'60 Generator Gremlins

[Charles P.]

Has any one ever dealt with a generator that will charge on a bench test but not on the car? I've had everything tested and everything cheks out. Tried 3 different voltage reg's. Took generator and regulator to shop and was tested on bench and charged like crazy. Even tried 2 different shops. Finally, as a last resort, we took a generator off of a '58 that my buddy is building in his shop and put it on my car and BAM!! charges just like it is supposed to. The inside of generator looks great. ?????????

[Dick W.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

Have you polarized the generator?

[George W.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

I believe Dick is correct; more importantly, I like Dick's new picture...

[Dan D.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

Polarize it, and the pic is very becoming to him. I hope his wife doesn't look like that!!

[Charles P.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

Dick,

Thanks for replying. Yes, we polarized the generator. While off the car we hooked it to a battery and it motored very well.

[Thomas H.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

Polarize it ON the car by shorting the batt terminal to the Gen terminal at the regulator.

[Ronald W.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

Make sure the ground wire between the generator and regulator is good. It is the woven shield that covers the regulator wires.

[Charles P.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

Thomas, Thanks for replying. After I read my last post I figured somebody would think I polarized it off the car. Yes, I polarized it ON the car. I was just saying that when I took it off to bring it to the shop I connected it to a battery and it motored good. My buddy that is helping me do the car is an excellent mechanic and is an Automotive instructor at a local high school. He has restored several C1's and C2's, some of which has went on the get Top Flight. This has him and everyone I talk to stumped. In the next reply that I have the gentleman said to be sure the braided geound wire was in good shape. That possibilty was eliminated when we put the one off of the '58 on there using the exact same wiring as I did on mine and it charges like crazy. Not sure if when being bolted to the mounts and brackets and the tension of the belt is somehow torquing the housing and causing something to ground out on the inside.

[Charles P.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

Ronald, Thanks for replying. The braided ground wire is good because we put a generator off of a '58 that is in his shop and it charges like crazy using the same wiring and regulator.

[Dan D.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

Charles, ground the field terminal on the generator with the motor running. A screwdriver or clip lead will do, but DO NOT ground the armature terminal. Grounding the field winding will force the generator put out full current, but get the motor speed up - generators do not break through well st idle. -Dan-

[Charles P.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

Dan, Thanks for replying. Yes, we tried that also. It did not make it put out full charge. We have tried everything we can think of and what everyone has suggested but so far nothing has worked.

[James O.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

dan, i think you have a ground problem. that little braid connected to the small screw on the voltage reg cover does not cut it sometimes. hook everything up correctly as you had it. then just connect a heavy wire like 7 ga or even a jumper cable from one of the lower bolts that mounts the regulator. make sure you are connecting with the case and not the cover. connect the other end to a good frame ground like a large bolt. start the car and put a voltmeter across the battery terminals. i bet you will get 14.5 volts. if i'm right just put a small jumper wire in place of your test wire. jim

[Charles P.]

Re: '60 Generator Gremlins

Jim, Thanks for replying. After thinking about it that may be the only thing we haven't tried. I will certainly give it a try later today.

Happy Easter everyone!!!!!