6 volt generator vs alternator
 

My generator stopped working. I tore it down and it seems the armature has a dead short. It looks new but goes to ground from the armature terminal.

Our summers are short here and I want to get up and running soon. Parts have to be ordered stateside. I alway like to have spare parts ready to swap out and keep going. I carry an extra fuel pump and carb in a box. A spare regulator and generator might be next.
Reliability is a key issue here.
I am also thinking if I switched over to a Van Pelt 6 v alternator then my charging worries would be over, at least for a longer period of time.
Has anyone used their 6v alt?
Does it have a build in voltage regulator?
How do wire one up and retain the amp meter? Just join the wire from the alt to the wire marked battery on the voltage regulator?

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

36,
If originality is not a big issue go for the alternator. If your car has a 3 brush
gen and a cutout the hot wire attached to the cutout is attached to the terminal on the back of the alt and yer done. If you are currently using a 2 brush gen with a conventional type reg just follow the directions that are included.
Charlie ny

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

Hi there, Your armature has a dead short , goes to ground from the armature terminal ??? Exactly how are you testing this ? Generally you cant test an armature while it is still inside the generator. Needs to be tested on an armature growler for shorts between the windings and tested for ground shorts between the commutator and armature core. Fitting an alternator is the easy way out but not original equipment. Spend a little more time here on the gen. The problem might be small but you need to use correct testing procedures. Give me some more detailed information. Regards, Kevin.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

What are you going to do about the fan ?

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

It is a 2 brush

I am going to look for a shop that has a growler.
I think the Van pelt alt has provisions for the fan. I was hoping somebody on here has used one.
Speedway lists a PowerGen alt that looks like a gen for 400.
I figure I can always have the original equipment for the next person. I just want trouble free road trip when taking the wife out.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

I have used the 6v alternators on many 32-38 cars. Be sure that the one you are buying is not supplied by MAc's Antique auto Parts. Many vendors sell them. The issue is that with them I have had them all "stay on" and run a battery dead. I usually buy the bracket from Mac's and the Pulley from speedway and pick my own alternator. The alternator I have been using switches on when the alternator starts spinning preventing battery drain. The do have a built in regulator and are a easy one wire hookup.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

I had a problem with my gen about 3 years ago and a guy in town used a GM 6 volt alternator. Works great. It is a one wire set up and it sure cleaned out a lot of other wires in the engine compartment plus no more regulator.

Mike

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

With the fan on the generator changing to an alternator there has to be a compromise with the pulley---either you spin the fan too fast to make the alternator happy, or you spin the alternator too slow and make the fan happy

from my perspective the generator is more reliable, 3 of my old cars have generators the chevy has alternator , in 35 years 3 chevy alternator failures, no generator failures

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

I think you can either get kits or separate pulleys that have the same OD so the speed will not be effected. Hard to beat a delco alternator for reliability.
They do look ugly on a flathead imho.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

I agree with Kurt that a generator if properly rebuilt will give you all you will ever need and will be reliable. As for the speed affecting the alternators longevity, I kind of disagree. Quality alternators Such as a GM one wire have been used in racing for many years on engines turning 8000 RPMS with a small pulley. I have went through many cheap Chinese alternators with nothing but headaches. Finally bit the bullet for a quality one and have had no issues since. My only reasoning for having alternator on 3 of the cars is they have Halogen lights and really need it at night time. If it was not for that I would have never gotten rid of the generators.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

I'm looking at C&G alternator and bracket for 250 plus shipping or Speedway PowerGen for 389 free shipping. I don't mind 6 volt but would like to have better lights for night.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

''

While I'm not trying to start a 'generator vs. alternator' argument, I WILL say that ever since we got a Tom Wesenberg (on the Model A side) Electronic Voltage Regulator in our generator, it has made a world of difference in performance and maintaining the battery.

Farm King 6V battery at least seven years old and still going strong!! Before they seemed to only run about 4 years or so............

