Generator, Short, or Both?

[sethkestenbaum]

I have what is definitely one and what I suspect might be two electrical issues. I am hoping the FB electric detectives can help me on this one so I don’t chase wild geese this Thanksgiving week.

Background:

1) The battery in my car doesn’t appear to be charging from the car (it charges fine from a maintainer/charger).

2) The generator is a 1929 three brush powerhouse pancake with the top mounted cut out. The generator is spinning, the brushes all look like they have some life to them, I don’t know if the cut-off is working or not. I have not taken it off the car, but do have a few print outs from Fordbarn that I am going to follow if it is concluded that the generator/cut out is the problem (Tom Wesenberg, you “the man”).

3) The ammeter is working, but showing odd things. When I drive, it sits at 0. This is one of the reasons why I think the generator isn’t working correctly. Is this correct logic? I am assuming that I should show a positive charge when driving of 6-8 amps. This is how it has been performing since I got the car and got the ammeter working.

4) When I honk the horn, the ammeter dips down a little. When I turn the headlight switch one click to the left the ammeter reads slight negative (about 6 to 8) and the passenger side headlight lights up slightly. When I turn the headlight switch to the right one click the ammeter buries the needle to the negative and both headlights go on. When I go two clicks to the right the same thing happens and the needle is buried. When I put the switch back to “off”, the ammeter goes back to 0. This is why I think I may have a short somewhere. Is this correct logic?

Based on the above, any thoughts/suggestions/recommendations?

Thanks, Seth