Generator Output Voltage

[aclark20]

I've got a recently rebuilt generator that's only putting out 0.5v... Adjusting the third brush gives me anywhere between 0.4 and 0.7v, essentially a tenth of what it should be.... Engine off I get 0v on the generator side of the cutout, and 6.2v on the battery side. Running I get 0.3v on the generator side, and 6.1v on the battery side.

I thought I had it working a few weeks ago, polarized, adjusted the brush and got a good charge rate out of it, but I came back to it after a few weeks of sitting and it's voltage output is low. I tried re-polarizing but there's no change...

I've taken it apart a few times looking for short's, etc, but haven't found anything yet.... any suggestions on where to look??

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

A generator without the field working will put out about 1/2 volt from the residual magnetism. I would lift the adjustable brush off the commutator and apply 6 volts from a battery charge to it. You should get about a 4 amp draw on the battery charger meter when using the 6 volt charge to energize the field windings. It sounds like the other end of the field coil isn't well grounded, or the connection between the two field coils may be bad. That connection should be twisted, clean wires that are soldered together. I've seen some problems when someone twisted them, but did not solder them.

Do this check and let us know what you find.