The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Generator repair/test

While driveing my 60 with a 235 i noticed a distinct hot electrical smell.Ithen noticed my generator light was on.I pulled over and shut off the key.With the key off the generator light stayed on.I bailed out and quickly disconected the battery.After looking for melted wires under dash and hood and not finding any i reconected the battery.This time the gen light only came on with the key in the on posision.I fired it up and drove the last three miles home and didnt notice any smoke or such.Ihave replaced it with a junk yard generator. The gen light will dim slightly with the engine reved but not go out even with a fully charged battery.It seems i recall that you can test a generator by switching some wires and thus makeing it spin like an electric motor but do not recall the proper procedure.Keeping in mind my novice abillitys,how do i test a 12 volt generator either in car or on the bench?Also i have never cracked one of these open. How hard or easy is it for a first timer to replace the brushes? Issshould also add that i replaced the voltage regulator with a new one imedetly after the problem arose.Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...Ron