The Ford Barn

Terry, NJ · 12-11-2015, 08:31 AM

Well my Genny works fine , when it works! How do I get it working? Well I have leave the band off and take a screw driver and manually push the adjustable brush onto the commutator' when I see some sparks, I know it's charging again. Sure enough, a glance at the ammeter shows about 8 amps. Howcum? I've sprayed it with WD40 , but the arm seems free, It's a new brush, so it's not the length of the brush.
Terry

Kurt in NJ · 12-11-2015, 08:49 AM

brush spring tension--- 24 ounces

when you push on the brush can you feel it 'bounce', perhaps the commutator is somewhat out of round, along with some binding of the brush pivot

is there any area of the commutator that looks different than the neighboring area

is the wire to the brush original--or is it some stiff other wire--or taped up inhibiting movement of the brush

Tom Wesenberg · 12-11-2015, 08:59 AM

I put a drop of motor oil on each of the brush pivot springs, but I wouldn't spray WD-40 on the commutator. I can't think of anything else that Kurt hasn't already mentioned. I've worked on a couple generators that had weak brush springs, and this lowered the output. I've also worked on a couple where someone replaced the very flexible brush wire with some heavy stiff wire, and this also weakened the brush pressure against the commutator.

katy · 12-11-2015, 12:54 PM

The commutator may need cleaning. Try washing it w/alcohol or electric motor cleaner. Don't know if brake cleaner would be OK to use or not. Anybody?

Terry, NJ · 12-11-2015, 05:36 PM

Thanks Guys!

CWPASADENA · 12-11-2015, 11:38 PM

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I would NOT use brake cleaner. Electric motor cleaner is fine and actually WD-40 is OK. We used it for years on generators when doing off road racing where the generators would get full of dust and crap and stop working.

Last week, I helped getting a Model A started after it was setting for about 20 years.

After we got it running, the generator did not work. The commutator was dark with some corrosion. A little WD-40 while it was running cleaned it right up and it started to charge. The horn did not work and again, a little WD-40 fixed it right up.

My opinion and my experience.

Chris W.

Terry, NJ · 12-13-2015, 08:10 AM

I took your advice and sprayed the commutator with CRC QD Electronic Cleaner and it worked, sort of. Initially it worked, Turned the engine off, restarted it and no charge. It ran (with the throttle engaged @ 1000 RPM) Then, It, for no discernable reason, suddenly started charging. What gives?
Terry

Tom Wesenberg · 12-13-2015, 10:04 AM

I would connect a volt meter at the generator output post and see when the voltage is more than battery voltage. The generator should start charging the battery at about 500 engine RPM, which is 750 generator RPM. You can use a jumper wire across the two cutout terminals to bypass the cutout and see what the ammeter shows.

12-11-2015, 08:31 AM	#1
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,749	Genny, Third brush! Well my Genny works fine , when it works! How do I get it working? Well I have leave the band off and take a screw driver and manually push the adjustable brush onto the commutator' when I see some sparks, I know it's charging again. Sure enough, a glance at the ammeter shows about 8 amps. Howcum? I've sprayed it with WD40 , but the arm seems free, It's a new brush, so it's not the length of the brush. Terry

12-11-2015, 08:49 AM	#2
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,555	Re: Genny, Third brush! brush spring tension--- 24 ounces when you push on the brush can you feel it 'bounce', perhaps the commutator is somewhat out of round, along with some binding of the brush pivot is there any area of the commutator that looks different than the neighboring area is the wire to the brush original--or is it some stiff other wire--or taped up inhibiting movement of the brush

12-11-2015, 08:59 AM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Genny, Third brush! I put a drop of motor oil on each of the brush pivot springs, but I wouldn't spray WD-40 on the commutator. I can't think of anything else that Kurt hasn't already mentioned. I've worked on a couple generators that had weak brush springs, and this lowered the output. I've also worked on a couple where someone replaced the very flexible brush wire with some heavy stiff wire, and this also weakened the brush pressure against the commutator.

12-11-2015, 12:54 PM	#4
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,712	Re: Genny, Third brush! The commutator may need cleaning. Try washing it w/alcohol or electric motor cleaner. Don't know if brake cleaner would be OK to use or not. Anybody? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

12-11-2015, 05:36 PM	#5
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,749	Re: Genny, Third brush! Thanks Guys!

12-11-2015, 11:38 PM	#6
CWPASADENA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PASADENA, CA Posts: 1,931	Re: Genny, Third brush! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I would NOT use brake cleaner. Electric motor cleaner is fine and actually WD-40 is OK. We used it for years on generators when doing off road racing where the generators would get full of dust and crap and stop working. Last week, I helped getting a Model A started after it was setting for about 20 years. After we got it running, the generator did not work. The commutator was dark with some corrosion. A little WD-40 while it was running cleaned it right up and it started to charge. The horn did not work and again, a little WD-40 fixed it right up. My opinion and my experience. Chris W.

12-13-2015, 08:10 AM	#7
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,749	Re: Genny, Third brush! I took your advice and sprayed the commutator with CRC QD Electronic Cleaner and it worked, sort of. Initially it worked, Turned the engine off, restarted it and no charge. It ran (with the throttle engaged @ 1000 RPM) Then, It, for no discernable reason, suddenly started charging. What gives? Terry

12-13-2015, 10:04 AM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Genny, Third brush! I would connect a volt meter at the generator output post and see when the voltage is more than battery voltage. The generator should start charging the battery at about 500 engine RPM, which is 750 generator RPM. You can use a jumper wire across the two cutout terminals to bypass the cutout and see what the ammeter shows.