Fixing a generator that stops generatin'
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 25
From: San Mateo, CA
Fixing a generator that stops generatin'
Yesterday I started the truck and voltage showed battery volts alone (12) with a big red "GEN" idiot light. It usually indicates 14V with a good generator. After checking for loose wires, bad connections, and verifying a good ground, I was left scratching my head.
I figured I might as well trying re-polarizing the generator. Disconnected the FIELD wire at the regulator and shorted it for 2 seconds to the BATT wire next to it. That procedure worked like a champ and generator output returned to a normal 14V.
So my question is why the heck did it "un-polarize" in the first place?!? The truck was charging just fine the day before.
I figured I might as well trying re-polarizing the generator. Disconnected the FIELD wire at the regulator and shorted it for 2 seconds to the BATT wire next to it. That procedure worked like a champ and generator output returned to a normal 14V.
So my question is why the heck did it "un-polarize" in the first place?!? The truck was charging just fine the day before.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
I've heard that a truck that has sat unused for a looong time, can need the generator to be repolarized. "Ran good yesterday" doesn't meet that test though! If it's been dropped can do it too, supposedly.
It's interesting to read archived forum posts (mostly elsewhere than here) how procedures and things get mangled. Some people assert that the generator must be polarized each and every time the battery has been disconnected or, when the regulator is replaced. Still others seem to think that it's the regulator that is being polarized. None of this is true.
The manual is pretty clear, polarization is only suppose to be required when the generator itself has been rebuilt, and if new pole shoes installed. To be safe though, so as to avoid damaging the regulator, the manual describes both Field and Batt wires being disconnected completely from the regulator, before polarizing.
It's interesting to read archived forum posts (mostly elsewhere than here) how procedures and things get mangled. Some people assert that the generator must be polarized each and every time the battery has been disconnected or, when the regulator is replaced. Still others seem to think that it's the regulator that is being polarized. None of this is true.
The manual is pretty clear, polarization is only suppose to be required when the generator itself has been rebuilt, and if new pole shoes installed. To be safe though, so as to avoid damaging the regulator, the manual describes both Field and Batt wires being disconnected completely from the regulator, before polarizing.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Sometimes the contact points in the regulator will get a layer of skunge on them that needs cleaned off, especially if they sit unused for a while Tried to revive an old regulator that the cutout relay was sticking (backfeed) without success. I think now if I'd used a point file it might have worked.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 25
From: San Mateo, CA
Hey Abe, she's still in the garage and looks the same. We do have a nicely remodeled kitchen, however, and when the rain quits I've been tasked to build a pergola in our backyard! The honey-do's keep pushing back the truck rebuild. Meanwhile I'm collecting parts for the '56 F-250. I recently bought a good core Autolite 4100 1.08 venturi carb and found a really nice NOS Ford oil bath air cleaner that will fit the 4100. Hopefully the '56 tear down will happen this spring.
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