Technical voltage regulator

'59 V8 Edsel, same as a Ford. Needed a new voltage regulator as the old one the points are pitted. Bought new Standard vr-35 from Rock Auto. Installed it this weekend with no joy. Its dead as a hammer.
So I cleaned up the points on the old one and its charging well but the gen light glows dimly if I turn the lights on and rev the engine. My book doesn't tell me where to set the air gap so I set it similar to the new one. I don't have a way to check something with this much current but the voltages at the battery are spot on where they should be at idle and at 1500 rpm.
Should you have to polarize a new voltage regulator? I thought that was just for the generator. I have a book but its not very clear and it cautions about polarizing Autolite and Ford differently and am not sure which method to follow.

thanks in advance

 

You heard it right, polarizing a generator is not required when replacing the voltage regulator.

 

If it's charging, and the voltages are ok, then I would not worry about seeing the light glowing a little when the headlights are on. There might be something with how the dash lights are working, that affects how the gen light looks.

and I would keep the original regulator, if at all possible....they knew how to make them, back then. The knowledge has been lost over time. Get a few more old ones as spares, too.

 

Back to basics...make sure your belt is tight...with engine off, push on fan blade on generator...you should not be able to slip it in the belt with medium pressure. Clean and check ALL grounds...bright and tight. Same with battery cables at the battery. Then check the light.


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Thanks for the quick answers. Its always had low battery voltage and I believe the pitted contacts were the problem. It charged right up after I cleaned the contacts and got rid of the pits.
Like I said, the new one is dead as a hammer and I bought it Nov. of last year and never got around to putting it on. Now Rock Auto won't take it back.

 

You know, I didn't check the belt. It's old but has been working. I will check it and the grounds tonight. I've had ignition grounding issues before.
The old car got used in a movie over the last couple months and have found several little things that needed attention. Tires, squeaky brakes, voltage regulator. It has ran and shifted well though. The voltage regulator didn't like extended periods of idling.

 

It was worn out generator brushes. Would charge a while then just drift away. Weird, half the commutator looked arced. Gave up on the old regulator, bought a new one, rebuilt the generator, nothing like throwing money at one Charging good now.

thanks again guys

 

Over time the comms get out of round and the brush dust get down in the segment groves...all things that cause troubles in a generator.


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