Needing 1964 Galaxie 6 volt generator help

My generator light is starting to light up when I throw the car in drive or reverse. It's a new thing that's starting to happen. Should I just have this one rebuilt or replaced with a new one?? (or is it something that I should even look into fixing?) Looking all over the internet in hopes to find one thats been refurbished or find someone near that will rebuild it. Any suggestion will be helpful. Thanks!!

 

1964 should be a 12v system I thought

 

All I know is that it's a generator of some voltage. The last time I heard is that Ford didn't place 12 volt alternators til 65

 

It is 12 volt. Make sure your battery is good first. You can take it to a auto parts store & have them load test it. Some parts stores test altenators/gen. too.

 

Ford went to 12 volt in 1956.

Does generator light come on just when you put it in drive or reverse and then go off when you start driving, or does the light stay on even after you start driving?

Putting the transmission into drive or reverse from a park or neutral position will lower the rpms of the engine. If generator light comes on, the belt may be loose. Check the belt tension.

 

How many caps on the battery?

 

It's a new battery but I will get it tested once when all is registered. Just in case its not the battery, what should I do about the 12 volt generator...get it rebuilt or buy a refurbished one? Looked all over the internet and not finding anything on finding refurbished ones. Maybe a electrician could rebuild mine?

 

Great point!! my belt does squeel when it first starts but goes away. I just placed on new belt just last month. Hopefully that's it!

 

Try your local Yellow pages for Auto Electrical Service or Rebuilders. Most large areas will have a shop, and they will test the whole thing, not just the generator. The regulator also will be tested to see if it is set correctly.

 

Sorry, I didn't answer you question: The generator light does turn off when the rpms are up. Light only comes on when in reverse and drive sitting still. Goes off when driving. Thanks again man!!

 

I would guess a loose belt, then, or engine idle rpm a little too low.

Here's some possible generator rebuilders in your area:

http://www.hotfrog.com/Products/Auto-Electric/TX

P.S. While I was looking for possible generator rebuilders in your area, I found out that Montgomery is the birthplace of the Texas flag! Cool!

 

The light might come on at idle, that's ok. If it's on at speed it might not be charging. Did you check the voltage while the engine is running? It might be easy to rebuild the generator, that's why your not finding new generators for sale? Start with a volt meter and go from there.

 

Thanks a bunch arkiehotrods.

 

The light doesnt come on at idle only in drive and reverse (when the engine has a load). When RPMs are up (when driving for example) the light come off.

 

check your belt tension. the rapid change in rpm might be causing it to momentarily slip. also check all of your grounds. you may have a loose wire.

my 62 Chev would do the same thing at very low speed. it was a loose belt but i purposely didn't over-tighten it because the generator shop warned me about doing so because the bearings couldn't handle too much tension. i drove it that way for 20 years until i upgraded to an alternator.

 

If the belt has been "squealing" then replace it, set up your idle speed to specs and away you go.....

 

My past experience with the very same problem:

With the symptoms you describe, you can probably still run a little while without major problems.
I would replace the generator bushings and brushes. This is a fairly simple and straight-forward fix. This should hopefully fix your problem.

Another option is to install an alternator in place of the generator. If you want more info on that conversion, I can help you. Just let me know...



Malcolm

 

My '62 ragtop still has the generator and does the same thing, the only time the light comes on is when it's in gear and the engine slows down. As soon as it speed up a bit the light goes out. The battery stays up just fine

 

You said you just replaced the belt,tighten it up,idle the engine up alittle and check to be sure the belt is riding in the pullies properly.No need to have the generator rebuilt.

 

1. does the gen have bushes or bearings?
If bushes - belt tension cannot be too tight (bushes end up screwed)
if yes to bearings - tighten the damn belt. New belts can be installed and tensioned - after a week, you have to do it again; then it's about right for a long time.
2. has anyone set the regulator's voltage coil?
3. is it a 2 bobbin reg or 3 bobbin?

