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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Three Brush Generator

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Three Brush Generator -- page: 1 2     kirkstad 08-06-2019 @ 6:02 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 192 Joined: Jul 2017 The other lead should go to the neg. battery terminal since the pos. terminal is your ground. MG 08-06-2019 @ 4:33 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1262 Joined: Nov 2009 See this link with explanation and diagram > http://auto-hubs.blogspot.com/2015/10/what-is-a-cutout-relay.html Dream38v8 08-06-2019 @ 2:50 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 178 Joined: May 2016 Wonders will never cease. Reading back through this post and searching other sites (Ford Barn) I was able to determine the adjustable 3rd brush is at the 2-3 o'clock position looking toward the engine from the front of the car. I still couldn't move the brush from this position. I went around to the passenger side and moved the 3rd brush from the back side. I've been able to adjust the brush a little more counter clockwise now. It now appears to be charging a little more. With lights on I ran the car and then shut off the lights, etc. The car's amp meter indicated approx. 14+ amps. It dropped down to 0 - 4 amps after a few seconds. According to Fun Projects the generator is adjusted correctly. The car is still 6V positive ground and I intend to keep it that way. Now if I knew how to use an amp meter I could obtain a more accurate reading. How do I set the amp meter and which lead goes to which battery terminal? The other lead goes to the "B" terminal on the VR. Thanks for listening and trying to educate a non electrical guy. Ray Dream38v8 08-06-2019 @ 11:52 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 178 Joined: May 2016 I am back at the house. Based on MG's last note I checked out the driver's side of the generator (see attached picture 133503.jpg). Both of the brushes on the driver's side pivot out from the armature, but do not rotate either clockwise or counter clockwise. Is there a 3 brush generator where the third brush can not be adjusted? I've owned the '38 for 4+ years and have no engine history. The other question is the third brush frozen inplace? Do I take the generator apart to determine why the third brush does not rotate? Based on Fun Project's instructions / notes the correct setting, of the third brush, should be a little passed middle. If my third brush is the single brush on the passengers side (picture 123537.jpg) the brush is set well below middle. My guess would be the generator is not charging enough. Ray Dream38v8 08-05-2019 @ 2:10 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 178 Joined: May 2016 I was on the passenger's side when I removed the dust cover. Being a simple guy I never thought to go to the driver's side. I will be traveling for the next day. I'll checkout the driver's side of the generator when I return. Thanks to the forum for all your help and advise. Ray Ray MG 08-05-2019 @ 10:28 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1262 Joined: Nov 2009 Looks like you're on the wrong side of the generator. I always accessed the third brush from the left side of the generator - drivers side. The brush you are showing in the picture is one of the fixed brushes....The brush on the top as seen in your picture is the third brush - the moveable brush.... This message was edited by MG on 8-5-19 @ 10:36 AM Dream38v8 08-05-2019 @ 9:42 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 178 Joined: May 2016 MG, here are two pics of the third brush. I hope this helps. I have used a moderate amount of force with no luck (nylon tool and screw driver). Ray MG 08-05-2019 @ 9:24 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1262 Joined: Nov 2009 Show us a picture of what you've got. You should be able to get in there and grab the brush with your forefinger and thumb to move it. Or, you might have to gently pry it. Once its free, massage the brush up and down for awhile until it moves more freely. Do these things with the engine turned off.... Dream38v8 08-05-2019 @ 9:01 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 178 Joined: May 2016 Thanks. I also have an older analog meter. The third brush is set as far counterclockwise as possible. I attempted to move the brush with a nylon tool with no luck. It will not budge. It seems to be frozen or fastened with a nut, but I can not locate the nut. Any ideas? The VR instructions mention the third brush should be somewhere close to the middle for bust results. Ray MG 08-05-2019 @ 8:39 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1262 Joined: Nov 2009 I'd say use the DC 10AMP setting. However, I think you would be better off with an analog meter - a meter with a needle. Digital meters like the one you pictured are susceptible to interference from the high voltage ignition circuit....

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