[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

My generator notes call for 2.5-3.0 amps to motor
Field draw 2 amps at 6 v

What did you do to the fields? I removed the assembly and cleaned them up. Then spray painted with Electrical Grade Red Urethane Seal Coat which did a very good job. I know you were asking about field coil tape--- did you have them all out, or just loosen the one to replace brush wire?

On some I had trouble with brush connections and had to solder the posts for good ground path

If you turn it by hand with power on and watch amp draw does it stay constant or vary depending on armature position? Amps staied at 4-5.

If you had all the fields out is possible to have one in backwards and wrong magnetic polarity, it's been a long time and don't remember the exact order on a powerhouse, usually each pole is opposite, put power to fields and go around with compass, don't use expensive one, if the power is turned on with compass close it can change compass No. Did not disconect the original Field Coil asembly...just laid the six sections out and carfully cleaned them up then spray painted them.

If the charger you are using is a modern charger it may not turn on without existing voltage, this testing is best done with battery

Went to the Heavy Duty Battery Charger and it started right up. Used a smaller one at first but the settings were the same as the large one.

Originally Posted by frank55a

Did you do a continuity check on the armature to check for grounds? Yes, followed Mcree's book except for some things I did not. He recomended to drill out and make larger the 12 holes to secure the 12 screws to the Pole Shoes. Did not want to ruin the appearence of the original look of the Powerhouse Generator so I reused the original screws. These I found very hard to remove, even with the "steaking" somewhat removed. So I decided to heat each screw to just a point of being red hot but not. Let them cool down and they came out fine without ruining the appearence of the hole and the screw. If not, since it is assembled put some cardboard spaces between all 5 brushes and the armature and check the armature.