Generator intermittent?
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Generator intermittent?
It's been cold here - 0F and below - but keep the 64 garaged and battery topped off. Still, it's parked outside all day at work and lately have an "intermittent" generator light till it warms up, or seems to - what's up with that, is it the cold weather or? Last had it serviced maybe 10k miles ago?
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,351
Likes: 1
From: Escondido, CA
Most likely it is cold enough for the windings to shrink just a tad to keep them from producing an electrical field. Once the truck warms up the exhaust manifold or radiator is most likely giving off enough heat to expand them. This is also a theory mind you.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Well, I sprang for one of those fancy voltage regulators with the FoMoCo script a while back, had the generator gone over on gen. principles. It does seem to cut out - normally the lights will dim slightly at low idle, the heater blower slow around corners - the light is showing a true non-charge condition. I'm gonna give it a shot of some electrical contact cleaner just for the hell of it, and check grounds and such.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,765
Likes: 547
From: Kalispell, MT
You do know that generators don't produce electricity under 12-1500 rpm? That explains the dimming of lights and drop in speed of the blower motor when at low idle and turning corners............ May be nothing wrong with your gen. Under those conditions it will show a discharge condition or the idiot light will come on. I run one on my daily 48 F1.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Originally Posted by mtflat
You do know that generators don't produce electricity under 12-1500 rpm? That explains the dimming of lights and drop in speed of the blower motor when at low idle and turning corners............ May be nothing wrong with your gen. Under those conditions it will show a discharge condition or the idiot light will come on. I run one on my daily 48 F1.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Okay, I have a nice shiny genuine, new re-built generator, and the original here.
The pulley looks like it has seen better days - anybody got a part # for that thing, or better a modern part # that will fit? Just getting the old one off looks like a project, corroded, reefed to golly-knows how many yard-pounds, topped off with a coat of paint.
The pulley looks like it has seen better days - anybody got a part # for that thing, or better a modern part # that will fit? Just getting the old one off looks like a project, corroded, reefed to golly-knows how many yard-pounds, topped off with a coat of paint.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Hey ND, thanks for the help. It's gonna need some pro-fessional application sounds like.
It's easy to see why the alternator replaced the generator. The windings (heavy) are the part that revolves! "Somebody" dropped the generator at one time, the pulley really needs to be replaced, but at this point just getting my rig back on the road will be good enough.
It's easy to see why the alternator replaced the generator. The windings (heavy) are the part that revolves! "Somebody" dropped the generator at one time, the pulley really needs to be replaced, but at this point just getting my rig back on the road will be good enough.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,351
Likes: 1
From: Escondido, CA
I thought of something this morning. Have you cleaned the contacts on the firewall connectors? My truck which has an altenator, wasn't charging for anything a few years back. I replaced everything then I cleaned the connectors where it passes through the firewall and it worked again. It may not be the source of the problem but it will eliminate any doubts.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Good tip on cleaning the firewall connectors - I hit all of 'em a while back, and about once a year. The first time, about a tablespoon of dry, powdered corrosion spewed out, it pays to clean 'em up!
Well I got the old pulley removed and on the new generator, since it is basically unobtanium from the reg'ler parts jobbers. A neighbor has an impact wrench and a slide hammer puller, which did the trick. So it's out to the garage on a nice spring day (finally)
thanks for the help folks, free beers on me.
Well I got the old pulley removed and on the new generator, since it is basically unobtanium from the reg'ler parts jobbers. A neighbor has an impact wrench and a slide hammer puller, which did the trick. So it's out to the garage on a nice spring day (finally)
thanks for the help folks, free beers on me.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dayner
Fuel Injection, Carburetion & Fuel System
1
Apr 27, 2003 07:48 PM