Posted by Clint Dixon [172.70.178.151] on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 18:12:28 :
...or anyone else who may be able to help.
My WDX is the featured truck at the Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers Reunion in a couple of weeks. So it stands to reason that if something were waiting to go wrong, now would be the time it would happen.
The last time I had my 6-volt generator and regulator serviced was about 1984. Since then, just a few drops of oil under the oil caps a couple of times a year and she has been very reliable.
Today I backed the truck out of the shop and heard an unusual rough gravely squalling noise. It sounded like a water pump. I did the old "gas pipe" trick and found it was actually the generator. It was not terribly loud, but I could hear it from as far away as 30 feet with the truck idling.
I gave the oil caps a few drops of 10W30 and with no change. I then pulled the generator and installed an identical one (number for number - Auto-Lite part#, Chrysler part#, watts, and amps). I have no idea what truck the spare generator came off of so I polarized the generator and regulator to the positive ground 6-volt battery.
I then took the truck for a drive and the ammeter needle never went to the plus side of 0. When turning on the lights or applying the brakes while driving, the ammeter showed a discharge. But, the annoying sound was gone. I then pulled the replacement generator off of the truck.
I then messed around with the original generator. Took the oil reservoir cover off of the back and saw that it was clean and wet with oil and the wick was there and saturated. Also, I could see what looked like fresh bronze colored grease around the rear bearing that also had oil in it. It appears to be the grease that was put on the bearing when it was installed back in 1984. Good and clean. I then noticed that the armature has end play of about 1/16 to 3/32 of an inch. When spinning with it pushed in as far as it will go, it felt kind of rough and I could hear a slight scraping. When pulled out - no noise. The bushes and the contacts on the armature look really good. Nothing is full of dirt, oil, or smokey looking soot.
I gave the front oil cup a couple of good squirts of 10W30 instead of just 3 or 4 drops and the roughness and scraping sound went away. So I put the generator back on the truck, polarized everything, and started her up. No more noise. However, the ammeter needle stayed at 0 until I turned the lights on and it showed a discharge. I had not noticed this happening before today.
I then replaced the regulator with a spare, again with matching numbers. It was very clean and shiny inside. No indication of burnt contacts. Started the truck up and no change.
I resoldered the ends of all of my under hood wires a year or so ago and cleaned all contacts. I did not do those under the dash ad I can hardly get under there anymore and then can't see anything through my bifocals once I am there.
I have all the Auto-Lite manuals. I think it is time to start reading.
Anyone have any ideas? Does the battery have to discharge to a certain point before the regulator will let the generator direct juice to the battery?
Junior
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