6V generator VR

Thanks to BOb M.,JOhn T, & Janicholson, I got a new bushing installed in my gen. It motorized fine after that. Installed it on the W9 and it charged full amps for a while and than backed off. BOY was I happy. I installed the band that covers the brushes. I went away for a while,came back and started the W9 and Yes no charge I did the tests ,Grd F, ect, no charge . I loosend the belt and it motorized fine. I took the band off and saw that it had been touching one of the brush wires . I restarted the W9 no charge. Grd the F, full charge. All wires and Grd is correct. I guess it must be the VR according to John and BOb M trouble shooting course.
Thank you

Henry - I agree....sounds like a VR problem.

A couple things to check before you replace the VR however:

1 - Check for continuity in the wire connecting the generator and VR "F" terminals.

2 - Make sure the VR base (not VR the mounting bracket; rather the actual base the VR relays are riveted to) is solidly grounded.

Good luck!

Mr. Bob M: & Others-- Thank you,I will recheck all that this AM. I was wondering would it be fesable to run a wire from the F term on the Gen to a variable rehostat and than to grd and control the charging rate that was.This is a 2 brush gen & VR from a 1948 Chevy Delco Remey. I would disconnect the F wire to the VR.
Thank you

SURE, thats possible, provided the rheostat has the right ohms range and POWER rating. After all thats what the 4 position LHBD switch does but it ONLY HAS 2 choices, dead short F for high charge and pass it through a 2 to 4 ohm resistor for Low charge... The rheostat would need to be like 0 to 10 ohms and at least 25 watts. One end to gennys FLD post other to ground. Ol Bob and I have discussed a similar NEW VR problem he has..

John T

Henry -

What you propose is indeed possible as John T has noted. However I would NOT recommend it for a couple reasons:

1 – The generator will now be without overcurrent protection. Ie. it can literally burn itself out if it attempts to recharge a run-down battery, or run lights while recharging charge a slightly discharged battery. (Unlike the OEM 3-brush Delco, the 2-brush Delco is NOT inherently self-limiting. It’ll simply keep pushing more current until it fries its insides!)

2 – Unless you are mindful of the state of charge of the battery, watch the ammeter and adjust the rheostat accordingly you risk overcharging and harming the battery.

(An inattentive operator managed to overcharge the battery for several hours while running my Minnie Mo UTU last winter. The run was ended by a battery explosion. Fortunately the driver was on the ground away from the tractor when the battery burst - otherwise he could have been injured by flying acid. I have since replaced the Minnie’s OEM manual charge control + cutout system with a VR; also mounted the new battery inside a plastic box)

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Were it my tractor I’d locate the correct VR for the Delco generator you have installed and run with that!

If that generator still has the tag, see if you can read the model number. Should be easy enough to find a suitable VR if the generator model number is known, and that VR should not cost over about $40.