Technical Replace generator with alternator or fix it?

My 1950 cadillac series 62 which ive been restoring is all original 6v, and everything in the engine bay is original. I did an entire tear down of it starting in summer of 2024 then got it running again late summer 2025. Had s few kinks that needed to be worked out after a rebuild of that nature. One of which is the generator i had taken it apart to clean it and rebuild it. (New grease on bearings, painted, new oil in reservoir). But after doing all that and finally driving the car it doesn't work. Ive tried grounding the feild terminal and nothing so I know its the generator at fault not the voltage regulator. And I want to add before the rebuild it did work id see it charging on my ammeter. So my question is should I just replace it with a alternator that looks like my generator or is it best to find someone who can fix the generator? Is there even people that do that still? Thanks!

 

>>restoring> And I want to add before the rebuild it did work>

If it was my restoration --- and I f'd up the rebuild --- I'd have to get it fixed ASAP by people who do that still. 8^)

 

Where are you located does not say in your location

 

Illinois

 

My vote is for repairing it. You are correct, if you ground the field wire it should charge. However, you may have to rev the engine to 1500 rpm to actually see it charging. If it worked before you went through it, you probably have a poor connection inside. Did you turn the armature and undercut the mica?

 

What to do would probably depend on what all has been done to the car, and what you intend to do with the car. If it's a garage queen totally stock restoration, you need to fix the generator. If it's a fun car you want to drive around, I'd put an alternator in it, and not bother trying to keep it looking like the original generator.

 

Can't really help. I'm in a similar situation. Sent my generator case to the chrome shop. Looked really good but then the generator died. A new chrome one wire alternator was less money than the chrome on the generator and it works great. However, I have now found another generator and contemplating swapping its guts into my chrome case and going back. This is such a stupid hobby at times.

 

No i never did any of that, basically just cleaned it since it worked, sandbasted the screws when they were out and made it look nice by painting rhe case. might sound dumb but I really didn't think anything of it.

 

I appreciate the input guess I need to find soneone who can fix it now. Thats gonna be the tough part, but i feel it cant be to serious. Also curious how much something likecthat could cost? If anyone know let me know. Thanks

 

Yea i do like driving it around ****ing don't drive it to far, its really only a nice weather weekend car. As for keeping it stock I went that rout because I like everything original but seeing at it wasn't working I just contemplated swapping it so there's a little less fear while driving lol. Only issue i have with them is though they look somewhat original they dont even hook upto the VR like a generator which is odd to me

 

I drive both of my cars with generators a lot. My current daily driver is 6v and still runs the generator. I would fix your generator considering how you drive it and what it sounds like the rest of your car is.

 

You say you painted it correct. Are you sure that all the grounds are making a good connection. Did you remove the paint where the grounds attach to the gen case?

 

Disclaimer: I haven't used an automotive generator in over 40 years.

That said: A generator will lose it's residual magnetism over time. It will need to be "flashed" to restore the residual magnetism.

Google "Flashing a 6 Volt generator" and read a few answers.

Russ

 

I thought that could be a possibility. I was very careful about not painting ground points but you never know. I did connected the generator to a ground and nothing happened so I have a good feeling its not a ground issue.

 

That’s a tough one.
All my cars are 12v with an alternator I can get at the average parts store, but none of my cars are original and I take them on road trips where I might need to boost off another car or buy replacement parts in a small town.

If I had an all original car I’d probably keep it that way, or hot rod it and modernize the charging system.

I guess I’d start by finding a shop that can rebuild an generator and get a price on the rebuild.

 

Have you sure that the voltage regulator is working?

Russ

 

Are there any rural areas near you? If so you will likely find an auto and truck electric service shop in the area. They'll have the experience and equipment to troubleshoot and repair generators and starters and such for old tractors, stationary engines and other old farm equipment.

 

some guys would get out the factory service manual, and start diagnosing what's wrong....

 

Some geezers might even ask google

 

If you are anywhere near Dixon ILL. Check out Lincolnway Auto Electric just outside of Dixon. Ed Collins has been rebuilding generators, starters, etc. for decades. He is VERY talented at this. Works on car, truck, big truck, tractor charging system stuff.

I've had several generators done, a few starters, and a few alternators done there. Some of my relatives have had tractor and semi-truck parts done there.

Sometimes it takes a while, though. As with all of the good shops, they are busy.

Here's the Google search results.

lincolnway auto electric dixon il - Google Search

 

SHOW IT TO US!

Ben

 

I'm guessing that the polarization hasn't been done correctly. On a Delco Remy system such as on your 1950 Cadillac you should connect everything up but leave ignition off. Momentarily jumper between the BAT terminal on the regulator to the GEN or ARM terminal. You should see a spark - that's why it's also called "flashing" as well as polarizing.

 

Have you tried disconnecting all wiring and removing the belt from the generator then only for a moment (1 second or less) jump power from the battery via a jumper wire to the post I arrowed to see if generator will spin like a motor would?

 

I have not, i can give it a try though. What would this test tell me?

 

If it spins it generally means the generator is functional. A general ruling out, is it the generator or the regulator.

 

As youve had it apart and it was working before I’d check the brushes are contacting the armature and youve got the internal wiring connected correctly.

 

As you said in your first post that it was charging before you striped it down and painted it, I would suggest you strip it down again but take pictures at every stage when doing this. Then we would have a good chance for us to see where the fault is in it not charging.

 

Thank for that Johnny Gee, I knew there was a way of testing the generator by powering it up, but for the life of me I could not remember how to do it.

 

End plates have been painted.
These are normally left bare/natural. May have incidentally isolated/insulated your generator from vehicle ground.

Use a volt meter to verify conductivity of case to engine.

Paint makes a good insulator.