Oiling a generator
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 171
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Oiling a generator
Can someone tell me what is a good rule of thumb for oiling a generator on a C1? OM says every 1000 miles, which might take a year if not driven often. Also, should the cups be filled, or only a few drops - I have read both suggestions. Thanks in advance for any advice. 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
Can someone tell me what is a good rule of thumb for oiling a generator on a C1? OM says every 1000 miles, which might take a year if not driven often. Also, should the cups be filled, or only a few drops - I have read both suggestions. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Well, it's been at least a 100 years since I've read a service on oiling the altern (oops) generator and distributor. I think it indicated a few drops at every oil change which was 2000 miles. There should be a wick at the bottom of the oil tube that absorbs oil and releases it slowly. Why not follow the owners manual??????
Then again, I've run them for years without oiling them. Don't know if that hurt anything. They didn't fly apart.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Chances are that a 50-year-old generator has been rebuilt at least once, and the rebuilders almost always replaced the old open bearings with sealed bearings that don't require lubrication. I left the "gits" caps on my '57 generator for judging, but it had sealed bearings. 
