71 12 volt generator buggered?

Hi All. I think my generator is stuffed but want to see if there is
anything else I can do rather than just buy a new one. (Plus I'm not
too keen or confident to drop the engine to change it!)
Generator light came on. Jumped out to take a look. One of the copper
strips had come off and smashed a brush on the way out. I had a spare
brush so changed it and kept the copper strip and drove home. It
charged for a couple of km's and then light on again. When i got home
I glued the copper strip back on the armature and seems secure but no
charge and no sparks from the brushes. I did the tests detailed on a
couple of sites, ie diconnect and put a volt meter on. Very little
charge like 0.3 volt or less (from memory) I also tried polarising and
the generator turned ok (only did for a couple of secs.) The brushes
appear to be fine, I have rubbed them with a bit of fine grit, and the
arnature also, but nothing. I can't undo the darn screw on the bottom
brush but I can pull it out of the spring and it looks ok to me. Is
there anything else I can try or do i just need to get a new one. How
come you can't fix a generator anyway? Always says replace. Thanks for
your time. Did I mention this happenned two days after I just got it
running from the last problem?
Andrew

scream wrote:
> Hi All. I think my generator is stuffed but want to see if there is
> anything else I can do rather than just buy a new one. (Plus I'm not
> too keen or confident to drop the engine to change it!)
> Generator light came on. Jumped out to take a look. One of the copper
> strips had come off and smashed a brush on the way out. I had a spare
> brush so changed it and kept the copper strip and drove home. It
> charged for a couple of km's and then light on again. When i got home
> I glued the copper strip back on the armature and seems secure but no
> charge and no sparks from the brushes. I did the tests detailed on a
> couple of sites, ie diconnect and put a volt meter on. Very little
> charge like 0.3 volt or less (from memory) I also tried polarising and
> the generator turned ok (only did for a couple of secs.) The brushes
> appear to be fine, I have rubbed them with a bit of fine grit, and the
> arnature also, but nothing. I can't undo the darn screw on the bottom
> brush but I can pull it out of the spring and it looks ok to me. Is
> there anything else I can try or do i just need to get a new one. How
> come you can't fix a generator anyway? Always says replace. Thanks for
> your time. Did I mention this happenned two days after I just got it
> running from the last problem?
> Andrew
>

Maybe you already did the tests outlined on my site.

Beyond that, there is not much you can do.
And I wouldn't expect a glued-on commutator bar to
suvive very long.

It is *possible* (barely) to pull the generator out without
dropping the engine. Much easier if the engine is
older non-doghouse.

Post back again if you decide to change it.

Speedy Jim
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

On Mar 14, 10:57 am, Speedy Jim > wrote:
> scream wrote:
> > Hi All. I think my generator is stuffed but want to see if there is
> > anything else I can do rather than just buy a new one. (Plus I'm not
> > too keen or confident to drop the engine to change it!)
> > Generator light came on. Jumped out to take a look. One of the copper
> > strips had come off and smashed a brush on the way out. I had a spare
> > brush so changed it and kept the copper strip and drove home. It
> > charged for a couple of km's and then light on again. When i got home
> > I glued the copper strip back on the armature and seems secure but no
> > charge and no sparks from the brushes. I did the tests detailed on a
> > couple of sites, ie diconnect and put a volt meter on. Very little
> > charge like 0.3 volt or less (from memory) I also tried polarising and
> > the generator turned ok (only did for a couple of secs.) The brushes
> > appear to be fine, I have rubbed them with a bit of fine grit, and the
> > arnature also, but nothing. I can't undo the darn screw on the bottom
> > brush but I can pull it out of the spring and it looks ok to me. Is
> > there anything else I can try or do i just need to get a new one. How
> > come you can't fix a generator anyway? Always says replace. Thanks for
> > your time. Did I mention this happenned two days after I just got it
> > running from the last problem?
> > Andrew
>
> Maybe you already did the tests outlined on my site.
>
> Beyond that, there is not much you can do.
> And I wouldn't expect a glued-on commutator bar to
> suvive very long.
>
> It is *possible* (barely) to pull the generator out without
> dropping the engine. Much easier if the engine is
> older non-doghouse.
>
> Post back again if you decide to change it.
>
> Speedy Jimhttp://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

