How to check my generator

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Originally Posted by mike657894 isnt it annoying how no one ever gives a straight answer in this today we live in. well im different. get out your voltage meter/ multi meter set it to volts. at idle if your generator is working as good as mine it will read 12v at idle. when the engine is reved up it will read 25v. I am converting my car to 12v. i have isolated my ignition sytem with a 6v ballast resistor. but have done nothing to the generator. that i have to assume is a original ford 6v generator. someone will probably correct me if my numbers are wrong.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg
If you're reading 25 volts when you rev it up, then your charging circuit has an open or the battery has too much resistance.

then what should it read? seeing you know what it should read you should probably tell the guy who asked how to check his generator. thats why i dont ask questions here. its more effective to hit your self with a hammer and hope the answer comes to you.

Mike, is it possible that you are confusing volts with amps? The Model A generator is 6volts but I understand that it can put out more, but if you meant amps then 12 amps is a little high but reasonable. Going to 25 amps might possibly overheat the generator in time and ruin it.

 

[D's31]

You are missing the cover that goes over the mechanics of the cutout. It appears to be connected correctly. For proper operation, the relay should be in the position that it is now with everything off. There should be no connection between the input where the front of the cut out connects to the terminal out of the generator and the output of the cutout where the two wires attach. (there should be three wires there, one for headlights, one for the horn and one to the terminal box.) When you start the vehicle, and the generator starts working, the relay should move down and there is a connection between the generator output at the front of the cutout to the wires at the other end. If you plan on messing around with the points on the relay, remove one of the battery connections before touching anything inside as will get a lot of sparks. You need to get a new cut out that has a cover.

Hi
I only see 2 wires connected to the generator and on the wire diagram there is 3 what am I missing? Do I need that extra wire and would it have anything to do with the charging of the battery and generator ?

 

[Bob C]

You are probably missing the horn wire. There should be one for the lights, one
for the horn and one going to the terminal box.

Bob

 

[CWilson]

then what should it read? seeing you know what it should read you should probably tell the guy who asked how to check his generator. thats why i dont ask questions here. its more effective to hit your self with a hammer and hope the answer comes to you.

While some peoples posts may not be helpful, the majority are extremely giving of their time and knowledge. I have no idea how I would have worked through the problems with my ride without the help of the great members of this forum.

my $.02...

 

[D's31]

Let's make this simple. I'm sure we have the expertise right here to solve your problem.

Look at the photo. When the motor is running, the plate with the points on it should automatically be pulled down so the points make contact. (See the white arrow) This will send the generated charge through to the ammeter which will then show a charge. If there is no positive reading on the ammeter then either there is no current being generated or the cutout is not pulling the points together and is defective.

Clean the points with sandpaper to make sure they will have a good contact. Then, with the motor running, have somebody watch the ammeter while you push the points together with a screwdriver. If the ammeter then shows a charge, the generator is OK and the cutout is bad. If it shows no charge then the generator is not working.

Like I said, we have enough experts here to solve the problem, so if I am wrong they will chime in and tell me real quick!

Hi CHL
Ok I tried what you told me about having the car on and checking if the point went down and they didn't. I then cleaned the points with sand paper to have them make good contact. I turn the car on again and they still did not touch. I pushed them down with a screwdriver and the ammeter read 10 on the discharge side. I then put it on fast idle and the same thing happen. I did notice that the little wire that is connected at the top near the points was making a small spark when ever I would join the points together. I have some pictures

 

[D's31]

Hi CHL
Ok I tried what you told me about having the car on and checking if the point went down and they didn't. I then cleaned the points with sand paper to have them make good contact. I turn the car on again and they still did not touch. I pushed them down with a screwdriver and the ammeter read 10 on the discharge side. I then put it on fast idle and the same thing happen. I did notice that the little wire that is connected at the top near the points was making a small spark when ever I would join the points together. I have some pictures

Pic

 

[D's31]

Good information just given by CHL.

Also look at the bottom connection where the heavy wire coil should be soldered to the terminal. It looks like the wire has overheated and melted the solder away. With a good cleaning of the contacts and resoldering that wire, you might actually make this work again, but I would still ditch it and buy a better quality one. I've seen a lot of these cheap ones burned beyond use.

