1950 GMC Generator Revisited

[rp2813]

Hey guys, when I first posted about generator issues on my pickup, someone here advised to use a multimeter between connections on the generator and the regulator to determine if the generator is the problem. I didn't have a meter at the time and the thread is long gone, so I'm asking for help on this again since I now have a meter to work with. I need to know which terminals to connect to on the generator and regulator.

Again, the system is 6-volt positive ground.

Thanks,

Ralph

 

[dnastrau]

Generator testing; old Chevy/GMC website

Hi Ralph:

Check out this link and look at the last section of that page. I think that is what you are looking for.

Based on what your truck is, I think I'd join that web ring.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/electrical/electrical.html

 

[qsd-dan]

Most all Kragen outfits will test alts/gens for free. Just make sure to tell the tester it's a 6 volt generator that's positive ground. Unless they're 50 yrs or older, they won't have a clue. If you have the factory service manual, it will help determine if it's within specs in case Kragen doesn't have info on hand.

 

[rp2813]

Andrew, thanks for the link. It helped to explain similar instructions that I had seen elsewhere, so I'll try that.

Dan, I do have the shop manual and that's where I read the info that I wasn't quite sure about. What I'm trying to do is test the regulator first. If by coincidence the regulator is at fault, that will be a lot less work than pulling the generator. If it turns out that the generator is at fault, my plan would be to yank it and take it down to Kragen just to make sure, then pull it apart and clean it up, and take it to Kragen again.

 

[rp2813]

It's FUBAR

As expected, the generator tested bad per the test provided in the link above. I pulled it and set it on the bench to begin disassembly. I removed one brush and found that the spring that holds it against the armature was broken. I removed the other brush, this one had two wires connected to it, and when I removed the wires, one of them came off of whatever it was connected to deeper inside the assembly. Oh, and the nut that held one of the leads onto the generator gave me grief and I had to snip that lead off before I could even remove it from the truck. All of that was enough for me. I called a rebuilder rather than taking the time to try and chase down these small parts and do it myself and deal with the messed up connection on the vehicle to boot. What the shop will accomplish overnight will be a much more reliable repair than what I would do over a period of days. The generator should look and function good as new by tomorrow morning.

It appears that giving it a shot of oil probably wasn't the cause of its problems, although it's still a strange coincidence. One I've re-installed it, charging should be a much more reliable operation that it has been for many years.

 

[qsd-dan]

Glad to hear you found the culprit. The rebuilt gen should last at least a couple of decades. I love generators for their simplicity. Straight DC out, no need for a host of other components (to fail) to rectify ac to dc.

 

[dnastrau]

Glad to hear it Ralph...

Enjoy your '50 Jimmy! Got any pictures?

 

[rp2813]

Got any pictures?

I just bought a camera over the weekend. I'm anxious to take pix of a bunch of stuff around here, but first I have to figure out how to make them so they aren't huge files. So far, all pix I've taken with it are like 2MB each.

Don't be expecting anything of car show quality. This truck has been a workhorse since my dad bought it in 1960, and has never been garaged.

 

[rp2813]

Sometimes Things Just Work Out

Great results from the rebuilding. The guy was on the phone to me by 9 AM today advising the generator was ready. I went to pick it up and as I approached the counter I could see the box I brought it in, but it contained a generator that had an original Delco-Remy housing complete with riveted oval-shaped badge with stamped model and serial number.

When the guy came to the counter he asked if I noticed and I advised I had, and he said the one I brought in was so messed up that they decided to rebuild a different core instead, and so now I have one that looks like OEM with the Delco badge. That is so cool! It complements the original starter on the other side of the engine! Oh, and it works, too!

I checked the model number on the generator and it doesn't exactly match what's listed in the shop manual, but my manual is for '49 trucks, so it may be the real deal if the numbers changed for '50. I'll be going on my vintage GMC site to find out.

As soon as I figure out how to reduce the pixels on my camera, I'll take some shots and post here.

Ralph

 

[dnastrau]

Cool!

Glad to hear it!

 

[sudsmaster]

Ralph,

That is good news, and it's great to have a new old part that sports some OEM tags.

As far as the camera goes, I've found there are two ways to reduce the picture size. Either at the camera (1.2 MB or less seems to do the trick) or via the computer software that virtually all digital cameras come with. Sometimes it's necessary even with reduced file size to reduce the actual display size of the photo, and that can be done via the software as well.

Did you ever get the wipers fixed?

 

[volvoguy87]

Photo resizing.

Here on AW.org, Robert was kind enough to set the system to automatically re-size pics. I have a nice Nikon DSLR and even on the small setting, the pics are HUGE. Yet, they always shrink down to normal when I post.

Thanks for thinking of it Robert.

Also, I would LOVE to see shots of the 1950 GMC,
Dave

 

[rp2813]

Well Rich, the wipers are on hold, maybe until the next rainy season.

I did find a way to reduce the pixels via a menu on the camera. I was never able to get my computer to recognize the camera to download the software that would likely help me work things out. I swear I will not, I will Not, I will NOT buy anything of this nature at Fry's again. No doubt my camera is some old stock that has programming that's out of date. This has happened to me in the past with stuff from Fry's.

