6 volt generator questions

[REDDOG]

how do you check one
how do you Polarize one
how do you check to see if the voltage regulator is working


reddog

[yorgatron]

to check'em i pull it apart and look to see if the brushes aren't worn out,the bearings are good,and the commutator is smooth,if it isn't they usually clean up with a piece of sandpaper.you have to polarize every time the gen. is unhooked from the reg.this is done by touching a jumper wire between the BAT and GEN (or ARM) terminals on the reg.i check the reg. by running the car and reading the voltage from the battery,should be 6.6v or so,if not,remove the cover from the reg. and clean the points,then take another reading.that's the short version,i suggest you get hold of some vintage auto manuals like Motor's or Chilton-george

[REDDOG]

do i need to disconnent any thing to Polarize the generator?

[yorgatron]

nope.

[REDDOG]

i didnt know about the Polarizing thing, but i have driven my car around, when i first try to start it it seems fine, i get in ot and go to the store, come back out and it turns over and seems to kill the battery quick, did not Polarizing it cause this, i really want to keep my 6 volt system, but im getting frustrated at it, any other tips i need to know please tell me
and thanks for your help

reddog

[Drive on]

Mine was doing that too and I had the generator rebuilt and it stopped doing it. $40 bucks

[whizzerick]

Reddog, make sure you have battery cables of sufficient size, ie: HUGE MOFO'S!!! Regular 12 volt cables will NOT start a 6 volt system (Ask me how I know...).
Take a minute to read Jerry herbison's articles at Stovebolt.com (http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/#electrical) . Good reading. Very informative.

[TimW]

He is a link to some 6 volt electrical info.
http://www.btc-bci.com/~billben/flathead.htm
Good luck, I finally tossed in the towel and pussied up with a 6 volt alternator.

[willowbilly3]

Age old problem with a hundred different fixes. One of my friends has a one wire delco alternator on his 28 Ford pickup. He had someone convert it to 6 volt. Years ago we used to use an 8 volt battery and twist the regulator up. Also used 2 batterys and a series-parellel switch so the starter got 12 volts. When I was a kid my dad had a 53 international that cranked real hard when it was hot. It happened one day at the blacksmiths shop. He said he could fix it easy and pulled the starter, shaved about 20 or 30 thou off the armature and it started fine after that. Also a starter that draws too much on a 6 volt system doesn't leave enough juice to make a decent spark.