Generator discharging

[1940plymouth]

I need some advise from you guys.

Yesterday afternoon I noticed that my amp guage was discharging whenever I used the brakes or signal lights on my 1940 Plymouth.

The fan belt was lose, so I tightened that up, still the same problem. I had a NOS Chrysler Voltage regulator installed that, still the same thing. I used the test light, I have no juice coming from the large terminal on the generator, plus I had cleaned both terminals earlier in the day. I started the Plymouth up again, revved up the engine and unhooked the possitive ground, the old car stalled. That tells me that the generator isn't chargind.

Am I correct?

I changed the brushes in the Plymouth about 16 or 17 years ago.

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Bob

[Don Coatney]

I started the Plymouth up again' date=' revved up the engine and unhooked the possitive ground, the old car stalled. That tells me that the generator isn't chargind.

Am I correct?

[/quote']

You are correct. If the engine died when you disconnected the battery your charging system is not working.

[greg g]

ould be just needs new brushes about 15 buck from NAPA or others. about a 1o min jub once the genny is on the bench.

Another test is to start the engine and set the idle up to about 1000rpm.

Then use a jump wire to ground the fielf terminal. If the genny is OK is should peg the ammeter.

[Rodney Bullock]

It could also be the regulator, The test that greg mentioned will let you know if the generator is working after that look at the regulator. Just for kicks try to polarize it. If may charge for a moment then go back to discharge

[brian hood]

If you replace the regulator, dont for get to polarize it!

[Don Coatney]

If you replace the regulator, dont for get to polarize it!

The regulator cannot be polarized. Only the generator needs to be polarized but this polizeration is done at the regulator.

[1940plymouth]

On the NOS Chrylser regulator that I installed it said to polorize the regulator by running a wire from the "arm" to the "bat" terminals before starting, which I did, with the same results. I pulled the generator last evening, going to clean it up today and check the brushes.

[Don Coatney]

On the NOS Chrylser regulator that I installed it said to polorize the regulator by running a wire from the "arm" to the "bat" terminals before starting' date=' which I did, with the same results. I pulled the generator last evening, going to clean it up today and check the brushes.[/quote']

Once again the regulator cannot be polarized. Only the generator needs to be polarized but this polizeration is done at the regulator. If you re-read the instructions on your NOS regulator my guess is it will say to polirize the generator by flashing across the armature and battery terminals on the regulator.

[1940plymouth]

Don,

Yup, that is what the directions said to do

[1940plymouth]

Hopefully I have included a photo of the brush that I just took out

embossed in the brush it says Auto-lite, GJC-102A

[1940plymouth]

My mistake, the brush number is either 6JC-1012A or GJC-1012A

[1940plymouth]

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

I installed new brushes, put it all back together, polorized it, then started the car, still have the same problem

Am I doing something wrong?

What else should I look for as a potential problem?

Thanks again,

Bob

[martybose]

Have you checked the connections on the back of the ammeter?

Marty

[1940plymouth]

Since it has been raining a good share of the day here in the Catskills of New York, I decided to take the generator apart again with a good friend of mine. Upon further inspection we noticed that there was end play at the pulley. Once we took the pulley off there was even more play. We decided that I need the bearing for that end.

Should I order the bushing at the other end of the generator at the same time?

Thanks in advance,

Bob

[greg g]

Its probably a 10 dollar piece. Be silly to have the genny laying the bench and not change it.

[Don Coatney]

Upon further inspection we noticed that there was end play at the pulley. Once we took the pulley off there was even more play. We decided that I need the bearing for that end.

Thanks in advance' date='

Bob[/quote']

Bob;

End play is not normally a bearing issue. End play is when you can move the generator shaft from front to back. Bearing failure is when you can move the shaft up and down. The shaft will slide front to back in the bearing normally.

[1940plymouth]

Don,

I guess my wording was wrong, what you mentioned about the pulley end is entirely correct.

I will order the bearing and bushing on Tuesday,

thanks to all,

Bob

[Rodney Bullock]

I guess the voltage regulator is working ok, I have heard no mention of it. I have three cars with VR on them. This morning I went out to start my dodge charger and it had nothing. I thought maybe I left something on so I took the battery to a store for exchange, they tested it and found it to be fully charged. While I was there I purchased a new voltage regulator as my volt gauge would go all the way to 17, I also noticed that the amp gauge would flucuate. I installed the VR and cleaned the starter relay (found one wire loose and the connection soaked with oil) I put everything back together and started the car. It ran great and the gauges are now reading very steady. I can also feel the difference in the way the car rev's. Don't rule out the VR sometimes it's the little things that go wrong:)

[1940plymouth]

Well four plus years later I have another problem with my generator. It started not charging, I took it to an old time mechanic, he tested the generator and it turned fine, the brushes are also in decent shape. I reinstalled the generator, cleaned both terminals then polarized it as directed in this thread, it worked well for each time I took the car out in the past two weeks. Well after sitting since this past Monday, I fired her up to put a few miles on her, well she wasn't charging again.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated,

Thanks

Bob

[JerseyHarold]

It could be sticking points in the voltage regulator. Try whacking the regulator with the palm of your hand to see if that makes it show charging on the ammeter.

[greg g]

the points in the VR might do well with a bit of dressing with a points file. Did you try momentarily grounding the field terminal while the engine is running to see if you get a pegged positive on your amp gauge?

[1940plymouth]

Thanks JerseyHarold and Greg, I went out this morning, hit the voltage regulator with my hand a couple of times, did the field to ground and bat to arm test, and the old thing started charging again, so I honestly don't know which test was the correct one, but the I guess right now it doesn't really matter as it is charging again.

This now means a few more miles today on the old thing. 1-3 inches of snow on Wednesday turning to freezing rain, so today is a good day to go for a ride.

Thanks again,

Bob

[RobertKB]

This now means a few more miles today on the old thing. 1-3 inches of snow on Wednesday turning to freezing rain' date=' so today is a good day to go for a ride.[/quote']

Glad you got your problem solved. Good to see you getting out and about again, Bob! Post pictures please.

[1940plymouth]

Here you go RobertKB, check the sky out, burrrrrrrrrrrr

[RobertKB]

IT is coming. Thanks for the picture. Car looks good as always. No Cooper??