To me, the low rpm's mean the voltage reg coil (not the current cut-out one) is only coming on after you have higher than idle revs.
I cannot give you regulator set up advice, as the last one I did was about 1988.
At a given rpm, the gen will put out a certain voltage
at low rpm, its a low voltage
at high rpm, its a high voltage. Hence the existence of a regulator.
Cut out keeps it disconnected when engine stops (if it were permanently connected, it is a motor, and this motor could NEVER turn over your engine, so it would fry)
for the hi rpm side of operation, the reg can keep the voltage constant to a set point (usually 14v dc)

hope this helps mate.

 

delexia, it was '56 and generator.

 

I don't know about Fords, but 64 Mercurys DEFINITELY had alternators.

 

Sounds like possibly a combination - loose belt and a 'getting tired' generator.

Tighten the belt & see if that fixes it. And maybe look around for a rebuildable generator. I've seen lots of 'em at swaps around here, $20 or so for a used one. I think they were the same for years on Fords.

A reputable auto electrical shop can rebuild a good core; up here (MI) it's about $60.
ron

BTW, Ford & Merc was installing alternators on TBirds & some Linc/Mercs in '62 & '63. 100% fleet transition was - I think - late '65.

 

I'd turn up the idle speed screw a tad. If the light is out when it's in park, but comes on when it's put into gear (as the engine RPMs drop) and then goes out as you take off, then it sure sounds like your idle speed in gear needs to be increased. If the light goes out when reved up then the generator is working. Throwing money at it won't fix anything. Idle speed was always set with the car in gear just for this reason.

A simple voltage check at the battery with a cheap tester like this will tell you if the generator is working. Rev the engine and the battery should read slightly over 14 volts. If it stays at 12V then and only then do you need to worry about rebuilding anything in the system. I think you can get one like this for around ten bucks. A great tool for figuring out what is wrong with your car instead of guessing at it.

If it reads 12v at idle but jumps up to 14V when reved then it's probably an idle speed issue.

It was pretty common for this to happen at night with the lights on...heavy load and not enough RPMs to replenish the draw. I wouldn't worry about that. It's not going to run your battery down. If the belt is squealing, then the belt is slipping.

I think generators are cool! I just took my new alternator off and rebuilt a 64 Ford generator just so that it would look like 1964 and not 2004. I found an early Cal Custom stainless gen. cover for that early hotrod look.

 

Unlike a alternator, a generator does not charge at low rpm. When you place the transmission in drive or reverse it will pull the engine speed down and that's why the idiot light is coming on. If the belt squeals, check that it is seated and tight ( as in snug, don't over tighten!). Check your idle speed, it should be 550 to 600 for a automatic(checked with it in drive, parking brake on & wheels blocked). As long as the light goes out when you increase the rpm's and the battery is staying charged, leave it alone it's working. Don't forget to keep your battery posts clean and the cables tight. And I agree, with tommy, they look cool...

 

I just had the generator go bad in my 64 galaxie, I put in a powermaster alternator they build them to look and fit like an original generator. Works great

 

Generators are usually pretty easy to rebuild - replace the brushes and bearings, and clean them up a little, and you're usually good to go. Most auto parts stores still carry the parts, even the chain stores.

 

...Ford switched to 12 volt in 1956. 1963 was the first year for an alternator. 1963!!

 

My buddy replaced his 64 generator for an alternator a year or so ago. I gave him a boat load...there was nothing wrong with his generator he just started to believe all the wives tales. He got scared. I bought this 1958 factory manual just because it was cheap and just to mess with my Ford buddies. I'm guessing that it was an ambulance option or something.

 

But not the whole line. Certainly anyone versed in Mustang will be able to tell you that one of the spotting features for recognising a 64 1/2 is the presence of a GEN light. 65 had an ALT light.

I had both a 64 Falcon and 64 Comet. Both had generators.

Cosmo

P.S. Check the phone book for rebuilders, or ask at the local GOOD auto parts emporium for a recommendation.