Dave_B Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 The generator in my 41 mod 47 has made squeaking noise since I got it a little over a year ago. I bought a replacement generator last year but inertia set in and I didn't get to it till this year. The old one was making so much noise I had a hard time tuning and balancing the new carb setup. I had to swap out the pulley and I put the new generator in the car. No charge. I polarized the generator, no change. I put the old one back in. No charge. Polarized that one, no difference. I took both up to the generator shop and they checked them out. Both are good. I bought a NOS Delco-Remy regulator. Put that in and it made no difference. I didn't think it would but I thought I had to try. About the Amp meter: When I start the car the amp meter used to show a charge and gradually drop to zero. Now it shows a very slight negative charge with the engine running and does not move as rpms are increased. If the headlights are on it shows discharge. Increasing the rpms makes no difference. Battery: Voltage at the battery is 6.25. Voltage is 6.25 at the regulator Batt terminal engine off. Engine on, 6.15 V. Gen shows 0.00V across the Arm terminal to ground. Gen to block no resistance i.e. ground is good. The wiring harness is a little crispy-crunchy so I ran a pair of new wires from the generator to the voltage regulator. No difference. I double checked that the it was hooked up correctly. It's all good. I am stumped. What do you guys think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2carb40 Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Did U try a jumper wire to accomplish correct polarity? Make sure Battery has a good charge b4 attempting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMicheletti Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 I once had a situation that rust between the regulator base and body was a charge issue, While you have a new reg, be sure the base is well grounded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Worstell Posted March 23, 2020 Share Posted March 23, 2020 There are two methods for polarization. One for internally grounded generator field coils and one for externally grounded generator field coils. Your unit has externally grounded field coils. So......which polarization method did you use ?? Jack Worstell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_B Posted March 23, 2020 Author Share Posted March 23, 2020 Jack, I was told it was internally grounded and so I used that method. I hope I didn't fry anything. I am a little concerned because output at the generator is 0.00 volts right now. That is measured from the armature terminal to ground. Don, I checked the ground on the regulator and it is good. 2carb, Jumper wire? from where to where? I did use a jumper wire from the field wire but at the regulator end. I jumped it to the batt terminal on the regulator. Got a healthy spark too. I've been keeping the battery well charged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_B Posted March 23, 2020 Author Share Posted March 23, 2020 (edited) Jack, I called the generator repair shop and shop manager agrees with you, the generator is externally grounded. I polarized the generator by momentarily jumping the Gen to Batt terminals on the regulator. Still no charge. I checked the voltage output at the regulator and at the generator both 0.00 volts. Got the generator blues. If the governor doesn't shut everything down I'm going to take it into the shop. Dave Edited March 23, 2020 by Dave_B added content (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Worstell Posted March 23, 2020 Share Posted March 23, 2020 Dave....I have heard that you can take the field wire off of the regulator and ( with the motor doing about 1000RPM) touch the end of this field wire briefly to ground. If then the ammeter shows charge....then the trouble is in the regulator. And if no charge... then the trouble is in the generator This doesn't fix the problem but it does narrow the search I have never done this test myself...but I'm fairly sure it should work Jack Worstell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Simmons Posted March 23, 2020 Share Posted March 23, 2020 Sounds to me like it's time to get into the regulator, even if you've replaced it with a new or rebuilt one. If the gen shop tested both generators and they were both putting out the correct volts and amps and were reinstalled correctly then the culprit is either the regulator or the wiring. Is the regulator new ,rebuilt or the same one that is on the car? Just my 2cvents worth. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 How many terminals does this voltage regulator have, and what are they marked? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Worstell Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 Is your generator the three brush type ( uses a two element regulator) or the two brush type ( uses a three element regulator ) Jack Worstell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_B Posted March 24, 2020 Author Share Posted March 24, 2020 (edited) Jack, Bloo and company, I drove it up to Baltimore this morning on the battery to the shop that checked out the generators. The I95 traffic was light, thankfully. I got there and they were able to take me right away. The tech (old guy with slightly more hair than me) came out with a helper and his multi meter and got right to work. We all kept our distance like we're supposed to. He checked a few things out and in about 15 minutes he had sussed out. Now here is the embarrassing part of the story...... The wires at the generator were reversed. Damn I'm sure I checked that out but I still I had it backwards. Mark you were right, it was the wiring. That was what I was thinking too but I forgot Occam's Razor, the simplest answer is most likely the right answer. Sorry to get everyone excited for nothing. Anyway, Here's the good news, it was a 75 mile round trip, 95% of which was interstate at 60-65 mph, I used 4.48 gallons of gas. Do the math, 16.74 mpg. Something must be wrong here that can't be and yet there it is. I'll keep an eye on it and see if I can repeat those results. Thank you, all. You guys are the best. Dave Edited March 24, 2020 by Dave_B math correction (see edit history) 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Simmons Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 Dave glad you got it figured out and fixed. The guy who taught me my mechanics early on stressed the phrase "START WITH THE SIMPLE AND WORK TO THE COMPLEX" !!! Don't ask me how many times over the years that I've forgotten that. We are all guilty on that account.......LOL!!! Laughing with you not at you !!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buickborn Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 On 3/24/2020 at 12:13 PM, Dave_B said: Jack, Bloo and company, I drove it up to Baltimore this morning on the battery to the shop that checked out the generators. The I95 traffic was light, thankfully. I got there and they were able to take me right away. The tech (old guy with slightly more hair than me) came out with a helper and his multi meter and got right to work. We all kept our distance like we're supposed to. He checked a few things out and in about 15 minutes he had sussed out. Now here is the embarrassing part of the story...... The wires at the generator were reversed. Damn I'm sure I checked that out but I still I had it backwards. Mark you were right, it was the wiring. That was what I was thinking too but I forgot Occam's Razor, the simplest answer is most likely the right answer. Sorry to get everyone excited for nothing. Anyway, Here's the good news, it was a 75 mile round trip, 95% of which was interstate at 60-65 mph, I used 4.48 gallons of gas. Do the math, 16.74 mpg. Something must be wrong here that can't be and yet there it is. I'll keep an eye on it and see if I can repeat those results. Thank you, all. You guys are the best. Dave Dave -- Congrats on your impressive gas mileage in your '41! Reminds me of the time an old Nash owned by a friend of mine pulled some astonishing mileage on a trip, having traveled many miles on the first leg of the trip while needing very little gas to refill the tank. Too good to be true, of course. Turned out a little later that a plugged tank vent (combined, presumably, with a very healthy fuel pump) had caused atmospheric pressure to partially crush the tank!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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