[Jacques Reed]

Hi Dave,

I am not an auto electrician but have you polarized the generator?

I remember in my youth hanging around at the local garage the mechanic telling me "you have to make the sparks fly or it won't work" after working on a Ford generator off the car.

I have copied below a bit of info I read on a hot rod website.
As with all things best to do your own research to avoid frying anything but this may put you on the right track. Google "Polarizing a Ford generator" and you will get lots of hits.

From the NAPA/Echlin "Manual for the Automotive Electrician", edition circa 1955:
Ford-Merc-Lincoln remove Field wire and touch to Batt wire momentarily; most other cars, touch jumper from Arm to Batt at regulator. For cutout 3-brush Fords, jumper between two terminals on cutout.

Cheers,