Generator question

I bought a 12v Oliver generator with a saddle type regulator in the flea market area at the HPOCA Summer Show. It needed brushes and a few other small issues,but I got it to run like an electric motor when I put power to it.
Today,I put it on my 66,changed the battery and coil. I tried to polorize it acording to the instructions in the link I've attached,but I couldn't get a spark. Regulator probably isn't any good,but I broke one screw trying to take the cover off,so I quit right there.

I've got a manual here for a Super 55 that says in cold weather when it might only be run for short periods,take the "bat" wire off the regulator and hook it to the post with the "L" wire. Here's the question,will that bypass the regulator so that it should charge even if the regulator is shot? Or does it just amp up the regulator if it's good?
polorizing

The typical winter by pass wont cure a totally shot VR, it only slightly increases the rate of charge....... (but your VR may just not be well grounded!!!!)

On many 4 terminal VR's, BAT LOAD FLD are together while GEN/ARM is by itself or underneath, sure youre wired right????????

If theres no spark when polarizing, youre not passing current through the gennys Field windings, either cuz the VR dont have a good ground (try a jumper wire from the VR to a good clean ground n see what happens),,,,,,,Or the wires open from FLD on VR to the FLD terminal on the VR,,,,,,,, Or theres an open in the circuit somewhere....Or the Field windings (input) inside arent electrically connected to the gennys ARM post or if its a 3 brush genny the third brush may not be contacting the commutator........

Try a good hot voltage source jump (like should be present on the VR's BAT terminal) direct to the Gennys ARM post n see if she sparks n polarizes???????? If so there but NOT via ARM on the VR, the VR is bad or not well grounded

To Polarize use a jumper and momentarily flash jump from BAT on VR to GEN/ARM or direct down to the gennys ARM post

NOTE this if for an A charging system NOT a B!!!! An A VR and A wired genny dont mix with a B system !!!!!!!!!

John T Tonight somewhere in Kansas headed back to Indiana on Friday

This one's a 2 brush gen. I have a new (a few years ago) wiring harness on the tractor. The 6 volt worked OK,wired this one the same way,only had to take off the BAT and LEAD wires,reg was already wired to the gen.
I have power to the hot wire to the reg,sparks when I touch it to ground,just won't spark when I touch it like the diagram says. It sparked when I touched it to the A post on the gen. I'll get a new reg for it and see if that solves it.
I Did go out tonight and hooked the L and B wire to the same post like the manual said,but it still doesn't charge.

If the VR is well grounded but theres no spark/circuit for which the gennys Field can get to a ground (usually via the VR) so it conducts current she cant polarize or charge. As I noted before, INSURE THE VR HAS A GOOD GROUND.

I posted my Troubleshooting Procedure for non charging.

John T
John Ts Troubleshooting

I'll loosen it up and take a wire brush to things and see what happens.