Michael Bremer wrote:
: When I turn on the light the meter rises. It appears to be a stock meter
: that doesn't have a lot of numbers, basically "0" on the left, "30" in the
: center and "60" on the right. If I extrapolate/interpolate/guesstimate the

If indeed the meter reads these values, there is likely an AD against it.
IIRC, the 0-60 Amp Loadmeters that were OK had a little white dot by the
number "60". The ad is AD-86-17-01. I found that it had not been done on
my airplane. The new loadmeter kit from Piper (PN 765-186) reads "0 35 70"
although the alternator is still rated at 60A.

I don't think that the AD is related to your problem, as it addresses
the meter connections. The original meter is in series with the alternator
output, which means that the 60A goes through the meter and a couple hefty
bolts on the back of the instrument panel. The new meter is a shunt type,
with about 6 feet of #2 wire for the shunt and 2 skinny wires (#20?)
connecting to the meter itself.

My old meter was sticking in cold weather. It would always indicate "0"
no matter what when the temp was below freezing. I have heard of this
happening in other Cherokees: the amp meter reads low in the winter. I don't
think this is your problem either.

I would guess that either the regulator is sticking or failed, or the starter
is hanging up (as I said earlier). The starter is easy to check, to check
the regulator measure the voltage somewhere convienient like the cig. lighter.
If the voltage stays about the same with different engine speeds and loads,
the regulator is probably OK.

Please let us (me) know what you find out!
--
Aaron Coolidge (N9367J)