Ok Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for a second hand generator then. Yes
I did the tests from your site. Can I do any more damage if I keep
driving it in the meantime and charge up the battery?

scream wrote:

> On Mar 14, 10:57 am, Speedy Jim > wrote:
>
>>scream wrote:
>>
>>>Hi All. I think my generator is stuffed but want to see if there is
>>>anything else I can do rather than just buy a new one. (Plus I'm not
>>>too keen or confident to drop the engine to change it!)
>>>Generator light came on. Jumped out to take a look. One of the copper
>>>strips had come off and smashed a brush on the way out. I had a spare
>>>brush so changed it and kept the copper strip and drove home. It
>>>charged for a couple of km's and then light on again. When i got home
>>>I glued the copper strip back on the armature and seems secure but no
>>>charge and no sparks from the brushes. I did the tests detailed on a
>>>couple of sites, ie diconnect and put a volt meter on. Very little
>>>charge like 0.3 volt or less (from memory) I also tried polarising and
>>>the generator turned ok (only did for a couple of secs.) The brushes
>>>appear to be fine, I have rubbed them with a bit of fine grit, and the
>>>arnature also, but nothing. I can't undo the darn screw on the bottom
>>>brush but I can pull it out of the spring and it looks ok to me. Is
>>>there anything else I can try or do i just need to get a new one. How
>>>come you can't fix a generator anyway? Always says replace. Thanks for
>>>your time. Did I mention this happenned two days after I just got it
>>>running from the last problem?
>>>Andrew
>>
>> Maybe you already did the tests outlined on my site.
>>
>> Beyond that, there is not much you can do.
>> And I wouldn't expect a glued-on commutator bar to
>> suvive very long.
>>
>> It is *possible* (barely) to pull the generator out without
>> dropping the engine. Much easier if the engine is
>> older non-doghouse.
>>
>> Post back again if you decide to change it.
>>
>>Speedy Jimhttp://www.nls.net/mp/volks/
>
>
> Ok Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for a second hand generator then. Yes
> I did the tests from your site. Can I do any more damage if I keep
> driving it in the meantime and charge up the battery?
>

The danger might be that the gen would fly apart inside and
not turn, depriving the engine of the fan. Remote but possible.

On Mar 14, 11:26 am, Speedy Jim > wrote:
> scream wrote:
> > On Mar 14, 10:57 am, Speedy Jim > wrote:
>
> >>scream wrote:
>
> >>>Hi All. I think my generator is stuffed but want to see if there is
> >>>anything else I can do rather than just buy a new one. (Plus I'm not
> >>>too keen or confident to drop the engine to change it!)
> >>>Generator light came on. Jumped out to take a look. One of the copper
> >>>strips had come off and smashed a brush on the way out. I had a spare
> >>>brush so changed it and kept the copper strip and drove home. It
> >>>charged for a couple of km's and then light on again. When i got home
> >>>I glued the copper strip back on the armature and seems secure but no
> >>>charge and no sparks from the brushes. I did the tests detailed on a
> >>>couple of sites, ie diconnect and put a volt meter on. Very little
> >>>charge like 0.3 volt or less (from memory) I also tried polarising and
> >>>the generator turned ok (only did for a couple of secs.) The brushes
> >>>appear to be fine, I have rubbed them with a bit of fine grit, and the
> >>>arnature also, but nothing. I can't undo the darn screw on the bottom
> >>>brush but I can pull it out of the spring and it looks ok to me. Is
> >>>there anything else I can try or do i just need to get a new one. How
> >>>come you can't fix a generator anyway? Always says replace. Thanks for
> >>>your time. Did I mention this happenned two days after I just got it
> >>>running from the last problem?
> >>>Andrew
>
> >> Maybe you already did the tests outlined on my site.
>
> >> Beyond that, there is not much you can do.
> >> And I wouldn't expect a glued-on commutator bar to
> >> suvive very long.
>
> >> It is *possible* (barely) to pull the generator out without
> >> dropping the engine. Much easier if the engine is
> >> older non-doghouse.
>
> >> Post back again if you decide to change it.
>
> >>Speedy Jimhttp://www.nls.net/mp/volks/
>
> > Ok Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for a second hand generator then. Yes
> > I did the tests from your site. Can I do any more damage if I keep
> > driving it in the meantime and charge up the battery?
>
> The danger might be that the gen would fly apart inside and
> not turn, depriving the engine of the fan. Remote but possible.

