My restored Auto-Lite generator needs a connection to the crankshaft. It originally used "silent chain," a very strong and slip-proof power drive. The downside: should the generator shaft seize, the robust chain will snap the end right off the shaft. That's exactly what occurred on my car. My English Overland friend David substituted a rubber V belt & pulleys for the drive, which makes sense. Of course, I'm going the original route with the chain. Because the generator will always turn with the engine, it must be connected to the 6 volt battery via the cut-out or it may overheat.
Here's what I learned about Silent Chain. It's a positive drive with almost no lost motion. It can be used for camshaft and timing drives. It's ingenious design is composed of numerous stamped steel segments joined by swaged pins. There are many sizes of chain available. I got mine from Ramsey Products in NC. You can send them the dimensions and spacing of your sprocket wheels to get the size needed. I suggest you order a chain a few links longer than you need and cut it down. I made the error of ordering an 82-link chain, as specified in the factory drawings, if I recall correctly. Turned out I needed 84 links. In seeking to order the extra 2 links, I found they have a $104 minimum order. Luckily, I found a longer chain on eBay which I shortened (if anyone needs some, let me know!)
The photos below show what to do. Cut the swaged ends off 2 link couplers with a grinding wheel. The pins can then be tapped out with a small screwdriver blade. There are two more shorter connector pins holding all the flat links together which just drop out. You then fasten the chain over the sprocket wheels (I used small clamps) and insert the new connecting pins. The special pin they supply is held in place with a washer and a cotter pin or a small roll pin. Be sure to request extra connect pins from Ramsey with your order, as they supply only one. If you need another pin, it will cost you $104! The chain can be uncoupled by removing this pin.
Phil