The Ford Barn

rfitzpatrick · 05-22-2018, 01:54 PM

I need to replace my generator on my '31 A -- would I be better off going altn., instead of generator -- daily driver, not interested in orignal.
Thanks

Tom Wesenberg · 05-22-2018, 02:10 PM

What's wrong with the generator?
They are easy to work on and repair, unless it's totally cooked.

Great Lakes Greg · 05-22-2018, 03:02 PM

If you are determined to put an alternator on it, I bought a Power Master, which looks like a generator complete with a dummy cutout. It works nice and doesn't detract from the "antique" look of the engine compartment.

WHN · 05-22-2018, 03:17 PM

I’ve been driving with generators for 60 years.

As Tom said, there easy to work on. Doesn’t take a lot to rebuild.

What are you looking to end up with. That’s your decision. Enjoy.

Mike V. Florida · 05-22-2018, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfitzpatrick

would I be better off going altn., instead of generator

No not better off, you sure can use one, thousands do, but with all other things being equal on the car you won't be better off with one.

rfitzpatrick · 05-22-2018, 07:10 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks everyone -- after 4 years AirForce (1962/66) and 42 years -- all as an Acft Mechanic -- I don't want to work on the Truck - I want to drive the '31.

Richard in Anaheim CA · 05-22-2018, 07:32 PM

Go with the alternator. You don't want to work on the truck and if the alternator one day goes bad, alternators are available everywhere and any mechanic can trouble shoot it. Not so with generators any more.

Charlie Stephens · 05-22-2018, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard in Anaheim CA

Go with the alternator. You don't want to work on the truck and if the alternator one day goes bad, alternators are available everywhere and any mechanic can trouble shoot it. Not so with generators any more.

Are you sure 6 volt positive ground alternators are available everywhere? How do you respond when the counterman that just started shaving asks "What year car so I can look it up in the computer?". My suggestion would be to have the generator rebuilt. The alternator just doesn't look right to me on a Model A.

Charlie Stephens

J Franklin · 05-22-2018, 08:34 PM

Go with a rebuilt generator. What is wrong with the one you have? Sometimes it is only brushes or a bad cutout that may be needed.

Purdy Swoft · 05-22-2018, 09:01 PM

It depends on how the car will be used. If you plan on running accessories that draw a lot of amps , an alternator would be the best choice. I don't run any accessories and the original generator works good for me. I prefer the look and function of the generator and I can fix them.. Neither a generator or an alternator is easy to work on if you don't know how to fix them .

Corley · 05-22-2018, 11:39 PM

I'd go with the old worn out generator, after all, every car built since the mid 60s has come with a 1920s design generator and cut out on it, right? Oh, no, wait, they all have alternators, maybe there is something good about alternators after all. Could it be slip rings instead of a comutator, better regulation, and more output at slow speeds in a smaller more reliable package, or just less chance of a dead battery?

Or, you can carry a spare set of brushes, a spare cutout, and enough tools for a roadside seminar on generators. Your call...

Just my personal opinion for for what I'd do on a driver, not a recommendation for you or anything like that.

Chuck Sea/Tac · 05-23-2018, 06:27 PM

Corley: if you don’t like driving antique vechiles, for God’s sake, just say so. Don’t just beat around the bush!

rfitzpatrick · 05-23-2018, 07:32 PM

Chuck
I really liked his "Roadside Seminar" remark. Trying to avoid one. I'll probably alternator it.
I did put a magnetic sign on the side: Wet Paint

Thanks

Badpuppy · 05-27-2018, 12:42 PM

Corley's spot on. Daily driver, not for show, go with alternator (one wire). Has built-in regulator, no more undercharged or boiled-out battery. Only issue is you have to rev the engine pretty good to get it to "self-excite". You can't hook up pin 1 (field terminal) of the regulator without an accessory switch to battery voltage, which the A doesn't have.

Mike Peters · 05-27-2018, 04:26 PM

Not to scare you alternator guys, but the alternators failed on two different friend's Model A's. After hearing that, I'm back to generators. I keep my generator well oiled, and never had one fail on a trip yet. Alternators are NOT bullet proof.

J Franklin · 05-27-2018, 04:35 PM

I will certainly knock on wood but the generator on my car that I bought in 1964 has only needed brushes.

Tom Wesenberg · 05-27-2018, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Peters

Not to scare you alternator guys, but the alternators failed on two different friend's Model A's. After hearing that, I'm back to generators. I keep my generator well oiled, and never had one fail on a trip yet. Alternators are NOT bullet proof.

Yep, generators are fine, and easy to work on.

kd4lok · 05-28-2018, 09:33 PM

I converted my “driver” to 12V negative ground and 1-wire alternator. Simple conversion and still use the original starter which seems to be happy if you don’t stand on it too long. Very satisfied for 3 years now.

daveymc29 · 05-31-2018, 04:40 PM

I hear all the talk about Generators being easy to work on. That may be true, but I would rather have something I don't have to work on. So far two out of three cars with alternators have worked just fine for years, but the third one didn't do so well with the generator so I put on an alternator a month back and now today it died. I guess nothing is bulletproof. Where do I start looking?

WHN · 05-31-2018, 05:08 PM

I have to chime in again.

I have never had an alternator on any of our Model A’s. Never cooked a battery, had a cutout fail, or had a problem driving at night.

