Generator Rebuilding

If the generator will motor It can be overhauled . If not, you will have to have special equipment such as a growler and continuity tester to find where the problems are. I figure if you had the necessary equipment you wouldn't be asking.
 
Order "The Model A Generator, with special setions on The Model A Starter, The Model A Cutout, The Model A Starter Switch." It's by Paul H. and William H. Mcree. Most Model A suppliers have it. I go through it page by page, paragraph by paragraph when I am doing a rebuild.
 
I take great pleasure in tearing certain things apart and making the necessary repairs to make it work again. Generators are not one of them. My step by step procedure to rebuild one is:
1. Remove it.
2. Take it to my local repair guy that does this type of thing for a living.
3. Wait for his call to tell me it is done.
4. Pick it up and put it on.
Works for me. :)
 
I agree with BudP, The Paul and William Mcree generator and starter book is the very best. There is a video titled genning along with Lloyd and Floyd. that is sold by Snyders and Bratton. Brattons catalog has very good info and internal wiring legend for the generator.. If the generator will run like an electric motor when you connect the positive cable of a battery charger as ground on the housing with good connection. Connect the ground cable to terminal post on the generator and the pully shoult begin to turn in the clockwise direction. Thats clockwise when standing in front of the pulley and turning as the engine turns when running. This, of course is with the generator on the bench or with the fan belt removed. The generator should turn slowly and wouldn't have enough power to turn the fan belt. If your generator passes this test you could possibly take it apart, clean it up, under cut the mica between the segments on the armature, replace the brushes and brush springs, replace the bushing or bearings replace the small parts on the brush plate and you would have an overhauled generator. The book and video will be a big help. It does take a certain amount of expertise. If the generator fails to motor with good connections you will need testing equipment or know who has some. If this is the case you might as well exchange it for a rebuilt unit. For the motoring test a small 6 amp charger will work and it doesn't matter if you test it on six or twelve volt, because the generator doesn't care and won't be harmed.You will see better results with 12 volt as it will moter quicker on the more powerful voltage as the amps remain the same. The important thing is to connect positive to the generator housing and the negative to the generator terminal for the test. The generator will motor the same if good either way but if it is hooked up backwards you will reverse the polarity and it won't charge until it gets repolarized. thats another story. If you chose to take this route, good luck.
 
I take great pleasure in tearing certain things apart and making the necessary repairs to make it work again. Generators are not one of them. My step by step procedure to rebuild one is:
1. Remove it.
2. Take it to my local repair guy that does this type of thing for a living.
3. Wait for his call to tell me it is done.
4. Pick it up and put it on.
Works for me. :)
Almost. Send it to Tom Wesenberg, ask him to install one of his EVR's while he's at it.:)
 
Last edited:
Back
Top