'62 charging system
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'62 charging system
Wanted to make sure I've not missed something here...replaced the battery in my '62 and also fixed the pesky left front turn/parking light. Went to drive it this AM and got this horrible fan belt whine, increases with RPMs. It's coming from the point where the belt contacts the drive pulley of the generator. Couldn't tell if it's the belt or the pulley and didn't have time to pull the belt off. Also the harmonic balancer looked wobbly at idle, but to my quick exam with a grab and shake, it doesn't move. (I'll check that out further)
So far it's not that tricky, but here's where I got confused...the ammeter, under any amount of power (not at idle) is pegged to the far right (+30). Even at idle, it's about 1/2 way to the far right( +15) It's not just to the right of center where the needle usually lives. Bad generator?
I was going to pull the belt and see if the generator whined while being spun by hand. Thanx for your help. s
So far it's not that tricky, but here's where I got confused...the ammeter, under any amount of power (not at idle) is pegged to the far right (+30). Even at idle, it's about 1/2 way to the far right( +15) It's not just to the right of center where the needle usually lives. Bad generator?
I was going to pull the belt and see if the generator whined while being spun by hand. Thanx for your help. s
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From: Taylor Michigan
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I thought about that possibility and remember some "controversey" about this; I've done it before. However, I've had my (old battery) off and on a hundred times, using my quick disconnect, and never had to re-polarize it. I'll give it a go: like chicken soup when you're sick..."can't hoit". thanx s
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You should polarize a generator only after is has sat for a long time or has been rebuilt.
If your ammeter is pegged that means to me that it is being "full fielded".
I would disconnet the 'F' terminal off the generator and if the ammeter reads zero then either the field wire has grounded or the field points in the regulator has stuck closed.
If it still pegs the ammeter then you must get the generator looked at.
Joe
If your ammeter is pegged that means to me that it is being "full fielded".
I would disconnet the 'F' terminal off the generator and if the ammeter reads zero then either the field wire has grounded or the field points in the regulator has stuck closed.
If it still pegs the ammeter then you must get the generator looked at.
Joe
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OK, I snugged the belt and "polarized" the system. The first was useful, the second didn't change a thing. Now the roaring and whining from the belt/generator is gone, but the gauge still is pegged or close to it. I have a good Schumacher battery tender and I connected it to the battery After 3 hours, it's still trying to "charge" the battery. Should show "charged" by now. Wonder if this new (only 3d old) battery is defective? If it's still not charged in the AM, it's going back to Autozone...that's what I get for the previous battery's 10 year life span. s
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Well, this AM the mini-charger showed the battery was charged, but the generator/belt interface still squealed like the proverbial "stuck pig". Fooled around with it and was about to dc the "F" terminal on the generator when the whine dissipated and the ammeter reads as it should. Go figure. Gonna drive it to work in a few minutes and we'll see if my luck holds. If, so, I'm gonna put money in the stock market, ASAP. thanx s
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OK, I drove the car about 6 miles to work and everything seems OK. Ammeter is correct, right down the middle and no screeching from the generator. In retrospect, I think that I probably discharged the brand new battery, more than I thought, while fooling with the left turn signal repair. I did this without ever turning the ignition on to recharge the battery. Just my hypothesis. thanx for the help...onward to the next disaster, just around the corner. s
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From: Pgh. Pa.
plaidside is right. A generator will not change polarity on it own, and should only have to be polarized if it has sat for a long period of time or if it was reversed by an improper hookup of wiring. As long as battery is connected properly and none of the gen or reg wires have been sparked, the gen will maintain its polarity.
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Have you checked the pulley alignment between all 3 pulleys, crank, cam and generator? Put a straight edge across the face of all 3 pulleys and check for any gap on on other 2 pulleys. If alignment is off this could cause belt squeal.
I just finished fussing with my generator alignment after installing new timing chain, spacer that was there there before, and fixing alignment between crank, cam and generator pulleys. Cause of my mis-alignment was that the generator mounting plate, required on 62's, was missing.
This mounting plate is in addition to the U shaped bracket mounted to the generator and goes between it and the exhaust manifold. It has 2 rows of holes, 1 pair for mtg plate to the manifold and another pair for mtg to the generator U bracket to the plate. Do you have both the mounting plate and U shaped bracket???????
I just finished fussing with my generator alignment after installing new timing chain, spacer that was there there before, and fixing alignment between crank, cam and generator pulleys. Cause of my mis-alignment was that the generator mounting plate, required on 62's, was missing.
This mounting plate is in addition to the U shaped bracket mounted to the generator and goes between it and the exhaust manifold. It has 2 rows of holes, 1 pair for mtg plate to the manifold and another pair for mtg to the generator U bracket to the plate. Do you have both the mounting plate and U shaped bracket???????
