I am having problems with my 63 falcon. At the end of last year, when I started it, the gen light would come on, but after you revved it up, it would go off. After sitting the winter, I cannot get it to go off at all. How do you test if the gen is working? I did unhook the batt all winter, could that effect it? Does the "pull the battery wire and see if it still runs" theory work with a gen? Thanks....Toqwik
To check your generator you must have a volt meter. If your voltmeter automatically selects the voltage range, then switch to V.dc., if you must also select the range too, switch to one of greater than 20 volts d.c. Connect to the meter between ground and the linked terminals, making sure the + or - go to ground depending on whether the car is positive or negative ground respectively. Start the car but do not rev it hard. Increase the engine speed to a fast idle of between 750 and 1,000 rpm. The voltmeter should read at least 14V. If you don't have a voltmeter simply take it to a autoparts store and they will check it for you.
it could be the regulator or the generator,but in your case it sounds like a progressively deteriorating condition like the commutator getting dirty.pull the gen. and remove the armature (the rotating assembly) from the cae.next,get some 400 or 600 grit sand paper and clean up the copper segments that the brushes ride on.those segments are seperated by mica insulators,which should be at or below the level of the copper.if so,put it back togetherre-install,and polarize (check your service manual for this procedure)the system before starting up.if not,take the whole mess to a auto elecric shop and have'em redo the whole thing.
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