Samandhiscars Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 I'm still working on the 1947 Lincoln Continental Cab. I don't think the generator is charging. The battery won't hold a charge and the gauge shows 0 when the car is running, but if I turn the headlights on it shows a discharge. Is there an easy way to check the generator or the voltage regulator? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary56 Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 Take the belt off the generator and it will be like a electric motor, if not it is bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 Has the generator been working and now it’s not? The usual first step is to check the wiring connections to the generator and voltage regulator. Make sure they are clean and tight. The generator brushes might be bad (worn down or poor connections internally). Gary 56 is suggesting to run the generator as a motor to see if internally everything is good which would then make the regulator the next suspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTR Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 18 hours ago, Samandhiscars said: Is there an easy way to check the generator or the voltage regulator? Thanks! Your factory service manual will likely have all the necessary information for testing procedures and equipment required for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 2 hours ago, TTR said: Your factory service manual will likely have all the necessary information for testing procedures and equipment required for them. Also, a Motors Manual that covers your year of car has the information too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTR Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 (edited) 14 hours ago, TerryB said: Also, a Motors Manual that covers your year of car has the information too. Yes, I know that, but prefer to recommend factory manuals as they generally have much wider scope of more detailed information and all the specification data for the given vehicle. And while I have enough Motors Manuals to cover every car in them from early thirties to mid seventies, whenever I need to work on a vehicle I don’t already have factory manuals and/or parts catalogs, I usually acquire all before I get started. Buying/reading/using service manuals is one of the best investments a person can spend on any vintage car they buy/own/work on. Edited May 20 by TTR (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 I always had both for the vehicles I owned. Sometimes the Motors manual had information or repair methods the shop manual did not include. You can never have enough of either! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 Have you flashed the voltage regulator? Connect a jumper wire to the Field terminal on the voltage regulator and touch the ground terminal briefly, just enough to see a spark. You are telling the generator which way to change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 2 hours ago, 61polara said: Have you flashed the voltage regulator? Connect a jumper wire to the Field terminal on the voltage regulator and touch the ground terminal briefly, just enough to see a spark. You are telling the generator which way to change. I take it this is how the 1947 Chrysler system is flashed to polarize the generator. I will add for future readers that this does not apply to Circuit A generators like on GM vehicles. But the more I look at diagrams and pictures of 1947 Chrysler voltage regulators, what ground terminal on the voltage regulator? I only see A (armature) F (field) and B for hot wire from ammeter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 Frank, you are correct. Flash the F to the B terminal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c49er Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 (edited) Chrysler Corp 6 volt systems...to polarize ..... Connect a jumper wire "BAT to ARM" terminals for just a second. Some info on 6 volt Ford/ Lincoln systems. Edited May 21 by c49er Add'l info (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 (edited) If the car has been in storage and just brought out for the season I would pull back the generator brushes and let the snap back to the armature. Sometimes they get a little sticky and ride up on a high spot and stay there. A little nudge will get them following again. Edited May 21 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samandhiscars Posted May 23 Author Share Posted May 23 Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and insight. I took the generator to a shop for a quick test and overhaul if needed. I couldn't believe it's a one-bolt removal (not including the electrical wires) process. Next up is a head gasket replacement. I'm sure I'll be looking for tips on that as well. Thanks, Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c49er Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 Many times the issue is the regulator. Be much less costly if so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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