The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Take apart and clean(or repair) a 6 volt generator

How would you do it??? I still have the 6 volt system and probably won't change it over until the truck is road worthy, because I don't see much sense in changing it over without even having brakes! So, I have determined that the generator is not charging and I can't do anything else to the truck right now and figured that I could at least try to get it working if it is repairable(and not too expensive), it is kind of tiring charging the battery all the time. I would like to take it apart and see if I can get it working again because right now all it is doing is acting as a belt tensioner. Anyone know how to tell me how to do this??? No harm can be done to the generator anyway, after all it isn't working. I think there might be a tech tip but I would probably get confused by it. Any help is appreciated.

jdl,

Before you take it apart, how have you determined that it's the generator that isn't working as opposed to the voltage regulator?

Do you have a little volt meter you have checked it with using the simple procedure to get the generator to go to 'warp speed', thereby proving it to be the faulty component.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Stuart

Yep Stuart, and thanks. I checked it with a volt meter, test probe, and did the thing in the tech tips that was also in the manual and everything came to the same conclusion that it was the generator. Now, it might be the regulator too but I guess I'll find that out after I get the generator looked at. I talked to my brother's girlfriend's dad today and he told me that it was pretty simple. He told me that other than the bearings it was basically the brushes that needed to be replaced and he said to clean it all with emery cloth. That's basically all that I've heard from anyone. Anyone know where I can get emery cloth?

Emery cloth can be bought at any auto parts store. It comes in rolls about 1" wide and you tear off a strip to use it.

Thanks. I have the generator off and took it apart. Everything except what spins is rusted. I'm thinking this could keep it from making and or letting electricity out and to the regulator. I think I will get some emery cloth, some brushes, and get to work on the generator. The bushings/bearings seem okay, they don't make any noise when in operation. Is there anything else that should be replaced or could be bad?

I read some more in the manual and it mentions testing the ground of the brush holder and like I said the housing and all is rusty, so I don't know if the brushes are being grounded?

Eureka!!! I did it!!! The only problem was that the brush holders were rusted in place and didn't put pressure on the brushes!!! It works!!! But something tells me that I might need a new voltage regulator. Just slight application of the pedal makes the ammeter go almost to "C" and anymore than that is to or over "C" but I don't know how sensitive the ammeter is and I don't know where my hydrometer is to see how charged the battery is.