Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | |
7 members (Gdads51, Otto Skorzeny, Wally / Montana, LuckyLee, MickeyP, TUTS 59, kades51),
72
guests, and
1
robot. | | Key: Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,051 Posts1,055,710 Members48,426 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Jul 2022 Posts: 62 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2022 Posts: 62 | I just had the generator rebuilt for piece of mind. Do you need to polarize it? 1953 Chevy 3100I have recreated my Dad's old work truck with a 5 window.Photos | | | | | Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 1,004 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 1,004 | Wouldn’t be a bad idea and causes no harm Momentarily connect the armature to battery positive (assuming it’s a negative ground system) One second of contact is enough It’s gonna spark
If it’s a positive ground system then the armature gets a blast of negative -s | | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,819 Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT | | Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,819 | Redbird,
After looking at some of your other posts, you seemed to previously indicate that your truck is currently running a 12 volt battery system.
When you had the "generator" rebuilt, did the rebuilder know you are running 12 volts and not 6 volts?
As others have noted, your '53 was originally a 6 volt system when new, but appears may have been modified to 12 volts (not uncommon) at some point afterwards.
You may want to confirm your generator is a 12 volt unit before going too much farther.
Dan
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100Follow this story in the DITY Gallery"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 1,004 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 1,004 | Well 12 or 6 volts will polarize the system properly If the polarity is correct After that yeah all bets are off if the regulator and generator are not Matched to the battery  | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | Just wire it open- - - - -it's probably not needed anyway. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2022 Posts: 62 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2022 Posts: 62 | 1953 Chevy 3100I have recreated my Dad's old work truck with a 5 window.Photos | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | It works for heat riser valves, right? Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2022 Posts: 62 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2022 Posts: 62 | Hey Jerry. I think you meant to answer my other thread. This one was on polarizing my generator. 1953 Chevy 3100I have recreated my Dad's old work truck with a 5 window.Photos | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | I'm just applying your logic on disabling components that engineers spent millions of dollars developing. If it works on heat risers, why not generators? I spent 30+ years teaching automotive subjects at the high school and junior college level. Your heat riser opinion doesn't make good nonsense. You've already gotten the correct advice on polarizing the generator. Do it. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | |
| |