The Ford Barn

Goldfinch28 · 09-15-2017, 03:15 PM

Power House Generator Charges as normal below 1500 rpm, at 1500, amperage starts to drop off. Set for 9 amps. At 1800, amperage is back to zero. Jumped around cutout and it makes no difference. Turn lights on and the system discharges above 1800. Newly rebuilt, having replaced field coils, bearings and brushes. Commutator is nice and smooth. Generator is in the vehicle currently. Any ideas where to start looking? Thank you!

Louis.

Fullraceflathead · 09-15-2017, 03:37 PM

Sounds like the belt is slipping.
Mine did that until I tightened it more.

Kurt in NJ · 09-15-2017, 07:22 PM

run it at night with the cover off ---see how much it sparks, with powerhouse turning the commutator needs mandrel, if it was turned off center the brushes will jump, spark, and loose output -----at low speed it is possible to feel a brush junping by touching it

have you talked to the place that rebuilt it

weak brush spring tension --12-16 oz, fields should draw about 2 amps at 6 V
sticking brush----all it would take is for the field brush to stick, or have aweakspring---it should be the thin brush---perhaps a thick brush is jammed in the holder---or not sanded down enough to fit
---some more specs I have found for testing, taken from era repair literature
belt off motoring --2.5-3 amps
locked --22 amps,at 6V

Tom Wesenberg · 09-17-2017, 05:16 PM

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Also put a volt meter across the ground brush lead and the body to see if you have a poor connection where the ground brush post is riveted to the steel part of the brush holder.
I've had to scrape the base of the post and frame, then use my WEN 250 to solder it for a sure connection. You can also just use a jumper wire from the ground brush lead to the mounting frame to see if that helps.

09-15-2017, 03:15 PM	#1
Goldfinch28 Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 45	Power House Generator not charging above 1500 RPM Power House Generator Charges as normal below 1500 rpm, at 1500, amperage starts to drop off. Set for 9 amps. At 1800, amperage is back to zero. Jumped around cutout and it makes no difference. Turn lights on and the system discharges above 1800. Newly rebuilt, having replaced field coils, bearings and brushes. Commutator is nice and smooth. Generator is in the vehicle currently. Any ideas where to start looking? Thank you! Louis.

09-15-2017, 03:37 PM	#2
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,176	Re: Power House Generator not charging above 1500 RPM Sounds like the belt is slipping. Mine did that until I tightened it more. __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

09-15-2017, 07:22 PM	#3
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Power House Generator not charging above 1500 RPM run it at night with the cover off ---see how much it sparks, with powerhouse turning the commutator needs mandrel, if it was turned off center the brushes will jump, spark, and loose output -----at low speed it is possible to feel a brush junping by touching it have you talked to the place that rebuilt it weak brush spring tension --12-16 oz, fields should draw about 2 amps at 6 V sticking brush----all it would take is for the field brush to stick, or have aweakspring---it should be the thin brush---perhaps a thick brush is jammed in the holder---or not sanded down enough to fit ---some more specs I have found for testing, taken from era repair literature belt off motoring --2.5-3 amps locked --22 amps,at 6V

09-17-2017, 05:16 PM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Power House Generator not charging above 1500 RPM Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Also put a volt meter across the ground brush lead and the body to see if you have a poor connection where the ground brush post is riveted to the steel part of the brush holder. I've had to scrape the base of the post and frame, then use my WEN 250 to solder it for a sure connection. You can also just use a jumper wire from the ground brush lead to the mounting frame to see if that helps.