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Generator is I belive TU

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Jim_Gruber

Jim_Gruber

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Bugsy IV's Generator Lamp is staying on continuously and as I measure current at the battery set up as Positive Ground I show 12.46 at rest. And a little bit higher 12.62 at idle. Was using a Digital Meter bit now back to my trusty 45 y.o. Radio Shack $12.95 analog meter. Yes still working and I have not blown it up.

Followed the Moss Procedure of pulling off the F & D Terminal Wires, putting a jumper between those terminals. Red Positive Lead coming from my VOM goes to a case ground on the Generator and the Black Negative lead is connected to the jumper wire on the back of the Generator.

Start the car up and VOM shows 0 Voltage, Tried hooking it up twice and went back to review video and nada. So based on this I've got to assume this Generator is toast. Can I get concurrence Team.

Plan will be to pull generator off of my spare 1275 temporarily and see if that generator produces power. A Project for tomorrow AM. Thoughts Gents? At this point I will continue to stay hooked up as Positive Ground. My rotator cuff is saying do not try to turn around that battery by yourself. But I'll see if simply swapping generator does the trick. No tach as a result and speedo isn't working either. Time to order Speedhut gauges as planned.
 
Hook a 12 Volt battery to generator(off the car), doesn't matter which is ground. The object is to see if the generator will run like an electric motor? If not, look at the armature commutator to see if its slung its solder? Also push down on the brush springs just in case the brushes are hung up, also look how long they (brushes) are. They should be around 3/4" to 1". If it runs, install a new voltage regulator an adjust it after you polarized it. You should have 13.5 to 14 volts at the battery.
 
Should the commutator be polished up clean the rust off or does that matter. Got the Gernerator off of my spare 1275. Will hook up and see if it spins first and foremost. If it does I know it's good to go.
.
 
My spare 1275 has been I the back of a damp garage for the past 7-8 years or longer without being installed in a car. I'll test with Battery charger on 50 Amp Start Circuit to see if it will spin on it's own.
 
Yes, you need to clean up the commutator with emery cloth. Also make sure that the brushes have good tension against said commutator.
Cheers, Scott in CA
 
So I connected the generator off of my spare 1275. Tough to turn at first. hooked it up to Battery Charger on 50 Amp setting. I was able to sort of get a 1/2 Turn at times, mainly I just got a jump in the armature and a clunk. Too much friction in there to really turn. Tried to open the Brush screws on the side of the housing and they are rusted solid. Put some PB Blaster on there and even with an Impact Screw Driver those babies are rusted in there solid. So since I can at least get the generator to jump when hooked up as a electric motor, do I dare try putting this generator into the car or not? Need an opinion. It does not spin freely on its own. Thinking the answer is a no.
 
OK I now realize I was trying to take apart the wrong screws to ger at the brushed but the long screws where the terminals are locate are rusted up solid as well. This puppy is toast.
 
Take the generator apart and clean all the components. The commutator should look like a new penny and the armature ends should be free of rust and polish. You can undercut the commutator by taking an old short hack saw blade, grind the teeth on both sides to a knife edge then carefully run in between the commutator joints, after that clean the carbon dust out with compress air or a tooth brush. Clean the bushings and check for free play in the end caps, if to much play you'll need to replace, do not grease on reassembly , just a thin film of engine oil. You can also check to see if armature has touch field coils, their will be scratches on armature too! If they have been touch, that's a sure indication you need bushings and maybe new field coils or armature?

You can not simulate a real test by using a battery charger? You must us a battery only!!!!!! PB blaster or any other chemicals will only create more trouble for your self, take your time disassemble clean and check.

If you feel uncomfortable about going inside, take it to an alternator/starter repair shop for a refreshing!!
 
You can bite the bullet and buy a new generator from Moss for about $230 and a little cheaper from the Little British Car Company. If I remember they are made in India.
 
Will try all of those tricks. Trying to avoid spending bucks on this but may need to bite the bullet. Sunny and 82 today. Wish Bugsy was able to romp today.��
 
Thanks Ray. New engine is here Thursday but trying to see if I can get this 948 to finally purr and enjoy driving this one till it's cold. Plan is to head down to the garage tonight, pull the generator off of the 948 and pulls it apart to see what I have got. This one like everything else on this car, will come apart. Oh to have lived a life in CA for the past 56 years.


off of the
 
Pulled the generator off of Bugsy IV tonight. Spins freely but when I jump the F & D Terminals, Connect on lead from the battery to the jumpered terminals and the other to the case ground nada. So in this case it's off to the Generator Repair Shop this week. I did notice the small terminal on the back moves around easily. There may be a wire broken there right at the terminal inside the case. Just hope they can turn it around quickly.
 
Good news just needs new brushes and springs and cleanup. < $100. Back on Thursday. Yeah.
 
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