The Ford Barn

kkarlsrud · 05-21-2021, 03:21 PM

Hey everyone! I have a '41 Flathead in my '28 roadster pickup and am working on wiring the engine. I was told to get a voltage regulator for wiring, so I did. I was able to have my generator rebuilt locally and they verified the cut out on it was in good working order. I have been told I should not run both the cut out and the voltage regulator as they are one in the same. Is this true, and does anyone have a diagram for wiring a 6v +ground generator off of a cut out? I'm trying to get the truck driving so my family and I can enjoy it for the summer.

Thanks in advance!

Ken/Alabama · 05-21-2021, 03:35 PM

Do not need the voltage regulator if your Gen has the cut out on top.

kkarlsrud · 05-21-2021, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken/Alabama

Do not need the voltage regulator if your Gen has the cut out on top.

Thank you Ken. I appreciate the insight!

tubman · 05-21-2021, 05:48 PM

In my opinion, it is the other way around. If you have a voltage regulator, don't run the cut-out. By 1941, all fords had voltage regulators, which are superior to cut-outs. Unless you have an odd mix of old and new stuff, forget the cut-out.

I think we need a little more information on what you actually have.

koates · 05-21-2021, 06:48 PM

You need to establish what year type of generator you have. Is it a two brush generator which would require a 3 unit voltage regulator, or is it a 3 brush generator which requires the round ford cut out on top of it ? Regards, Kevin.

Terry,OH · 05-22-2021, 06:33 AM

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41 used a regulator and not a separate cutout. Your 41 generator has one terminal in the rear end plate which is the "A" armature (unmarked) and two terminals on the side of the main body. The top terminal is "F" field and the main body should be stamped such. The lower terminal is "G" ground, it will not be marked. There should also be the letter "B" stamped next to the field terminal. That letter B indicates the field winding are of 18 gauge wire, which is good since this will increase the life of the regulator contacts and reduce arcing. The earlier than 41 generators only have two terminals, A & F. To get technical the main body should also have the Ford script stamped and next to it the date code starting with the letter "U or V" (for 1940 or 1941) and followed with a number indicating the month of the year manufactured.
The voltage regulator has a cutout built into it so a second cutout is not necessary.

kkarlsrud · 05-22-2021, 07:12 AM

Thanks for all the helpful info everyone. I guess I should have posted a picture of the generator I'm running. I'm assuming it's a '41 as that is what year we found the block to be and it was fully assembled when I got the engine/trans.
It's hard to see, but the best picture I could find this morning.

Terry,OH · 05-22-2021, 07:59 AM

Appears to be much earlier than 41. Looks like a three brush unit that will not need the regulator. The output side of the cutout should go through your ammeter gauge and to the battery -

kkarlsrud · 05-22-2021, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry,OH

Appears to be much earlier than 41. Looks like a three brush unit that will not need the regulator. The output side of the cutout should go through your ammeter gauge and to the battery -

Thank you Terry! That helps a lot!

warrene · 03-26-2022, 06:45 PM

IF... your generator is a 3 brush unit, came with and has a cutout on top, that is a pre-1939 generator and does not use an external mounted regulator. The output connection on the cutout goes to the ammeter, from there to the battery minus post, not the positive. All old Fords were positive ground.
Google the wiring diagram for the '35 Ford, it's simple wiring as to the charging system.

warrene · 03-26-2022, 06:48 PM

Yep, you have to know which generator you have, it's either a 3 brush or it's a two brush, those have the output terminal on the rear end-plate, the field and ground are on the top.

05-21-2021, 03:21 PM	#1
kkarlsrud Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Farmington, MN Posts: 17	6V Pos. ground Flathead V8 generator wiring Hey everyone! I have a '41 Flathead in my '28 roadster pickup and am working on wiring the engine. I was told to get a voltage regulator for wiring, so I did. I was able to have my generator rebuilt locally and they verified the cut out on it was in good working order. I have been told I should not run both the cut out and the voltage regulator as they are one in the same. Is this true, and does anyone have a diagram for wiring a 6v +ground generator off of a cut out? I'm trying to get the truck driving so my family and I can enjoy it for the summer. Thanks in advance! __________________ -Get your kids addicted to cars at an early age...they won't have any money for drugs-

05-21-2021, 03:35 PM	#2
Ken/Alabama Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,260	Re: 6V Pos. ground Flathead V8 generator wiring Do not need the voltage regulator if your Gen has the cut out on top.

05-21-2021, 05:48 PM	#4
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: 6V Pos. ground Flathead V8 generator wiring In my opinion, it is the other way around. If you have a voltage regulator, don't run the cut-out. By 1941, all fords had voltage regulators, which are superior to cut-outs. Unless you have an odd mix of old and new stuff, forget the cut-out. I think we need a little more information on what you actually have.

05-21-2021, 06:48 PM	#5
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,079	Re: 6V Pos. ground Flathead V8 generator wiring You need to establish what year type of generator you have. Is it a two brush generator which would require a 3 unit voltage regulator, or is it a 3 brush generator which requires the round ford cut out on top of it ? Regards, Kevin.

05-22-2021, 06:33 AM	#6
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,750	Re: 6V Pos. ground Flathead V8 generator wiring Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 41 used a regulator and not a separate cutout. Your 41 generator has one terminal in the rear end plate which is the "A" armature (unmarked) and two terminals on the side of the main body. The top terminal is "F" field and the main body should be stamped such. The lower terminal is "G" ground, it will not be marked. There should also be the letter "B" stamped next to the field terminal. That letter B indicates the field winding are of 18 gauge wire, which is good since this will increase the life of the regulator contacts and reduce arcing. The earlier than 41 generators only have two terminals, A & F. To get technical the main body should also have the Ford script stamped and next to it the date code starting with the letter "U or V" (for 1940 or 1941) and followed with a number indicating the month of the year manufactured. The voltage regulator has a cutout built into it so a second cutout is not necessary. Last edited by Terry,OH; 05-22-2021 at 06:52 AM.

05-22-2021, 07:59 AM	#8
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,750	Re: 6V Pos. ground Flathead V8 generator wiring Appears to be much earlier than 41. Looks like a three brush unit that will not need the regulator. The output side of the cutout should go through your ammeter gauge and to the battery -

03-26-2022, 06:45 PM	#10
warrene Member Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Milaca, MN Posts: 30	Re: 6V Pos. ground Flathead V8 generator wiring IF... your generator is a 3 brush unit, came with and has a cutout on top, that is a pre-1939 generator and does not use an external mounted regulator. The output connection on the cutout goes to the ammeter, from there to the battery minus post, not the positive. All old Fords were positive ground. Google the wiring diagram for the '35 Ford, it's simple wiring as to the charging system.

03-26-2022, 06:48 PM	#11
warrene Member Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Milaca, MN Posts: 30	Re: 6V Pos. ground Flathead V8 generator wiring Yep, you have to know which generator you have, it's either a 3 brush or it's a two brush, those have the output terminal on the rear end-plate, the field and ground are on the top.