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- Jan 10, 2020
- Thunderbird Year
- 1962
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Just because the generator is a new replacement doesn't mean it's a good one. They are a pretty simple device. Where did you source it and do you still have the original? I still think the brushes could be stuck in the sleeves and not pressing on the commutator properly. They also need to be broken in a bit so they make full contact. Maybe even a couple of sharp smacks with a hammer couldn't hurt.I charged the battery before starting, it was 12.8v. I just changed the generator, so the brushes should be good. I had someone rev the engine, and I think the voltage from the generator actually went down. The car doesn't have a tachometer (the previous owner did some customizing, I don't know if it originally had one), but I'm going to buy one and see if I can slave it in for testing.
Don’t worry about getting a tachometer for testing. Since you used a fully charged battery, increased the engine rpm and the voltage went down, that tells us that the battery is not charging.I charged the battery before starting, it was 12.8v. I just changed the generator, so the brushes should be good. I had someone rev the engine, and I think the voltage from the generator actually went down. The car doesn't have a tachometer (the previous owner did some customizing, I don't know if it originally had one), but I'm going to buy one and see if I can slave it in for testing.
Doug, just a note of correction. We are referring to a generator not an alternator. Just mental typo?Don’t worry about getting a tachometer for testing. Since you used a fully charged battery, increased the engine rpm and the voltage went down, that tells us that the battery is not charging.
As I said in the article that I wrote, the problem could be could be alternator, the regulator or the wiring between them. You said that you replaced both the generator and the voltage regulator, why did you replace both of them and do you still have them? Assuming that the wiring is not the problem; wouldn’t it be easier to put the old voltage regulator back on the car and see if the battery starts charging before you put the old generator back on?
I understand what Ward57 is trying to tell you about the brushes being stuck in the holders, but smacking the generator a few times with a hammer is not the proper way to fix it. I really have a problem with smacking any electrical component with a hammer, but maybe that's just me.
When I rebuild generators and starter motors, I replace the brushes and the brush springs, and make sure that they move freely in the holders before I reassemble them.
doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue
View attachment 20995