MTFCA Forum

Any suggestions, shared knowledge, tips for testing a generator out of the car?

Gen test stand. See T1 manual. The gen needs to be made to run hooked up to an ammeter. Checking on your motor works. Does it produce voltage @ the terminal? The manual will give other tests by having it powered to motor with & without the 3rd brush down. A good battery or high amp battery charger for power.

There is some good testing information in the MTFCA electrical manual. When working on a Model T the information is readily available about how to do it. The manuals are really helpful.

Connecting a battery to it and running it as a motor is a simple go/no go test, which will give some idea about the condition of the windings, brushes, and bearings. To test it properly, you really need to apply a rotational force at an appropriate speed, and feed it into battery or suitable load resistor in series with an ammeter. In other words, duplicate the in car set up.

Here is what I use.

Is your generator not charging or it’s not working correctly or?

Here is what I use . Toon

I use an Allen spin tester.
It does a great job and it’s compact.

I made this one out of a generator bracket, an old timing gear, jack shaft, and old appliance motor.

Brendan, in an age where we give prizes for just showing up, I think you deserve a STATUE for creativity. I love this on several different levels!