Generator

[wildwilly]

About to check out my Gen, but first. How do you check the out put of the gen, and where would I find the adjustment for the 3rd brush ? this is on my early 30 45B. Oh thinking about it, is there a gap messurement for that cut out under that cap ??

[Tom Wesenberg]

Open cutout contact gap should be about .020".

Jump the two cutout terminals for one second to polarize the generator, then start the car. Clip the + meter lead to a good ground and the - lead to the generator output stud. At fast idle you should have just over battery voltage, which was checked with the engine off.

[awander]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Open cutout contact gap should be about .020".

Jump the two cutout terminals for one second to polarize the generator, then start the car. Clip the + meter lead to a good ground and the - lead to the generator output stud. At fast idle you should have just over battery voltage with the engine off.

How does fast idle work with the engine off?

[sonny30coupe]

Originally Posted by awander

How does fast idle work with the engine off?

He is saying that the voltage at fast idle should be just over what the voltage is at the battery when the engine is off.

[Milton]

Originally Posted by wildwilly

About to check out my Gen, but first. How do you check the out put of the gen, and where would I find the adjustment for the 3rd brush ? this is on my early 30 45B. Oh thinking about it, is there a gap messurement for that cut out under that cap ??

The third brush is located at the rear of the generator under the cover stap. It is in contact with the commutator and can be adjusted by rotating it around the commutator. As I recall it is the brush near the top and the only one that you can push/pull with a finger when the engine isn't running. Use a non-conducting stick to adjust up for more down for less amps. At a fast idle adjust it for 10 amps at the ammeter.

For the cutout gap I don't recall. If it is charging when running and not discharging when everything is off, leave it alone. It is to keep the generator from motoring when the engine is stopped.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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If the generator third brush hasn't been moved for some time, it may be very tight at first. In that case I'd use an oak dowl or screwdriver and use the edge of the opening for leverage to get the brush moving. I always use an EVR in my generators, so I don't have to worry about setting the third brush or overcharging the battery. At 10 amps you'll be adding water to the battery quite often and overcharging it unless you are driving at night.

[wildwilly]

thank you all for your help.

[reggiedog]

HI: Is their a way to test the gen when it's out of the car with out the motor if so how do u do it. Thanks let me know reggiedog

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by reggiedog

HI: Is their a way to test the gen when it's out of the car with out the motor if so how do u do it. Thanks let me know reggiedog

This test will tell you if the genny is dead or not, apply voltage to it and if it runs like a motor it should work as a generator.

[reggiedog]

Thank's that what I wanted to know I wan't sure that I could do that or not. Thanks reggiedog

[Terry, NJ]

Hook it up to a battery (remember, it's plus+ ground) it should run like an electric motor. If it does, it's good. If it doesn't, it's "rebuildable".
Terry

Originally Posted by reggiedog

HI: Is their a way to test the gen when it's out of the car with out the motor if so how do u do it. Thanks let me know reggiedog

[reggiedog]

Thank's Terry that's what I wanted to know reggiedog

[jkeesey]

If the generator motors it doesn't allways mean its goin to generate. I have 1 on a T and 1 on an A that both motored good but do not generate

[reggiedog]

So how can u tell????. reggiedog

[jkeesey]

Install it on the car an check the amp meter or run the voltage sniff like described earlier. Or you can run a small electric motor and a short belt to see if it generates off the car. But if the generator motors it means it will either work or need rebuilt, in other words its worth your effort.

[Purdy Swoft]

Originally Posted by jkeesey

If the generator motors it doesn't allways mean its goin to generate. I have 1 on a T and 1 on an A that both motored good but do not generate

You may need to repolarize the generator for it to generate. when bench testing with a battery or battery charger, you will need to ground the housing of the generator with the positive cable and touch the negative cable to the generator post, if not you will reverse the polarity. The generator will motor either way but if tested backwards the polarity will be reversed and the generator will NOT charge when reinstalled on the car.

[reggiedog]

I do know it worked when I took it out but now the motor is out of the car and wont be back in the car for a long time. But I want to check the starter and gen before I put every thing back in so if any thing don't work I can fix it now. Instead of doing it when I want to drive the car when every thing is done and painted. reggiedog

[Tom Wesenberg]

Even if they do work now, now is the time to restore them. Take them apart, check the brushes, commutator, and bearings. Clean and repaint as needed. Now you will have a generator and starter that you know will work for a long time. Otherwise you are driveing an unkown and never know when it will quit.

[reggiedog]

I've replaced the brushes awhile back on both generator and starter. What else can a guy do????. reggiedog

[jhowes]

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