Gen. not charging

[Lynn Eades]

David, the P is connected to the Field terminal and the B to the armature (big wire) via the cut out.
I don't know my way around the three brush geny with the cut out, and how the cut out is wired up, but yes the field needs feeding to make it charge. good earths are also important.
Power comes from the battery to make the ignition warning light go and power comes from the generator to put the light out when its charging. (opposing voltage neutralises the electron flow= light out

[Dave Schindel]

Lynn, that's the way I've got it wired.Thanks for confirming that for me. Now I just need to find out why it won't charge. I have an idea that the P terminal should have possibly battery voltage with maybe a resistor or a bulb in the circuit? I hope I don't have switch trouble.

[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,

[chris vickery]

Polarizing Ford genny is an important step to proper operation as suggested.
Other than that, perhaps your genny is kaput and requires a look at by a qualified auto electric rebuilder.