1939 generators?

[deuce lover]

...

[cas3]

Bruce Lancaster once said " looking at the generator section in the green book will give you a headache". I agree

[ndnchf]

Quote:
"Why I interjected is because I have had a couple 39 std gen that were 2 brush.I had Whitney convert those."

Were those 2 brushes date coded "T", 1939 generators?

Thanks
Steve

[marko39]

Originally Posted by ndnchf

This is where I'm confused. I see conflicting information regarding the '39 standard. Does it use a 2 brush or 3 brush generator? If 2 brush, what does this T2 code generator go on?

I'm looking at the Green book. If I'm interpreting it correctly, '39 standard uses the 81A-10000-A (3 brush generator), while Deluxe used the 81A-10000-D (2 brush).

39 standard used a 3 brush gen with cutout unless it was equipped with a radio where a 2 brush and voltage reg. was used. There were other exceptions. 39 deluxe used a 2 brush gen and voltage regulator.

[deuce lover]

Originally Posted by ndnchf

Quote:
"Why I interjected is because I have had a couple 39 std gen that were 2 brush.I had Whitney convert those."

Were those 2 brushes date coded "T", 1939 generators?

Thanks
Steve

That was in 2008 and I don't remember

[ford38v8]

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Let's see if I can clear up the confusion:

All '38 and '39 Std without radio had 3 brush generators.
Early '38's with Dealer installed radio could have had an oval cutout with a 3 brush.
All '38 & '39s with factory installed radio had a 2 brush generator.
All '39 DeLuxe had 2 brush generators.
Of the several different varieties, Suffix A was 3 brush, Suffix D was two brush.
Neither '38 nor '39 had a grounding stud on the backside of 2 brush generators.

[ndnchf]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Let's see if I can clear up the confusion:

All '38 and '39 Std without radio had 3 brush generators.
Early '38's with Dealer installed radio could have had an oval cutout with a 3 brush.
All '38 & '39s with factory installed radio had a 2 brush generator.
All '39 DeLuxe had 2 brush generators.
Of the several different varieties, Suffix A was 3 brush, Suffix D was two brush.
Neither '38 nor '39 had a grounding stud on the backside of 2 brush generators.

Alan - thank you. That is a big help. I'm surprised that the oval cutout (actually a cutout and 2-rate regulator) was available that late. I'd read somewhere that they were available '34-'36, then discontinued. But maybe dealers still had a stock of them. I have two of them and been thinking of putting one on my '35 Fordor Deluxe touring car with original radio.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by ndnchf

Alan - thank you. That is a big help. I'm surprised that the oval cutout (actually a cutout and 2-rate regulator) was available that late. I'd read somewhere that they were available '34-'36, then discontinued. But maybe dealers still had a stock of them. I have two of them and been thinking of putting one on my '35 Fordor Deluxe touring car with original radio.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by ndnchf

Alan - thank you. That is a big help. I'm surprised that the oval cutout (actually a cutout and 2-rate regulator) was available that late. I'd read somewhere that they were available '34-'36, then discontinued. But maybe dealers still had a stock of them. I have two of them and been thinking of putting one on my '35 Fordor Deluxe touring car with original radio.

I'm not sure an old original oval will serve you well. Not saying it won't, but just not sure. There was a company, now out of business, that made excellent reproduction cutouts, known as Funprojects.com.

[ndnchf]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

I'm not sure an old original oval will serve you well. Not saying it won't, but just not sure. There was a company, now out of business, that made excellent reproduction cutouts, known as Funprojects.com.

I refurbish and sell original Ford cutouts as a side gig, so I'm pretty familar with how they work. I've not got into a 2-rate yet, but they are pretty simple. Here is a small display I set up at the Luray pre-war swap meet.

Thanks to everyone on the '39-'40 generator education.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by ndnchf

I refurbish and sell original Ford cutouts as a side gig, so I'm pretty familar with how they work. I've not got into a 2-rate yet, but they are pretty simple. Here is a small display I set up at the Luray pre-war swap meet.

Thanks to everyone on the '39-'40 generator education.

