Ok, on the same TT that is having magneto issues, we tested the output of the generator and it wasn't great. It has a new cut-out from Mac's and has not been rebuilt.
How best should the generator be tested to ensure we got the correct output readings the first time? What is usually the source of generator failure (brushes, dirty commutator, bad field coils, etc.)? Thanks, Chris.
All of the above. This is a 90+year old POS and until you rebuild it correctly,it will continue to give you grief.Send it to one of the guys who do excellent work rebuilding them,and get on with the fun part.
I have to totally agree with Jack. The thing is nearing 100 years of age and has been taken apart and put back together again probably at least 6 times since new. What are the odds that all 6 people knew what they were doing? There are a lot of issues that can all be totally resolved with a competent rebuild and then you erase all the previous 6 guys and their foibles. You are then on high dry ground with essentially a factory new generator and can forget your generator problems for likely the rest of your years. I had mine rebuilt in the late 80's and it has been going strong ever since. Not a spec of trouble since then and my present battery is over 11 years old and it too is going strong. Contact me offline if you need a referral.
Not to try and sell you on model T charging equipment but I run Larry Becker's alternators on all three of my model T's. I just got tired of buying 6 volt batteries. The last generator I had cost me over $200.00. Less than a month later I didn't notice that the wire had come off and it cooked my $200.00 generator. That wont happen with an alternator. That was the last straw. I have not once had a problem with Beckers electronics. I also run there 12 starter.
That is True for $165.00 you can get a Model T Alternator conversion, and eliminate the generator and have improved charging at a low rpm also But if you want to stick with the Generator, There are a few awesome generator rebuilders on here that will be happy to guide you in the right direction and they do very quality work.