Jerry Shuck Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 Is there an authentic replacement for the Decotron Generator with matching Voltage Regulator on the market? I do not want to upgrade the system to a modern alternator just keep everything original as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Cannon Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 If you can, get the original alternator rebuilt and reinstall it. We have other tricks for the voltage regulator. Remember, it's always good to include the year of the car with questions (but I can see a 1st gen in your avatar). 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Shuck Posted August 17, 2022 Author Share Posted August 17, 2022 Jim, Do you know of a competent rebuilder? What are the other tricks for the regulator? '64 w/AC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 Most larger cities should have a ‘starter and alternator’ shop. No yellow pages but a Google should turn up something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Shuck Posted August 17, 2022 Author Share Posted August 17, 2022 The largest city by me is 2-1/2 hours away and they don't have anyone qualified for the job. Thanks though. Anyone in ROA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulldogDriver Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 Pick a large city that has a strong following of classic cars and ship it to them. Or be smart and put a late model s12 alternator and an external regulator eliminator on the car. Hide it under the regulator and put the original on your “to keep” shelf. NAPA has a replacement in stock most of the time. Ray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Balzer Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 (edited) It sounds like you really want to keep your Rivi as original as possible. Another option is to mount an alternator that looks like your generator. I have a 1962 Thunderbird that came with a generator. As I am sure you know, generators do NOT charge when the car is idling. I was able to find a replacement alternator that looked and fit the mounting bosses as found on the generator. I have the best of both worlds - charging of my battery even at idle or parade speeds and original appearance. Thus is the box for my Ford alternator - maybe they carry a Buick one. Summit Racing carries this brand. I did a quick search: They are pricey - but may scratch your itch: https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/alternators-and-generators/brand/powermaster/product-line/powermaster-powergen-alternators?SortBy=Default&SortOrder=Ascending&cm_mmc=ppc-google-_-search-_-brands-_-keyword&gclid=CjwKCAjwo_KXBhAaEiwA2RZ8hCPXY_mRdm1TBAWre-PmEfyBskwXk6y3X0ea5ESxHSWajfmSxvRRKRoCYUYQAvD_BwE Edited August 17, 2022 by Craig Balzer (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 A "Delcotron Generator" is early 60s GM-speak for an Alternator. I don't blame you for wanting to keep it. I have that setup on my truck. It has been working since 1987 just fine without any input from me, and probably quite a while before that with the former owner. What's wrong with it? You can change bearings and brushes in the alternator to account for wear. I'm not in ROA so I don't know, but there must be someone in ROA who could to that? Due to the known age/failure curves of silicon diodes, I would leave the old diodes in unless you find a bad one. It is splitting hairs, but the old ones are slightly less likely to fail because statistically most failures occur early in a diode's life. I would also keep the old windings, unless you find loose ones. You can't have any loose windings vibrating around, as they will eventually short. Other than that, there isn't much to go wrong with them. Hardly anything ever goes wrong with the old mechanical regulator. If the cover is not riveted, you could take the lid off and blow all the dead spiders out of it. I would only replace it if it doesn't work. Even then I would have a good look at why it doesn't work before giving up on it. The Delco regulators from that period were high quality. Modern replacements just aren't on the same level. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Shuck Posted August 17, 2022 Author Share Posted August 17, 2022 Great rebuilding advice. Thank you. It's old and crusty but the real problem is probably in my "like OEM" regulator unit that I installed years ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 ???? What year and model car are you working on. The first Rivera came out in 1963 and was fitted with an alternator, not a generator. If you’re truly looking for information about a generator, you might be better off asking on a different Buick forum here on the AACA site. Jim Cannon mentioned replacing your voltage regulator. The replacement is a transistorized unit. That cover is riveted on. Drill out the rivets and screw the cover to your oe regulator to the transistor unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 Original 1962 Delcotron introduction manual. 11/62 revision. Since the NOS parts have dried up at the big swap meets, old parts and service literature and neat old well-loved tools are what I drag home. Pays off too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 I was able to buy the replacement pieces (brushes, bearings, diodes, etc.) on Ebay as a kit for my original alternator. Generally, the issue is worn brushes and/or noisy bearings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
startergenrebuilder Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 I can help with rebuild or parts. -Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jframe Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 18 hours ago, BulldogDriver said: Pick a large city that has a strong following of classic cars and ship it to them. Or be smart and put a late model s12 alternator and an external regulator eliminator on the car. Hide it under the regulator and put the original on your “to keep” shelf. NAPA has a replacement in stock most of the time. Ray This is the best bet by far. Did this to mine, and all my charging issues went away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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