushes by compressing the spring and inserting a retaining pin through the access hole in the regulator. Make sure that the wear radius of the brush and the radius of the slip ring of the regulator match.
- 5). Inspect the regulator gasket. Replace it if it looks worn.
- 6). Reconnect the wires to the new regulator. The red wire goes to the positive post, the black wire to the negative post and the white wire to the ground post.
- 7). Flash the regulator by connecting a jumper wire to the negative terminal and inserting a 1/16-inch drill into the access hole for a second or two. Run the engine between 1,000 rpm and 1,200 rpm, then take a reading across the battery with a voltmeter. It should read about 13.5 volts.
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