The Ford Barn

Carb Guy · 04-25-2012, 02:25 PM

Tom a few days ago I asked about my generator not charging, you suggested changing the cutout, that is what it needed, works now. I have 4 cutouts on the bench, have taken the covers off and hooked them up to a battery charger on 6 volts, 2 do not work, 1 does work but buzzes when the points meet, 1 is an after market and does work. When I switch the charger to 12 volts the ones that did not work on 6 volts now work on 12 volts. Is there any repair method to make them work on the 6 volts that they are supposed to work on?

Big John · 04-25-2012, 05:27 PM

try to stick with an original, most repros are junk...

30Ford · 04-25-2012, 05:49 PM

put a diode in one

glenn in camino · 04-25-2012, 07:28 PM

Most vendors sell the diode kit. I've used them for years.

Tom Wesenberg · 04-26-2012, 07:00 AM

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"Is there any repair method to make them work on the 6 volts that they are supposed to work on? "

Yes, you need to make sure the air gap of the contacts isn't more than .020" and when you push the contacts closed there should be a very small air gap over the core, like about .006" or so. If these are OK, then you will need to adjust the spring pressure, which on most repros means bending the end where the top plate is attached to the frame and the frame makes a 90 degree bend. On better quality cutouts, such as originals, you can adjust the spring pressure by bending where the spring hooks. On original cutouts the .020" contact gap can be adjusted and the contacts can be aligned by loosening 2 screws holding the lower contact. I use the lower contact to set the core air gap at about .006", then use the thin stop for the upper plate to set the air gap at .020" by bending the stop. You'll have to remove or pry apart the two spot welds on original cutout covers to get inside to work on them.

Pictures have been posted and a search of cutouts might turn them up, but "SEARCH" doesn't always find what I'm looking for.

04-25-2012, 02:25 PM	#1
Carb Guy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 186	Cutout Tom Wesenberg ? Tom a few days ago I asked about my generator not charging, you suggested changing the cutout, that is what it needed, works now. I have 4 cutouts on the bench, have taken the covers off and hooked them up to a battery charger on 6 volts, 2 do not work, 1 does work but buzzes when the points meet, 1 is an after market and does work. When I switch the charger to 12 volts the ones that did not work on 6 volts now work on 12 volts. Is there any repair method to make them work on the 6 volts that they are supposed to work on?

04-25-2012, 05:27 PM	#2
Big John Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 416	Re: Cutout Tom Wesenberg ? try to stick with an original, most repros are junk...

04-25-2012, 05:49 PM	#3
30Ford Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Eastern Canada NB Posts: 166	Re: Cutout Tom Wesenberg ? put a diode in one

04-25-2012, 07:28 PM	#4
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Cutout Tom Wesenberg ? Most vendors sell the diode kit. I've used them for years.

04-26-2012, 07:00 AM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Cutout Tom Wesenberg ? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) "Is there any repair method to make them work on the 6 volts that they are supposed to work on? " Yes, you need to make sure the air gap of the contacts isn't more than .020" and when you push the contacts closed there should be a very small air gap over the core, like about .006" or so. If these are OK, then you will need to adjust the spring pressure, which on most repros means bending the end where the top plate is attached to the frame and the frame makes a 90 degree bend. On better quality cutouts, such as originals, you can adjust the spring pressure by bending where the spring hooks. On original cutouts the .020" contact gap can be adjusted and the contacts can be aligned by loosening 2 screws holding the lower contact. I use the lower contact to set the core air gap at about .006", then use the thin stop for the upper plate to set the air gap at .020" by bending the stop. You'll have to remove or pry apart the two spot welds on original cutout covers to get inside to work on them. Pictures have been posted and a search of cutouts might turn them up, but "SEARCH" doesn't always find what I'm looking for.