OK thanks for your help.

On Mar 13, 5:57 pm, Speedy Jim > wrote:
> scream wrote:
> > Hi All. I think my generator is stuffed but want to see if there is
> > anything else I can do rather than just buy a new one. (Plus I'm not
> > too keen or confident to drop the engine to change it!)
> > Generator light came on. Jumped out to take a look. One of the copper
> > strips had come off and smashed a brush on the way out. I had a spare
> > brush so changed it and kept the copper strip and drove home. It
> > charged for a couple of km's and then light on again. When i got home
> > I glued the copper strip back on the armature and seems secure but no
> > charge and no sparks from the brushes. I did the tests detailed on a
> > couple of sites, ie diconnect and put a volt meter on. Very little
> > charge like 0.3 volt or less (from memory) I also tried polarising and
> > the generator turned ok (only did for a couple of secs.) The brushes
> > appear to be fine, I have rubbed them with a bit of fine grit, and the
> > arnature also, but nothing. I can't undo the darn screw on the bottom
> > brush but I can pull it out of the spring and it looks ok to me. Is
> > there anything else I can try or do i just need to get a new one. How
> > come you can't fix a generator anyway? Always says replace. Thanks for
> > your time. Did I mention this happenned two days after I just got it
> > running from the last problem?
> > Andrew
>
> Maybe you already did the tests outlined on my site.
>
> Beyond that, there is not much you can do.
> And I wouldn't expect a glued-on commutator bar to
> suvive very long.
>
> It is *possible* (barely) to pull the generator out without
> dropping the engine. Much easier if the engine is
> older non-doghouse.
>
> Post back again if you decide to change it.
>
> Speedy Jimhttp://www.nls.net/mp/volks/- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Is this *barely* procedure the one where you remove the decklid hinges
and the carbuerator, like explained in the Bentley manual? Or is
there another that requires less dessasembly?

wrote:

> On Mar 13, 5:57 pm, Speedy Jim > wrote:
>
>>scream wrote:
>>
>>>Hi All. I think my generator is stuffed but want to see if there is
>>>anything else I can do rather than just buy a new one. (Plus I'm not
>>>too keen or confident to drop the engine to change it!)
>>>Generator light came on. Jumped out to take a look. One of the copper
>>>strips had come off and smashed a brush on the way out. I had a spare
>>>brush so changed it and kept the copper strip and drove home. It
>>>charged for a couple of km's and then light on again. When i got home
>>>I glued the copper strip back on the armature and seems secure but no
>>>charge and no sparks from the brushes. I did the tests detailed on a
>>>couple of sites, ie diconnect and put a volt meter on. Very little
>>>charge like 0.3 volt or less (from memory) I also tried polarising and
>>>the generator turned ok (only did for a couple of secs.) The brushes
>>>appear to be fine, I have rubbed them with a bit of fine grit, and the
>>>arnature also, but nothing. I can't undo the darn screw on the bottom
>>>brush but I can pull it out of the spring and it looks ok to me. Is
>>>there anything else I can try or do i just need to get a new one. How
>>>come you can't fix a generator anyway? Always says replace. Thanks for
>>>your time. Did I mention this happenned two days after I just got it
>>>running from the last problem?
>>>Andrew
>>
>> Maybe you already did the tests outlined on my site.
>>
>> Beyond that, there is not much you can do.
>> And I wouldn't expect a glued-on commutator bar to
>> suvive very long.
>>
>> It is *possible* (barely) to pull the generator out without
>> dropping the engine. Much easier if the engine is
>> older non-doghouse.
>>
>> Post back again if you decide to change it.
>>
>>Speedy Jimhttp://www.nls.net/mp/volks/- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>- Show quoted text -
>
>
> Is this *barely* procedure the one where you remove the decklid hinges
> and the carbuerator, like explained in the Bentley manual? Or is
> there another that requires less dessasembly?
>

That's the one. And you still need a crowbar with a
doghouse fan shroud.

Jim