GM generator/ regulator check out help

I have a 57 Buick ,need to check out generator and or regulator for repair. Anyone got a link or a simple check method? Thanks Joe

 

1st thing i do is take a voltmeter and see how much voltage i'm getting at the battery,rev it up a little and make sure i'm getting roughly 13.8 to 14.2 volts.
if not,look in the back of the gen. and see if the commutator looks dirty or if the brushes are worn,if so it needs rebuilt.
sometimes you can just take it apart and clean the commutator surface with some fine sandpaper and put it back together for a "roadside rebuild" but you really should have a look at the bearings and such as long as you already got it apart.

some of the old style voltage regulators have removable covers,if not you can drill out the rivets and replace them with self-tapping sheet metal screws.

the reg. has points inside similar to ignition points,sometimes they get burnt or stick together,you need to unstick'em and file the points.