Either a diode cutout or good original is what I'd use. I like the original style, and Bert's sells good restored original cutouts. 800-321-1931

I will order a new cut out
Thanks for the advise if the generator results to be bad at least I have all new parts

 

[D's31]

You are probably missing the horn wire. There should be one for the lights, one
for the horn and one going to the terminal box.

Bob

That's weird because my horn is not working but when I loosen the adjustment screw the horn motor starts to spin. Still working on why the horn doesn't work when the screw is in to make it sound

 

[D's31]

While some peoples posts may not be helpful, the majority are extremely giving of their time and knowledge. I have no idea how I would have worked through the problems with my ride without the help of the great members of this forum.

my $.02...

So true

 

[D's31]

the battery is discharging thru the generator meaning the generator is shorted ie dead
time for a rebuilt genny and a decent cutout

the disarray of the electrical system was telling....

I will check with a club member to see if anyone has rebuilt on and ask for their help as I learn to do it

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Instead of both horn and lights wires joining at the cutout terminal, someone must have made a harness where they join right near where they leave the main bundle, so a single wire goes to the cutout.

I can't see the rest of the wiring, but it might be wise to buy a new harness if it's not neat and in good condition. The original harness is easy to follow and neatly routed.

 

[jrelliott]

If you get the generator working and a new cut out, another purchase to highly consider is one of Tom Wesenberg's regulators. MHO. Hopefully will get the problem corrected. THe new wiring harness is also a good hint. Have everything just like original and is much easier to troubleshoot without being there.

 

[D's31]

Instead of both horn and lights wires joining at the cutout terminal, someone must have made a harness where they join right near where they leave the main bundle, so a single wire goes to the cutout.

I can't see the rest of the wiring, but it might be wise to buy a new harness if it's not neat and in good condition. The original harness is easy to follow and neatly routed.

Ok I see what your saying Tom, I was thinking of replacing that harness. That's next on my to do list. That regulator that they are taking about that you make, how does that work? Does it attach to the cutout? What is the function of it? Thanks Tom for all your knowledge

 

[D's31]

If you get the generator working and a new cut out, another purchase to highly consider is one of Tom Wesenberg's regulators. MHO. Hopefully will get the problem corrected. THe new wiring harness is also a good hint. Have everything just like original and is much easier to troubleshoot without being there.

Thanks for the suggestions jrelliott will look into it

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Here are two pictures of the one I make installed. It replaced the adjustable brush and it's holder.
The field wire then attaches to the brass screw on the aluminum angle heat sink.

This end plate has the rear bushing, which replaced the ball bearing starting about March 1930.

John Regan makes a voltage regulator that fits in the cutout and replaces the stock cutout, and Mr. Peterson makes one that is mounted to the generator band.

 

[Fred S]

"What is the function of it?"

The cutout sends the generator output to the battery when the engine is running. The generator puts out whatever charge the third brush is set to. When the battery becomes charged, the generator still keeps charging, and the generator can overcharge the battery.

A voltage regulator controls the amount of charge going to the battery, to only the amount the battery needs.

 

[D's31]

"What is the function of it?"

The cutout sends the generator output to the battery when the engine is running. The generator puts out whatever charge the third brush is set to. When the battery becomes charged, the generator still keeps charging, and the generator can overcharge the battery.

A voltage regulator controls the amount of charge going to the battery, to only the amount the battery needs.

Ahh, good explanation thank you. Happy New Year everyone

 

[D's31]

Here are two pictures of the one I make installed. It replaced the adjustable brush and it's holder.
The field wire then attaches to the brass screw on the aluminum angle heat sink.

This end plate has the rear bushing, which replaced the ball bearing starting about March 1930.

John Regan makes a voltage regulator that fits in the cutout and replaces the stock cutout, and Mr. Peterson makes one that is mounted to the generator band.

Hi Tom
Do I need to send you any part of my generator? Or do I just buy that pice from you and I install it myself on to the generator?
Thanks
Happy New Year

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

You can buy it from me, but lets get your generator working first.

 

[D's31]

You can buy it from me, but lets get your generator working first.

Sounds good ill let you know when it's up and running