The Ford Barn

boomerusmc · 04-12-2014, 11:26 AM

My club is hosting a small parts day, including "HowTo's" for rebuilding generators and starters. I want to do both (mostly for the experience), but I'm unsure if I should get just the standard rebuild kits (from either Bratton's or Mac's)...or should I spring for the armatures and field coils as well?

I have no real issues with either the on generator or starter on my coupe, but she's still just a project...I haven't had her on the road yet. Any advice?

Thanks, Dan

Fred · 04-12-2014, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomerusmc

My club is hosting a small parts day, including "HowTo's" for rebuilding generators and starters. I want to do both (mostly for the experience), but I'm unsure if I should get just the standard rebuild kits (from either Bratton's or Mac's)...or should I spring for the armatures and field coils as well?

I have no real issues with either the on generator or starter on my coupe, but she's still just a project...I haven't had her on the road yet. Any advice?

Thanks, Dan

Dan, Check your E-Mails.. Fred..

Tom Wesenberg · 04-12-2014, 12:06 PM

I never replace good parts, so you don't need the armature, as you said it's working.
Most generators need a good cleaning and paint job and possibly new brushes and front bearing. The rear bearing or bushing carries very little load and is often in excellent condition. A lot of generator armature commutators need to be undercut and polished. I like to use my Atlas Hobby Saw that I bought at the train store to undercut the armatures. About 5 to 10 thousanths is a good undercut.

Starters may need the bushing replaced on the drive end, since it carries a heavy load while cranking. I usually find the ground brushes may need to be replaced about twice as often as the field brushes. If you replace the field brushes you need a good sized soldering iron or gun. I use a WEN 250 soldering gun for the job. The starter has copper brushes and strong brush springs and you should NEVER undercut the starter commutator.

The starter Bendix spring should have clean even coils that haven't been sprung out of shape from forgetting to retard the spark while canking. Also make sure the longer Bendix bolt goes in the end of the shaft and make sure the lock washers have the flat bent tight to the flat of the hex bolt. Also make sure the small pin and spring move freely on the pinion gear. This small spring loaded pin helps the pinion stay out of engagement when the starter is off.

neds29 · 04-12-2014, 01:01 PM

Tom- Great points! I'm about to do the same with my starter and generator. Ned

ctlikon0712 · 04-12-2014, 04:10 PM

If you guys use the advanced search and type in "Generator rebuild" and add Tom's name to the "posts by" field, you will get a wealth of information that he has posted previously. Good stuff

Willie Krash · 04-12-2014, 08:27 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I agree with Tom 100%.
I would add if you're a purist by a Brake drum cutting bit, the little triangular ones with a hole in it. Make a little tool handle with a bit of an upward angle to it.
Put the bit in the slot of the generator armature and chamfer the edges.
These folks make 'em,
http://www.martindaleco.com/pdfs/Ele...nd%20Tools.pdf

RonC · 04-13-2014, 03:47 AM

Starters are so plentiful and cheap they are almost not worth rebuilding.

04-12-2014, 11:26 AM	#1
boomerusmc Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Stafford, Virginia Posts: 52	Starter & generator rebuilds My club is hosting a small parts day, including "HowTo's" for rebuilding generators and starters. I want to do both (mostly for the experience), but I'm unsure if I should get just the standard rebuild kits (from either Bratton's or Mac's)...or should I spring for the armatures and field coils as well? I have no real issues with either the on generator or starter on my coupe, but she's still just a project...I haven't had her on the road yet. Any advice? Thanks, Dan

04-12-2014, 12:06 PM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Starter & generator rebuilds I never replace good parts, so you don't need the armature, as you said it's working. Most generators need a good cleaning and paint job and possibly new brushes and front bearing. The rear bearing or bushing carries very little load and is often in excellent condition. A lot of generator armature commutators need to be undercut and polished. I like to use my Atlas Hobby Saw that I bought at the train store to undercut the armatures. About 5 to 10 thousanths is a good undercut. Starters may need the bushing replaced on the drive end, since it carries a heavy load while cranking. I usually find the ground brushes may need to be replaced about twice as often as the field brushes. If you replace the field brushes you need a good sized soldering iron or gun. I use a WEN 250 soldering gun for the job. The starter has copper brushes and strong brush springs and you should NEVER undercut the starter commutator. The starter Bendix spring should have clean even coils that haven't been sprung out of shape from forgetting to retard the spark while canking. Also make sure the longer Bendix bolt goes in the end of the shaft and make sure the lock washers have the flat bent tight to the flat of the hex bolt. Also make sure the small pin and spring move freely on the pinion gear. This small spring loaded pin helps the pinion stay out of engagement when the starter is off.

04-12-2014, 01:01 PM	#4
neds29 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Ahwatukee, AZ Posts: 115	Re: Starter & generator rebuilds Tom- Great points! I'm about to do the same with my starter and generator. Ned __________________ Retired civil engineer. Winters in Phoenix, summers in Ipswich, Mass. and North Dakota. '29 closed cab pickup- Excellent AZ truck. '29 roadster- Owned for 21 years but now sold. '28 CC pickup- My first car in Andover, MA back in '62- '63.

04-12-2014, 04:10 PM	#5
ctlikon0712 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cocoa, Florida Posts: 1,609	Re: Starter & generator rebuilds If you guys use the advanced search and type in "Generator rebuild" and add Tom's name to the "posts by" field, you will get a wealth of information that he has posted previously. Good stuff __________________ Wanted: Simmons Super Power Head Craig Likon 1931 150B

04-12-2014, 08:27 PM	#6
Willie Krash Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Phoenix, Oregon Posts: 661	Re: Starter & generator rebuilds Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I agree with Tom 100%. I would add if you're a purist by a Brake drum cutting bit, the little triangular ones with a hole in it. Make a little tool handle with a bit of an upward angle to it. Put the bit in the slot of the generator armature and chamfer the edges. These folks make 'em, http://www.martindaleco.com/pdfs/Ele...nd%20Tools.pdf __________________ Mike Stitt "A business that make nothing but money is a poor business." -Henry Ford

04-13-2014, 03:47 AM	#7
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,868	Re: Starter & generator rebuilds Starters are so plentiful and cheap they are almost not worth rebuilding.