DJ194950 Posted May 17, 2017 Report Posted May 17, 2017 No problems?? Just way more mechanics who knew how to diagnose and repair! = Less problems overall for the owner. MY OP only as I change all my cars to alternators. I do do want to learn how to's of generators, etc.. I'm just lazy?? DJ 1 Quote
knuckleharley Posted May 17, 2017 Report Posted May 17, 2017 (edited) 32 minutes ago, DJ194950 said: No problems?? Just way more mechanics who knew how to diagnose and repair! = Less problems overall for the owner. MY OP only as I change all my cars to alternators. I do do want to learn how to's of generators, etc.. I'm just lazy?? DJ Ok,*I* drove them with no problems. They really are simple systems to work on and figure out. I once used a wooden matchstick to hold one set of points open on a voltage regulator so the generator would charge so I could drive 275 miles back to Fort Bragg on a Sunday instead of being AWOL. Even in the 60's it was really hard to buy a good running,dependable car for 75 bucks,and my 55 Ford came out of a junkyard. Let's see ya do THAT with a alternator system. Most of the mechanical systems on pre-60's cars and trucks were designed to be worked on and repaired/adjusted by home mechanics with a minimum of specialized tools. I knew I had blocked open the right set of points when I took a battery cable off and the engine kept running. Edited May 17, 2017 by knuckleharley 1 Quote
DrDoctor Posted May 17, 2017 Report Posted May 17, 2017 Knuckleharley, Once again, my friend, I must agree with you. I bought an old Chevrolet that was almost 10 years old when I was in high school, and I drove that car for almost 30 years. It had a generator/voltage regulator system, and while I didn’t know what I was doing when I adjusted the contacts in the voltage regulator (I now confess to messing with ALL of the contacts, with not-great results . . .), other than my screwing it up thru sheer stupidity, the car ran without a hitch for all of those years. So, the system, when maintained properly, is a good system—no better, nor no worse, than an alternator system. Further, our current old car (’46 Plymouth), is over 70 years old, and other than being a negative-ground system rather than the more conventional positive-ground system, the generator/voltage regulator system it employs is still working like the proverbial champ. Regards . . . . . 1 Quote
CLOVER53 Posted May 22, 2017 Author Report Posted May 22, 2017 On 5/17/2017 at 2:39 PM, knuckleharley said: Yet people drove cars with generators for decades with no problems. I would like to convert it to 12v like my plymouth but the Desoto is so original and in great shape for its age.I think it would be a bad idea to modify it in any way. I also think converting it would open a hole other can of worms because it has the tip-toe transmission with a few solenoids that i don't wanna mess with. Quote
knuckleharley Posted May 23, 2017 Report Posted May 23, 2017 1 hour ago, wayne5153 said: I would like to convert it to 12v like my plymouth but the Desoto is so original and in great shape for its age.I think it would be a bad idea to modify it in any way. I also think converting it would open a hole other can of worms because it has the tip-toe transmission with a few solenoids that i don't wanna mess with. The older I get the more sense the old saying "If it ain't broke,don't fix it" makes to me. Quote
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