Hot Rods Do these generator brushes look excessively worn to you?

Hi folks! I developed a charging issue last night (or at least it reared its ugly head last night anyway, ha!) on my hot rod.

'57 283 with a stock (12 v) generator. She has been going gangbusters for the last couple of years and last night she protested.

A couple of quick tests at the battery reveal 12v with the engine off, and 12v with the engine running at 2500 RPM give or take... No bueno.

I get nothing at the lugs on the generator and the pretty blue spark it used to have is all gone??

Could it just be brushes? Is there a test for that?

Here's a pic





All of this is happening as I try to make a trip next weekend to NoSurf's BBQ of course!


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I found a spare generator that was buried ( we just moved) but it looks worst than this one! I know I've got one more but I have no idea where it ended up!

 

No, they don't look too bad.
You may have lost a field coil, or a winding on the armature.
I would take it off and have it tested, check your phonebook for an area rebuilder.
Good Luck
KK

 

Yea, looks like you've got plenty of life left in them from here.

 

Yeah, I thought they looked alright too. Damnit! Thanks for the replies.

 

Brush length is fine, but springs and fingers that apply pressure to the brushes look somewhat corroded/rusty. Make sure one or both brushes not hanging up and no making positive contact with the commutator. If brushes making good contact, then either internal generator trouble or - more likely - a regulator problem.
Brian

 

Fingers and spring pressure seems good. I applied pressure to them while running with no change in voltage. I agree that it is a little dirty in there!

If it was regulator wouldn't I see some voltage at the post on the generator?

 

usually the regulator---what was it we did to test the generator that made it run like a motor ?

 

Cool knuck. I will give this a shot and report back. Thanks!

 

What does this test anyway? Should I be able to read 14 volts output somewhere? Or is this just to see if the motor turns on its own and if it doesn't its bad???

 

If it runs like a motor, it means the internals are okay and it should put out voltage. But not during this test as it is using voltage, not making it. If it runs then it is the regulator. (Most likely)

 

I agree on doing the motor check as a quick way to verify the generator internals are in good shape... at least functional shape. Being a betting man, I woud bet on the inexpensive regulator over the more expensive generator.

 

I just did the spin test and it was really slow but it did spin. I can't get to my load Pyle tester to check the battery but it has been on a trickle charge for the last couple of hours.

 

Just a reminder a generator needs to be turning at about 1000RPM to charge, nothing at idle.

 

Yes! I spun it up to about 2500 rpm to test.

I dropped the gen/reg off this morning at the shop that I have used in the past.
He called this afternoon to confirm that the generator was bad. So $125 later I should be able to pick it up tomorrow. Thanks for all the help everybody. And Charles (1947knuck) thanks for the PM and the call!

 

Back together and charging!






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