Generator smoking

Steve Miller

Steve Miller

Member
I hooked up the battery today (new one) for the first time, positive ground. Turned the cut off switch to on and the horn blows constantly. Turn back off and disconnect horn, will fix the stuck button later. Turn the switch back on lights work, great, but the ammeter is discharging at -20 and I'm getting smoke out the back of the generator. Turned switch back off, disconnected battery cable. Could this be the generator cut out stuck or something else?
Thanks
 
Sounds like the points in the cutout is stuck. try tapping on the cutout cover with a screwdriver handle to temporarily unstick the points. Cutouts aren't always dependable, I've had several to stick over the years. When the points stick closed, the generator tries to motor, gets hot and kills the battery. When the smoke comes out, the generator is usually toast. In testing, if the generator will still motor with the belt removed it will probably be ok. I would replace the cutout with a diode setup or a Fun Projects regulator if the generator checks out ok.
 
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Has someone worked on the generator?
Do you know if the cutout is original, repro, or diode? Any pictures of it?
A diode cutout set up for negative ground will pass current to the generator with positive ground, or as Pudry said, the contacts could be sticking. Sticking contacts seem to be mostly a problem with cheap rero cutouts.
I'd remove the band and have a look inside.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
Has someone worked on the generator?
Do you know if the cutout is original, repro, or diode? Any pictures of it?
A diode cutout set up for negative ground will pass current to the generator with positive ground, or as Pudry said, the contacts could be sticking. Sticking contacts seem to be mostly a problem with cheap rero cutouts.
I'd remove the band and have a look inside.
Click to expand...

I haven't had anyone work on the generator since I've owned it and the cut out looks like it is an original one but who knows. I tried to get it open but haven't had much luck so I've decided to get a diode one from A&L
Thanks
 
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