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

If you go for the Delco single wire alternator have the stator changed to a 24 volt
stator it will charge at idle and put out better a low speed with a small stock Ford pulley. Several years ago a friend bought 2 6 volt POS ground Delco's one for his 35 and the other for his father's 36. They took them off after 2 weeks because they didn't
work as good as the generators. I talked to the old guy at the electric motor and generator shop and he suggested the 24 volt stator. He did one and it worked perfect
so I had the other one done. The cost was $35.00 each. I later made 7 6 volt alternators in the Ford generator cases that work great also. The Delco was good but
I didn't like the look of it on my Fords. G.M.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

I was thinking of buying one ready to bolt on as shipping to Canada is costly to buy pieces individualy. Plus I can get on the road before summer is over.
For now it was a toss up between CG alternator bracket and pulley or a PowerGen from speedway.
Will delco internals fit in a stock generator case?
Thanks

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

Ed Whitney puts together both a 6V and 12V alternator that looks like the OEM generator. See the following Fordbarn thread: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=66672
I'm not sure about the ability to mount a fan on it, but a call to Ed will answer that question. I've had his alternator on the truck for over 5 years with no problems whatsoever.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

Excently quality.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

Here is the pulley for delco alternator to mount the fan

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

"Will delco internals fit in a stock generator case?"

Don't know the answer to that but I would assume no. GM parts is not what Whitney uses.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

As I recall Ed uses the internals of a Kubota tractor alternator.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

Yep, something like that. I know it doesn't have the exciter wire issues. It can be wired as a one wire, but I had him wire mine was a two wire hookup (for other reasons).

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

Hi there, well that's a shame you have not tried to find the fault with the generator. There may be no problem with the armature and only some other simple fault or even the regulator. As stated in the above posts, alternators are not without there fit up and operating problems. Read Kurts #8 post again. Also most of the delco alternators only have a small front bearing (smaller than the ford generator) which was never designed to carry the weight and load of a heavy metal fan on the pulley. Try harder and fix your original generator. Regards, Kevin.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

how about the bearings going out, with a fan for radiator cooling?

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

Any know the price on Ed Whitney 6 volt Alternator my be Santa will bring me
one for my 51 Crestliner
Lenny

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

$400 range

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

What was the second wire used for?

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

Charlie NY is the best in the world....plus he has a Cool old barn.

One of the best Ford guys I have ever met

hope all is well Charlie ;):)

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

No you need a small alternator, I used a Nippon? 12 volt and had to put reverse polarity diodes in and an adjustable voltage regulator which I can adjust through a small hole in the rear cover. You also need to machine a shaft adaptor to extend the shaft to fit the Ford pulley. The Delco I think came with a Ford generator mount attached, it was just bolt on and use the same battery wire that is there for the generator. I had the 24 volt stator installed after I tried it and didn't like it. The 24 volt stator made it perfect.
G.M.

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

No voltage at all coming out of the generator.
I took the generator apart and the commutator (sp) has closed Circut to the shaft. Brushes look new and couldn't find anything wrong with the field coils.
I put the generator back together and tried to motor the generator with the belt unhooked and voltage regulator disconnected. The armiture post was going completely to ground.
The inside was very clean, no signs that anything burnt up.
I have not taken it to a shop as non are close to where I am.
I may rebuild the generator but at isn't going to happen overnight and I would like to get the car going sooner than later as we have a pretty short summer.
Will the smaller bearing wear out faster? Probably but if it last 20000 miles instead of 200000 miles I'm probably okay with that.
The loads may be greater but the speed will be half with the larger pulley especially when you consider a a Sbc will rev a lot higher that a flathead.
G.M. has the slow speed charging problem solved.
Fitting isn't really an issue from what I've read.
I may go back to a generator once I get it straighten out but I probably have a spare gen and reg in the trunk on long hauls.
I switched to an alternator on my 58 gmc after a regulator failed 3 hours from home.
On my 46 chief 1600 kms from home I ditched my original generator after it failed and went to brand new generator with built in voltage regulator and had no more problems.

Thanks

Re: 6 volt generator vs alternator
 

It is just has to do with the way it is wired internally. There is a slight price difference between the wiring methods and I was using an external voltage regulator (for a wiring terminal) anyway so went with the two wire setup.