generator rebuild

[Don C.]

Need to rebuild my generator in my 1960 corvette. No power going in or coming out of regulator. I live in San Diego and would like to find some close but could ship if I need to. Have elect back ground and could check out my self with a little help.

[John H.]

Re: generator rebuild

Need to rebuild my generator in my 1960 corvette. No power going in or coming out of regulator. I live in San Diego and would like to find some close but could ship if I need to. Have elect back ground and could check out my self with a little help.

Don -

Most cities have at least one Mom-and-Pop shop that rebuilds generators and starters - look in the Yellow Pages under "Generators" or use one of the on-line business search engines.

[Michael L.]

Re: generator rebuild

You could also use the ST 12 as a guide and take it apart yourself and check the brushes and windings. They are pretty simple beasts. I'm am a real chicken when it comes to electrical, but I did my own rebuild. Pretty simple stuff. Worst case, put it back together and have someone else fix it.

[Don C.]

Re: generator rebuild

You could also use the ST 12 as a guide and take it apart yourself and check the brushes and windings. They are pretty simple beasts. I'm am a real chicken when it comes to electrical, but I did my own rebuild. Pretty simple stuff. Worst case, put it back together and have someone else fix it.

I think I will try that first before I find a shop Thanks Don

[Joe L.]

Re: generator rebuild

I think I will try that first before I find a shop Thanks Don

Don-----

If it turns out that it needs significant internal parts (i.e. more than just bearings and brushes), just buy another commercially rebuilt generator. Then, swap all the parts from it into your case.

Sometimes, armatures on these old generators suffer from the "throwing lead" syndrome. As I say, the armature (and other parts) from a rebuilt unit will cure that.

[Tom P.]

Re: generator rebuild

Don-----

If it turns out that it needs significant internal parts (i.e. more than just bearings and brushes), just buy another commercially rebuilt generator. Then, swap all the parts from it into your case.

Sometimes, armatures on these old generators suffer from the "throwing lead" syndrome. As I say, the armature (and other parts) from a rebuilt unit will cure that.

If his car has a tach drive generator (the ONLY ones that did NOT have a tach drive generator were used on 57-61 solid lifter FI engines), then the only commercially rebuilt generator with an acceptable armature would be for another Corvette application or a 55-59 Chevy pass car with a power steering generator.

[Jim D.]

Re: generator rebuild

If his car has a tach drive generator (the ONLY ones that did NOT have a tach drive generator were used on 57-61 solid lifter FI engines), then the only commercially rebuilt generator with an acceptable armature would be for another Corvette application or a 55-59 Chevy pass car with a power steering generator.

Those armatures are readily available at almost any auto. electric repair business. I bought one last summer. They are less than $100.

[Jack H.]

Re: generator rebuild

If you tackle the job yourself, a mainstay of the savvy generator rebuilder shops is changing the front and rear bearings to modern, permanently lubed bearings. If your generator hasn't been overhauled before and retains its factory original 'oiler' style bearings, this is a SMART move...

[Richard M.]

Re: generator rebuild

About 20 years ago, in my '59 the regulator stuck on, fried the wires and armature. I have a "growler" to test armatures.(pics) I got a used power steering generator used it's armature and rebuilt it myself, new regulator and harness.....still functioning in the car.

Sent the bad armature to a place in CA, maybe near you, called Jock's(sp?) Auto Electric to rewind it. "Oh yea.....we can rewind it"!

They lost it! For 2 years I tried to get compensated but never did. Since then unless it's local I'm usually reluctant to send anything out for rebuild.

Rich