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Generator symptoms

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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My 1958 Rambler American is running great!

But ... when I start the engine, the red generator (No Charge) light stays on for a couple of minutes. Regardless of engine speed.

After driving a few minutes, light goes off. (Light comes back on at engine idle, which is normal.)

After market voltage meter shows 16 - 17 volts all the time; never settles back to the 14 it used to show a couple months ago when driving. Have to admit, I've driven the Rambler more in the last two months than in the last two years.

Generator belt is two years old, and isn't too loose or too tight.

Generator is an original Delco/Remy 1100304; regulator is a relatively new Delco/Remy 1119122.

I've ordered new generator brushes, springs, etc. just in case.

How can I test if the problem is (1) generator, or (2) regulator?

Thanks.
Tom M.

View attachment 45549
 
That's a good looking car Tom!
 
Maybe these will help with the regulator test:


 
Thanks gents. Onward into testing mode!

Here's a link to further photos:

https://s224.photobucket.com/user/freemangarden/library/1958 Rambler American?sort=6&page=1

Note the bolt-on "log manifold" at the engine. Just an extension of the exhaust pipe, with three holes in the pipe, matching three in the head. The keyword on this car was "simple" - and the sunvisors and oil filter were options!

I'm trying to get it back to "just off the showroom floor" condition. Well ... sorta ...
 
The mystery deepens.

Generator output (tested using my multimeter) is nothing for about ten minutes. Then suddenly zips to 16 volts and stays there. Output is zero when not turning, still zero when at fast idle, still zero at warm (slow) idle. Then rev the engine a bit and output bounces up to 16 and stays there.

Your thoughts?
 
Brushes. Then reset voltage reguator
 
Thanks Larry. I've ordered new brushes. My gut feeling is that the brushes finally gave up the ghost as I've been driving it more in the last two months than in the last twenty years.

When you say "reset" the regulator, do you mean re-polarize the generator by quickly jumping the regulator's A (battery) and F (field) terminals?

Tom M.
 
Yes. Friend has an old Jag and he rebulit the generator and was advised to repolarize both generator and regulator. I used to do this years ago, but getting old enough I had to look it up to do it.
 
Saturday update - victory!

I took the generator to a local old-school shop. The guy put it on his test gizmo, spun it up, meters all read zero. Looked at me and said "He's dead, Jim".

Said the problem was a burned out armature (whatever that means).

So he took it all apart, cleaned and repaired, put in my new bearing, springs, brushes - and ran the test again. Success.

I put it back in the Rambler, repolarized, girded my loins, started the engine and ... the little red light went off when the engine was running! Output at 3000 rpm about 14 volts.

I am a happy camper.

View attachment 45675
 
NutmegCT said:
Saturday update - victory!

I took the generator to a local old-school shop. The guy put it on his test gizmo, spun it up, meters all read zero. Looked at me and said "He's dead, Jim".
Click to expand...

And all this time you've said your name is Tom...

Glad you got it sorted!
 
He's a car nut, not a doctor. Lol. Good job on the diagnostics.
 
kennypinkerton said:
He's a car nut, not a doctor. Lol. Good job on the diagnostics.
Click to expand...

AH! Got it - completely blew right past me! Guess it's been too long since I've seen Jim and Dr. McCoy.
 
We now return to our regularly scheduled program.

Take a look at the attached Delco-Remy regulator sheet. On page four, "Temperature Compensation".

The output voltage changes relating to the ambient temperature. Cold engine bay - higher voltage output. Warmer - lower output.

Never knew that!

Edit: Can't attach the pdf file. BCF message "Your file of 1.76 MB bytes exceeds the forum's limit of 976.6 KB for this filetype." Didn't know the limit was so low.

Here's a link:

https://www.stinsonclub.org/PublicTech/YahooGroup/Delco-Remy%201R-116%20(regulator).pdf
 
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