Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
MORE wrenching? 
Plenty of places to share. | | Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,018 Posts1,055,259 Members48,417 | | 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: Oct 2023 Posts: 327 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2023 Posts: 327 | What oil are you guys using for your generators? I have 3-in-1 oil and firearm oils here if one of those would work. Otherwise, need to pick something up. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,684 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,684 | FSM (1948-1952), page 0-4, says to use a few drops of light oil or engine oil.
I use 3 in 1 because the can already has the small pointy tip to easily access the cups on each end of the generator.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,754 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: 5,754 | Ive used 3-in-1 oil on generator and electric motor bearings with good experience. The 1936 "Instructions For The Care of Your Chevrolet Truck" says under "Generator Lubrication" - "Every 1,000 miles, lubricate the generator by putting a few drops of light oil or engine oil in the 2 oil cups."
~ 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: Oct 2023 Posts: 327 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2023 Posts: 327 | | | | | | Joined: Feb 2026 Posts: 15 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2026 Posts: 15 | Ron: I use the 3 in 1 light oil too, I have a 1938 half ton pickup. Is there a wick in the tube where you're placing the oil drops? Many years ago I installed a generator rebuilt by a major company and at the time I did not know there waa supposed to be a wick in there, and the first time I added a few drops (maybe more) of oil the generator stopped charging because the oil got on to the brushes and so on. After having it fixed by a local shop I found out about the wick, also the starter and distributor have wicks, and the water pump has a little cap or just the hole, for light oil for the packing inside there. Later, Glen
1938 half ton pickup
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 | If the generator has ever been rebuilt, there's a good possibility that the original open bearings have been replaced with sealed ones. That makes those lube cups nothing but cosmetic decorations. Some low output generators used a bronze bushing at the rear, which needs an occasional shot of oil in the cup.
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: Oct 2023 Posts: 327 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2023 Posts: 327 | Jerry, I had it rebuilt at a local shop, and it never occurred to me to even ask. They put new lube cups on it so I just assumed it needs oiled. I'll have to stop by and ask. Thanks for the tip.
Ron | | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,684 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,684 | Or just put 3 drops in each one every once in a while and don't worry about it.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2020 Posts: 148 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2020 Posts: 148 | Or just put 3 drops in each one every once in a while and don't worry about it.  Agree! Sometimes it's better not to know . . .  | | |
|
|