[38 coupe]

Edit, I should have noticed I wasn't on the second page! posted the following information before realizing multiple people had already offered it up. Oh well.
According to the Early Ford V8 Club 38-39 Book the 1939 standard generator was either a 2 brush or a 3 brush depending on how the car was equipped. Cars with radios got the 2 brush generator with external regulator. Cars without radios got 3 brush generators with a cutout. You know, the option for maximum confusion years later.

[cas3]

The "fun projects" cutout was actually a regulator for the older 3 brush gennies. They worked well, I have a couple on cars, and they were wonderful. Problem is, the guy who invented them and produced them wanted to retire. The project was sold to Bird Haven, A mostly model T parts guy out of Iowa, who also bought out Texas T Parts, another manufacturer of specialty T parts, and for some reason the regulator/cutout has not been available for several years...to my knowledge. Something to do with finding someone to actually make them I've heard. Originally came in 6 or 12 volt, and pos or neg ground, But you cant buy one ! Unless things have changed, I've not looked into it for a few years

[Terry,OH]

As mentioned above there were two very different generators for 1940. Both use the same rear cover, front mounting bracket and armature, both with just two electrical terminals. The change in generators started about June 13th 1940. The earlier of the two had the slightly larger 3 11/16" pulley. The field coils were wound with #17 gauge wire. Ford found using #18 gauge wire would prolong the contact life of the regulator, this led to the later style generator with the smaller 3 3/16" pulley. to identify the new field windings the letter "B" was stamped into the main body before the word "FIELD" The fan belt was changed from 52-8620-C to 78-8620-A. The voltage regulator cut in setting was also changed to 6.1 to 6.3 V Max.
At some point in time the pulley retaining ring was also changed from round wire type to a flat split washer type.

[ndnchf]

Originally Posted by Terry,OH

As mentioned above there were two very different generators for 1940. Both use the same rear cover, front mounting bracket and armature, both with just two electrical terminals. The change in generators started about June 13th 1940. The earlier of the two had the slightly larger 3 11/16" pulley. The field coils were wound with #17 gauge wire. Ford found using #18 gauge wire would prolong the contact life of the regulator, this led to the later style generator with the smaller 3 3/16" pulley. to identify the new field windings the letter "B" was stamped into the main body before the work "FIELD" The fan belt was changed from 52-8620-C to 78-8620-A. The voltage regulator cut in setting was also changed to 6.1 to 6.3 V Max.
At some point in time the pulley retaining ring was also changed from round wire type to a flat split washer type.

Wow - great information Terry, thanks. I cannot find a date code on this one, but will look for the B stamp tonight.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

Edit, I should have noticed I wasn't on the second page! posted the following information before realizing multiple people had already offered it up. Oh well.
According to the Early Ford V8 Club 38-39 Book the 1939 standard generator was either a 2 brush or a 3 brush depending on how the car was equipped. Cars with radios got the 2 brush generator with external regulator. Cars without radios got 3 brush generators with a cutout. You know, the option for maximum confusion years later.

In reality, the "standard" models, whether fit with a radio or not, were built with a voltage regulator beginning around May, 1939.

[ndnchf]

I can find no B mark, or anything else on this one. The fields are wound with 17 gauge, so I assume its the earlier version.

This one was pretty crusty, but I'm repairing and freshening it as a spare for a buddy in town who has a '40 coupe. Tested and serviced the armature, tested the fields, new brushes, bearing, terminal post and insulators. Waiting on new brush springs. As noted, the pulley is not right, but it will do in a pinch. We can always swap the pulley off his other generator if needed.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by ndnchf

I can find no B mark, or anything else on this one. The fields are wound with 17 gauge, so I assume its the earlier version.

This one was pretty crusty, but I'm repairing and freshening it as a spare for a buddy in town who has a '40 coupe. Tested and serviced the armature, tested the fields, new brushes, bearing, terminal post and insulators. Waiting on new brush springs. As noted, the pulley is not right, but it will do in a pinch. We can always swap the pulley off his other generator if needed.

[ndnchf]

The new brush springs came in today, so I was able to finish up the '40 generator. It was pretty rusty, but it works fine and puts out a good 23 amps on my test stand. While not very pretty. It will do as a spare for my buddy's '40 coupe.