DIY Generator Tune-Up Tips

B

Big_Guys_baby

Senior Member
My 1946 Biz Coupe seems to have a charging problem. Still 6volt pos ground, all the wiring been replaced, many additional grounding wires added throughout.

Dash ammeter showed super erratic charging followed by discharge. Did the open voltage test (disconnected arm and field from regulator, connected with bolt... tested with multimeter to while engine running) and showed super low voltage at fast idle.

Took off the generator, removed casing and the general condition inside the generator is super dirty. Still lots of "meat" on brushes but one side totally erratically worn.

What is the best method of DIY cleaning and tune-up of this to see if I can get it charging? Should there by continuity between the Field terminal and the Ground terminal on the casing?

Surfaces on armature look quite corroded/dirty. How much play is allowed on the front pulley bearing?

Anyway to use a multimeter to bench test in my shop before I reinstall?

THANKS!

Jeff
 
Quick bump, trying to figure out if it is normal for there to be continuity between the Field and Ground terminal on the generator?

Cleaned an enormous amount of dirt and grime out of the generator, scotch brite padded the armature and installed new brushes. The old ones were worn down quite nastily.
 
Yes there should be , one end of the field is grounded to the case
the commutator should not be grounded

i don't remember how many ohms , it should draw about 3-4 amps at 6v ,

brushes wearing crooked is mostly caused by the brush spring not being centered on the brush

The commutator wear should be even, all bars the same color, if any look different the armature should be checked on a growler for a bad winding, the slots between the bars can be cleaned with a used havksaw blade ground thinner to fit the groove, then sanded with fine flint paper
 
Thanks Kurt! Once I cleaned the grime out, the commutator cleaned up quite well. I don't have a growler, but I think so much grime had built up that the brushes were stuck and not sliding freely in the channel. I will make sure the spring is centered on both.

Hopefully will get her up and charging today

thanks

Jeff
 
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