Please don’t talk down to owners that still have generators. It’s our car, you do what you want, we do what we want. Some of us like to stay as orginal as possible.

It’s a hobby not a contest.

05-22-2018, 01:54 PM	#1
rfitzpatrick Senior Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Coral Springs, Florida Posts: 551	rfitz I need to replace my generator on my '31 A -- would I be better off going altn., instead of generator -- daily driver, not interested in orignal. Thanks

05-22-2018, 02:10 PM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: rfitz What's wrong with the generator? They are easy to work on and repair, unless it's totally cooked.

05-22-2018, 03:02 PM	#3
Great Lakes Greg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,369	Re: rfitz If you are determined to put an alternator on it, I bought a Power Master, which looks like a generator complete with a dummy cutout. It works nice and doesn't detract from the "antique" look of the engine compartment.

05-22-2018, 03:17 PM	#4
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,820	Re: rfitz I’ve been driving with generators for 60 years. As Tom said, there easy to work on. Doesn’t take a lot to rebuild. What are you looking to end up with. That’s your decision. Enjoy.

05-22-2018, 07:10 PM	#6
rfitzpatrick Senior Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Coral Springs, Florida Posts: 551	Re: rfitz Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks everyone -- after 4 years AirForce (1962/66) and 42 years -- all as an Acft Mechanic -- I don't want to work on the Truck - I want to drive the '31.

05-22-2018, 07:32 PM	#7
Richard in Anaheim CA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Anaheim California Posts: 551	Re: rfitz Go with the alternator. You don't want to work on the truck and if the alternator one day goes bad, alternators are available everywhere and any mechanic can trouble shoot it. Not so with generators any more.

05-22-2018, 08:34 PM	#9
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: rfitz Go with a rebuilt generator. What is wrong with the one you have? Sometimes it is only brushes or a bad cutout that may be needed.

05-22-2018, 09:01 PM	#10
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: rfitz It depends on how the car will be used. If you plan on running accessories that draw a lot of amps , an alternator would be the best choice. I don't run any accessories and the original generator works good for me. I prefer the look and function of the generator and I can fix them.. Neither a generator or an alternator is easy to work on if you don't know how to fix them .

05-22-2018, 11:39 PM	#11
Corley Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Battle Ground WA Posts: 293	Re: rfitz I'd go with the old worn out generator, after all, every car built since the mid 60s has come with a 1920s design generator and cut out on it, right? Oh, no, wait, they all have alternators, maybe there is something good about alternators after all. Could it be slip rings instead of a comutator, better regulation, and more output at slow speeds in a smaller more reliable package, or just less chance of a dead battery? Or, you can carry a spare set of brushes, a spare cutout, and enough tools for a roadside seminar on generators. Your call... Just my personal opinion for for what I'd do on a driver, not a recommendation for you or anything like that.

05-23-2018, 06:27 PM	#12
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: rfitz Corley: if you don’t like driving antique vechiles, for God’s sake, just say so. Don’t just beat around the bush!

05-23-2018, 07:32 PM	#13
rfitzpatrick Senior Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Coral Springs, Florida Posts: 551	Re: rfitz Chuck I really liked his "Roadside Seminar" remark. Trying to avoid one. I'll probably alternator it. I did put a magnetic sign on the side: Wet Paint Thanks

05-27-2018, 12:42 PM	#14
Badpuppy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Guthrie, OK Posts: 1,144	Re: rfitz Corley's spot on. Daily driver, not for show, go with alternator (one wire). Has built-in regulator, no more undercharged or boiled-out battery. Only issue is you have to rev the engine pretty good to get it to "self-excite". You can't hook up pin 1 (field terminal) of the regulator without an accessory switch to battery voltage, which the A doesn't have.

05-27-2018, 04:26 PM	#15
Mike Peters Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: South East Wisconsin Posts: 1,279	Re: rfitz Not to scare you alternator guys, but the alternators failed on two different friend's Model A's. After hearing that, I'm back to generators. I keep my generator well oiled, and never had one fail on a trip yet. Alternators are NOT bullet proof.

05-27-2018, 04:35 PM	#16
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: rfitz I will certainly knock on wood but the generator on my car that I bought in 1964 has only needed brushes.

05-28-2018, 09:33 PM	#18
kd4lok Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Central FL Posts: 72	Re: rfitz I converted my “driver” to 12V negative ground and 1-wire alternator. Simple conversion and still use the original starter which seems to be happy if you don’t stand on it too long. Very satisfied for 3 years now. __________________ Bob

05-31-2018, 04:40 PM	#19
daveymc29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA Posts: 1,553	Re: rfitz I hear all the talk about Generators being easy to work on. That may be true, but I would rather have something I don't have to work on. So far two out of three cars with alternators have worked just fine for years, but the third one didn't do so well with the generator so I put on an alternator a month back and now today it died. I guess nothing is bulletproof. Where do I start looking?

05-31-2018, 05:08 PM	#20
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,820	Re: rfitz I have to chime in again. I have never had an alternator on any of our Model A’s. Never cooked a battery, had a cutout fail, or had a problem driving at night. Please don’t talk down to owners that still have generators. It’s our car, you do what you want, we do what we want. Some of us like to stay as orginal as possible. It’s a hobby not a contest.