Charging system

[Sodakmodela]

How do I check the charging system on my 30 Tudor? When I turn the lights on it discharges. I read that I can move a brush in the generator but don't seem to help. What am I missing? What's possibly wrong?

[John Duden]

is your cutout closing? take the cover off and while the engine is running push the points together, if they stay together, the generator is working, clean the points and the should work by themselves,

Take a little fine emery cloth and tuch the armature while the engine is running and polish the copper contacts
This is what i always do
john

[diomed]

Does it charge when you rev the engine? If you're just idling with the lights on it'll be discharging but it should show charging on the ammeter once you start driving.

[Kurt in NJ]

If you were to read the owners instruction book you would know that there will be a discharge shown on the ammeter when the headlights are on, and at idle

[marc hildebrant]

Please buy the Model A owners manual. Its available for a small amount of money.

The owners manual contains info about timing and setting the charging current.

Marc

[katy]

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Take a little fine emery cloth and touch the armature while the engine is running

DON"T use emery cloth, use sandpaper.

[heneste]

The generator needs a certain RPM before it sends a charge to the battery. As diomed mentioned, at idle you won't see the amps rise. Are you running with a stock cutout also? Some of the voltage regulator cutouts will only read a charge if the battery needs it and then it will taper off to zero as the battery doesn't require a charge.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Sodakmodela

How do I check the charging system on my 30 Tudor? When I turn the lights on it discharges. I read that I can move a brush in the generator but don't seem to help. What am I missing? What's possibly wrong?

It is operating normally. If you set the generator so it is at zero when the lights are on you will "cook" (overcharge) the battery when they are not on. Set the third brush for about 4-6 amps when the car is running with no lights on.

I have run my car for hours at night with the ammeter reading discharge. The battery along with the generator will keep the car running for a L O N G time.

[Sodakmodela]

The gauge never goes above 0 but when turn lights on it goes -. Don't matter if revved up or at idle. It is all stock parts. What should the actual voltage be at with no lights on?

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Sodakmodela

The gauge never goes above 0 but when turn lights on it goes -. Don't matter if revved up or at idle. It is all stock parts. What should the actual voltage be at with no lights on?

It is not a volt meter but a meter that measures current (amps). It should read 4-5 with an engine running down the road.

[ian Simpson]

Originally Posted by John Duden

is your cutout closing? take the cover off and while the engine is running push the points together, if they stay together, the generator is working, clean the points and the should work by themselves,

Take a little fine emery cloth and tuch the armature while the engine is running and polish the copper contacts
This is what i always do
john

Please do not use emery cloth on the commutator. The particles will embed themselves in the relatively soft copper and destroy the brushes in very short order. Use sandpaper instead.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by ian Simpson

Please do not use emery cloth on the commutator. The particles will embed themselves in the relatively soft copper and destroy the brushes in very short order. Use sandpaper instead.

I've read and heard that for many years, but have never had a problem. I use fine emery that comes on a long roll 1" wide to polish the commutators. Spin the armature in the direction it normally turns when you polish it.

To check the generator output connect the volt meter to the generator output post and ground, and it should be more than battery voltage when the engine is running at 500 RPM or faster. If the voltage is less or close to zero, then you need to repair the generator. If the voltage is good, then check it on the cutout output terminal. You will read battery voltage there, but it should increase slightly when the engine runs faster than 500 RPM.

[burner31]

Originally Posted by Sodakmodela

How do I check the charging system on my 30 Tudor? When I turn the lights on it discharges. I read that I can move a brush in the generator but don't seem to help. What am I missing? What's possibly wrong?

Have you fixed your problem yet?
I just ran into the same issue, turned out to be a broken wire to the third brush, I cleaned everything up while I had the Gen apart and soldered a new wire on, now the amp gauge reads "charge"
Don't use electrical tape if you have to solder a new wire on, use cloth string.