The Ford Barn

Phil Gillespie · 09-22-2019, 04:04 AM

Have a 6v positive earth generator and would like verification from the good people here if this is a test method to follow.

GENERATOR DOES NOT CHARGE:
Two brush Ford generators use the shunt type generator design. The field circuit has an internally grounded field. … unlike MoPar and GM which ground through the regulator. To test a Ford generator and/or regulator on the car, simply ground the field terminal at either the generator or regulator with the engine turning about 1000 rpm and watch the amp gauge (do not disconnect any wires) . Grounding the field removes all external regulation on the generator and it will go immediately to full charge mode. If the ammeter shows charge when you ground the field, the regulator is at fault. If the ammeter does not show charge, the generator is defective. Note the generator may have shorted out the regulator when it went bad.
Since the 6 volt regulators are still mechanical and can be set, it may be beneficial to know what is where inside them.

As another test method advises to remove the field wire from regulator terminal and move to armature terminal for test purposes and rum up to 2000 rpm and observe amps at amps meter.
Or are both ok?
Thanks,
Phil NZ

09-22-2019, 04:04 AM	#1
Phil Gillespie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Christchurch New Zealand Posts: 1,611	Generator testing 6v positive earth. Have a 6v positive earth generator and would like verification from the good people here if this is a test method to follow. GENERATOR DOES NOT CHARGE: Two brush Ford generators use the shunt type generator design. The field circuit has an internally grounded field. … unlike MoPar and GM which ground through the regulator. To test a Ford generator and/or regulator on the car, simply ground the field terminal at either the generator or regulator with the engine turning about 1000 rpm and watch the amp gauge (do not disconnect any wires) . Grounding the field removes all external regulation on the generator and it will go immediately to full charge mode. If the ammeter shows charge when you ground the field, the regulator is at fault. If the ammeter does not show charge, the generator is defective. Note the generator may have shorted out the regulator when it went bad. Since the 6 volt regulators are still mechanical and can be set, it may be beneficial to know what is where inside them. As another test method advises to remove the field wire from regulator terminal and move to armature terminal for test purposes and rum up to 2000 rpm and observe amps at amps meter. Or are both ok? Thanks, Phil NZ