Flathead Generator Help Please

I have a new generator(12V) and this may be a dumb question.I'm not sure on the hook up of it.There is one large terminal on the backside of the case, and the two small ones on the side.I see they have marked field on the one small terminal, I have the other hooked up for the armature.Now my question is, is the large terminal on the backside a ground or the hot lead? When i had it hooked to the Batt. terminal on the voltage regulator, it shorted when I connected the battery ground.When I leave it off, eveything works, although without a guage I'm not sure the gen. is charging.Anyone familiar?

 

Is ground, goes to screw on right side of regulator base, for extra insurance run a short lead onward from there to a screw into the firewall. If all grounds of gen and reg or OK, system will function without this direct ground, but that isn't very trustworthy as ground must follow long path involving painted and gasketed connections.

 

I have a 48 pickup so I don't know if this applies across the board or not.

But, as you have it, one small term is the field connection, the other small side terminal is the ground connection. The large one on the rear of the gen case is the ARM connection.

Hope this helps light the way.
Tim

 

Here's an online wiring diagram,pretty crowded but readable:

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/...pics/Flathead_Electrical_wiring1946-48car.jpg

 

The armature terminal is on the end plate. The field and ground are on the side of the case. It's crude but accurate.

 

Man, thanx guys, that definitly helps.I'm gonna chage my setup after work! you guys rule!!!!Creeper

 

don't forget to polarize the generator/regulator.

 

Got everything changed and now it works great, and I polarized both Gen., n regulator.Thanx again, love this board!