Why can't my generator move?

Sparky

Sparky

Well-known member
My generator is shown in the attached picture. The circled areas show where the generator housing nearly touches the engine at the top and the water pipe at the bottom. Right now everything works fine and the fan belt tension is good, but there is no adjustment possible if the belt wears. Also I have to remove the generator pulley to remove or install the belt. This is a '29 radiator. What's wrong?
 

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The belt I have is fine. If it was longer I wouldn't be able to get it tight, because the generator can't pivot.
 
Your return pipe should be a little more rearward. Move it back a bit and that will give room for your generator to swing out. Then get a belt that is a little longer and don’t run the tension very tight. No need to and a tight belt can cause problems. Just tight enough to run things. Good luck.
 
The generator should pivot,loosen the bolt on the bottom.Oh,now I see your problem,your lower radiator pipe is rotated,loosen the clamps and rotate it down to clear the generator.
 
Sparky said:
My generator is shown in the attached picture. The circled areas show where the generator housing nearly touches the engine at the top and the water pipe at the bottom. Right now everything works fine and the fan belt tension is good, but there is no adjustment possible if the belt wears. Also I have to remove the generator pulley to remove or install the belt. This is a '29 radiator. What's wrong?
Click to expand...
You may have the wrong water pipe. Check out the Judging Standards, page 3-7.
 
Is it one of those alternators that is stuffed into a custom generator
case?

Case looks larger in diameter than stock.
 
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Could the pipe be on backwards? I looked at mine and the long straight comes from the radiator.
 
Jacksonlll said:
Your return pipe should be a little more rearward. Move it back a bit and that will give room for your generator to swing out. Then get a belt that is a little longer and don’t run the tension very tight. No need to and a tight belt can cause problems. Just tight enough to run things. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I think JacksonIII is correct. I had the same problem. Slide the water pipe back. As it goes into the engine side hose farther it will straighten out. It also appears to be slightly twisted as the valve should point straight down. Easy to try first before changing out a lot of parts.
 
If your radiator is a 1928-29 you may have a 1930-31 pipe which has the
wrong bend for the radiator outlet.


Bob
 
That’s what I wondered, but the suppliers seem to sell only the ‘28 powerhouse version and a “one size fits all” 29-31 version.
I’ll try twisting and sliding it and see if that helps.
 
Look at your generator mount bolt and mounting area. I see in your picture something that looks like a very odd piece of metal or something that does not belong in that area at least that part is not on my generator. If I took the same picture of my generator as you my picture would not have that part in it. I think your problem is the bolt that mounts your generator is not correct.
 
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