The Ford Barn

david.skinner · 05-12-2022, 08:00 PM

I took the generator off my 81A because I could hear a noise like a bearing running. Turns out the front bearing on the generator was fine but on reassembling the pulley mechanism I have about 2mm of axial slop - like its missing a washer or similar but I'm sure i haven't lost a part on disassembly. It strikes me that this might be intentional to allow the pulley to align with the belt but I thought I'd better check.
many thanks
Dave NZ.

Brian · 05-13-2022, 12:41 AM

No David, there should be no axial movement. Something is wrong....

koates · 05-13-2022, 01:16 AM

Dave, should be no (zero) movement back and forth in the armature shaft. You need to establish if the movement is the armature shaft moving inside the inner bearing or is the bearing outer race moving back and forth in the generator cast iron end housing. The armature shaft has a step to which the inner bearing sleeve butts up hard against the step. You need the correct pulley for that to happen and it needs to be done up tight on its armature shaft thread with a circlip on the end of the shaft. The outer race has about 3 dished washers and felt seals each side of the bearing depending on the gen type which need to be all in place. See an exploded drawing of this in the Ford parts books. The bearing retaining circlip needs to be in its groove in the end housing to hold everything in place and prevent four and aft movement. Lots to have exactly correct here. Regards, Kevin.

Brian · 05-13-2022, 05:19 AM

David, I have a multitude of generator stuff if you need.....

Terry,OH · 05-13-2022, 06:22 AM

Generators usually changed from year to year. 81A is an engine model and was used for a couple of years. What year generator are you talking about and if you can send a few photos the better. The inner race of the bearing is sandwiched between the pulley and armature. Hard to get movement there unless the pulley is loose. The outer race of the bearing can move, if the front generator mounting bracket is worn and oversize I.D. or your missing some of the special washers to hold the felt seals in place on both sides of the bearing or the C-shaped snap ring that assembles the bearing and special washers in place in the front mount is not in place.

Your going to have to disassemble the generator to find the problem and repair.

david.skinner · 05-13-2022, 03:43 PM

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Many thanks everyone - I'll pull it apart and have a closer look and report back.

There was a washer missing on the pulley mount. The generator appears to have a mix of different models in its parts which was a bit confusing but its all going nicely again now.

05-12-2022, 08:00 PM	#1
david.skinner Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Wellington NZ Posts: 85	Axial slops in the generator belt pulley? I took the generator off my 81A because I could hear a noise like a bearing running. Turns out the front bearing on the generator was fine but on reassembling the pulley mechanism I have about 2mm of axial slop - like its missing a washer or similar but I'm sure i haven't lost a part on disassembly. It strikes me that this might be intentional to allow the pulley to align with the belt but I thought I'd better check. many thanks Dave NZ.

05-13-2022, 12:41 AM	#2
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,834	Re: Axial slops in the generator belt pulley? No David, there should be no axial movement. Something is wrong.... __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!

05-13-2022, 01:16 AM	#3
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,079	Re: Axial slops in the generator belt pulley? Dave, should be no (zero) movement back and forth in the armature shaft. You need to establish if the movement is the armature shaft moving inside the inner bearing or is the bearing outer race moving back and forth in the generator cast iron end housing. The armature shaft has a step to which the inner bearing sleeve butts up hard against the step. You need the correct pulley for that to happen and it needs to be done up tight on its armature shaft thread with a circlip on the end of the shaft. The outer race has about 3 dished washers and felt seals each side of the bearing depending on the gen type which need to be all in place. See an exploded drawing of this in the Ford parts books. The bearing retaining circlip needs to be in its groove in the end housing to hold everything in place and prevent four and aft movement. Lots to have exactly correct here. Regards, Kevin.

05-13-2022, 05:19 AM	#4
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,834	Re: Axial slops in the generator belt pulley? David, I have a multitude of generator stuff if you need..... __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!

05-13-2022, 06:22 AM	#5
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,751	Re: Axial slops in the generator belt pulley? Generators usually changed from year to year. 81A is an engine model and was used for a couple of years. What year generator are you talking about and if you can send a few photos the better. The inner race of the bearing is sandwiched between the pulley and armature. Hard to get movement there unless the pulley is loose. The outer race of the bearing can move, if the front generator mounting bracket is worn and oversize I.D. or your missing some of the special washers to hold the felt seals in place on both sides of the bearing or the C-shaped snap ring that assembles the bearing and special washers in place in the front mount is not in place. Your going to have to disassemble the generator to find the problem and repair.

05-13-2022, 03:43 PM	#6
david.skinner Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Wellington NZ Posts: 85	Re: Axial slops in the generator belt pulley? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Many thanks everyone - I'll pull it apart and have a closer look and report back. There was a washer missing on the pulley mount. The generator appears to have a mix of different models in its parts which was a bit confusing but its all going nicely again now. Last edited by david.skinner; 05-14-2022 at 08:18 PM.