The Ford Barn

fredM · 12-29-2025, 04:29 AM

It was cold and rain in Michigan yesterday. So, I put on my Harley raingear complete with booties and went out to the driveway to remove my generator. The last couple of days I started hearing a kind of a slight sound while holding a piece of heater hose up to my ear, and it came from the commutator end. Once removed, I brought it in to the kitchen counter and removed the rear cap. One of the brush springs was installed at an odd angle and was pushing, not in the middle of the brush, but towards the upper end. That was easily straightened, but I also noticed that the rear bushing was kind of galled. I cleaned, greased it, and reassembled it. It's back on the "53 but, THIS, I noticed. The rear cap of mine has an oil cup. A spare cap I have has a grease fitting. What is better?

ndnchf · 12-29-2025, 04:41 AM

It should be a flip to oiler. Only a couple drops of 30wt oil ever 1000 miles. No more.

hueyhoolihan · 12-29-2025, 05:43 AM

IIRC (which is not a given anymore

) generally speaking, the only thing to ever wear out on an old generator are the brushes, the bushing and the bearings. a lot of old generators had a removable back plate that held the brushes and bushing. a new one would often include the brushes.

in a really, really old generator a severely worn out bushing can be so worn that the only thing centering the commutator are the springs on the brushes. in such conditions it may or may not make a lot of noise. and could be intermittent depending on the load.

ford38v8 · 12-29-2025, 07:26 AM

I've not heard of a grease fitting being used for a bushing, but then again, I guess I haven't heard of a lot of things. What I do know is that a "kind of galled" bushing is not going to get any better with or without oil. A temporary band-aid yes, but not a fix. Replace the bushing and use the oil cup.

Terry,OH · 12-29-2025, 07:38 AM

Take a look in your owners manual, there should be a lubrication chart. Most are lubed with engine oil. There is a cotton wick inside that holds the oil in place and continues to lube the bushing for miles and miles.

fredM · 12-30-2025, 04:28 AM

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Thanks. I have the original generator but was able to buy this one and when I installed it worked and so I felt happy about it. The cap I installed came from the merc originally and has the brushes attached.
I have mixed emotions about using this 1953 vehicle during the winter. It's Tennessee inspection stickers on the windshield saying, "You shouldn't, you know." But it's the least valuable vehicle I have and it's by far the most fun. It's three on the tree breaks down any barriers between people so they yell out while making the hand sign of rolling down the window although they have no vehicle that does that.

3twinridges · 12-30-2025, 06:11 PM

I have seen two types of oiling caps. One is the cup style with a spring flap. The other style has a spring loaded ball bearing that is pressed in for oiling. I prefer the flip cap.

JB

fredM · 12-31-2025, 04:44 AM

Yes, it's the ball bearing! I assumed it was a grease fitting. I'm going to clean it up and find a bushing maybe. For now, I'll enjoy driving the car to work. I only go about 1/8 of a mile there and, as a porter, I'm with used cars all day long. They say that a job you enjoy is not really work.

12-29-2025, 04:29 AM	#1
fredM Member Join Date: Apr 2025 Posts: 58	My generator. It was cold and rain in Michigan yesterday. So, I put on my Harley raingear complete with booties and went out to the driveway to remove my generator. The last couple of days I started hearing a kind of a slight sound while holding a piece of heater hose up to my ear, and it came from the commutator end. Once removed, I brought it in to the kitchen counter and removed the rear cap. One of the brush springs was installed at an odd angle and was pushing, not in the middle of the brush, but towards the upper end. That was easily straightened, but I also noticed that the rear bushing was kind of galled. I cleaned, greased it, and reassembled it. It's back on the "53 but, THIS, I noticed. The rear cap of mine has an oil cup. A spare cap I have has a grease fitting. What is better?

12-29-2025, 04:41 AM	#2
ndnchf Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia Posts: 1,205	Re: My generator. It should be a flip to oiler. Only a couple drops of 30wt oil ever 1000 miles. No more. __________________ Restored Ford 6 & 12 volt generators

12-29-2025, 05:43 AM	#3
hueyhoolihan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: central coast california Posts: 593	Re: My generator. IIRC (which is not a given anymore ) generally speaking, the only thing to ever wear out on an old generator are the brushes, the bushing and the bearings. a lot of old generators had a removable back plate that held the brushes and bushing. a new one would often include the brushes. in a really, really old generator a severely worn out bushing can be so worn that the only thing centering the commutator are the springs on the brushes. in such conditions it may or may not make a lot of noise. and could be intermittent depending on the load.

12-29-2025, 07:26 AM	#4
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,634	Re: My generator. I've not heard of a grease fitting being used for a bushing, but then again, I guess I haven't heard of a lot of things. What I do know is that a "kind of galled" bushing is not going to get any better with or without oil. A temporary band-aid yes, but not a fix. Replace the bushing and use the oil cup. __________________ Alan

12-29-2025, 07:38 AM	#5
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 5,394	Re: My generator. Take a look in your owners manual, there should be a lubrication chart. Most are lubed with engine oil. There is a cotton wick inside that holds the oil in place and continues to lube the bushing for miles and miles.

12-30-2025, 04:28 AM	#6
fredM Member Join Date: Apr 2025 Posts: 58	Re: My generator. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks. I have the original generator but was able to buy this one and when I installed it worked and so I felt happy about it. The cap I installed came from the merc originally and has the brushes attached. I have mixed emotions about using this 1953 vehicle during the winter. It's Tennessee inspection stickers on the windshield saying, "You shouldn't, you know." But it's the least valuable vehicle I have and it's by far the most fun. It's three on the tree breaks down any barriers between people so they yell out while making the hand sign of rolling down the window although they have no vehicle that does that.

12-30-2025, 06:11 PM	#7
3twinridges Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 663	Re: My generator. I have seen two types of oiling caps. One is the cup style with a spring flap. The other style has a spring loaded ball bearing that is pressed in for oiling. I prefer the flip cap. JB

12-31-2025, 04:44 AM	#8
fredM Member Join Date: Apr 2025 Posts: 58	Re: My generator. Yes, it's the ball bearing! I assumed it was a grease fitting. I'm going to clean it up and find a bushing maybe. For now, I'll enjoy driving the car to work. I only go about 1/8 of a mile there and, as a porter, I'm with used cars all day long. They say that a job you enjoy is not really work.