Now that Dave has advised that I can post pix here and they'll automatically be resized, I'll take some shots today or tomorrow and give uploading a try.

 

[sudsmaster]

Sounds great.

How are the brakes?

 

[rp2813]

The brakes are fine. It's the upholstery that's seriously shot.

I ended up sawing down a nearly dead apricot tree yesterday and never got around to taking truck pix.

Today should provide me a better opportunity to get pix and upload them here.

From what I know so far, the housing on the new generator was originally from either a later 50's GMC or Chevy truck or a Pontiac, Kaiser, International or Studebaker. I'm waiting for information on the exact vehicle from a source on the GMC site.

 

[rp2813]

Let's See if I Can Do This

Pictures. Starting with the new generator. Wiring harnesses are all original, with plenty of electrical tape around some sections.

 

[rp2813]

Here's the original starter. Still cranking after 60 years. There is no solenoid. The button behind the orange wire makes contact, the lever with the cotter pin is attached to the linkage from the starter pedal, and depresses the button. The starter went dead a couple of months ago. I had to disassemble the switch mechanism under the cover where the battery cable and wire connect and clean it up. It was caked with 60 years' worth of black greasy dust. I put it back together and the starter works like new again.

 

[rp2813]

The Beast

This truck is amazing. It can sit for a month and start right up with just a bit of cranking and choke pulled out maybe 3/8"

 

[rp2813]

From the Other Angle

 

[rp2813]

A Sample View

Of life in the slow lane. The truck is snuggled up against the wall to allow daily drivers to get past on their way in and out of the garage.

 

[rp2813]

Under the Hood From One Side

Yes, those are the original spark plug WIRES! I still have the original Delco-Remy ignition coil. What's on the truck now is a replacement, but it turned out that the coil wasn't the problem. I just haven't bothered to put the Delco coil back on.

 

[rp2813]

Under the Hood From the Other Side

That's an oil bath air cleaner. The sharpies out there will notice that the shifter is on the column.

 

[rp2813]

Optional Radio

It's not installed because the windshield leaks. It also has a broken shaft for the one knob and I haven't bothered to find a replacement since I'm not ready to install it.

 

[rp2813]

So yeah, it needs paint. You also have only seen the "good" side--LOL! Fenders on the other side both need work. But, I see no point in painting it since it won't be garaged. And it has way more character the way it is. It's a man magnet. Why mess with a good thing? At the most, I might get some spray cans and give it a camouflage look, but for now the rusty spots just get a shot of whatever is handy--most recently flat black.

You may have noticed that under the hood it's got the original paint. This was a Bell System truck before my dad bought it in 1960, and it came with more green paint (Locker Green), which he and I applied back around 1970. The exterior hasn't been touched since. Let's not even go there re: the interior.

This truck has had one purpose since new: to do work. And it still does, hauling junk, rock, mulch, and of course the occasional large appliance. It'll go freeway speeds if you dare, but 60 mph is about the most I'm willing to risk with it even with four new tires.

 

[qsd-dan]

Yes, those are the original spark plug WIRES!

Whoa, lol. You may actually want to replace those. Overtime, the insulation breaks down and the wires will crossfire across each other or any nearby metal parts. You check that by misting water over and around the wires at night while looking out for a lightning show. Ohming them out checks 'em internally.

Cool looking truck, indeed! It's also VERY straight and appears to have little to no rust. I say paint it with Imron paint (it lasts 20+ years in 24/7 sweltering sun without being waxed once) and throw a 7 year guaranteed car cover on it. If the car cover deteriorates before the 7 years are up (they usually do around this area), you'll get a free replacement.

 

[dnastrau]

GMC 228 6 cylinder

Nice solid truck! I always thought that it was interesting that GMC made their own engine during this period when Chevy had their own 216/235/261 straight six. I guess it was no different during the '60's and '70's when Chevy, Pontiac, Olds and Buick each made their own 350 cubic inch V8s and virtually no parts interchanged between them.

 

[sudsmaster]

Ralph,

Great pics.

If you don't already know about him, you might try visiting Don's Antique Auto Parts in Niles. He's been trying to move to Fresno for the past 10 years, but I understand he's still in business in Niles. He's a bit of a character, and will not deal with anyone about cars more recent that 1960, but I'm sure he would get a kick out of your truck and he might even have some missing pieces you need, like that radio knob and maybe even new rubber to seal the windshield. And of course a new wiring harness with long lasting vinyl under vintage look cloth covering.

 

[rp2813]

You may actually want to replace those

Well Dan, I figure if the insulation on the wires hasn't broken down in 60 years, why mess with them? I've considered modernizing them, but then I'd lose those cool connectors on the plug ends, which will only work with actual wire. The truck starts right up and runs fine. Unless the wires start giving me grief, they'll probably remain, but that water spray trick sounds cool so I may try that just for kicks.

Both fenders on the side you can't see have dents. And people familiar with these vehicles may notice that the bed is from a '54. I think Ma Bell retrofitted the bed because the sides aren't slanted up top like they were through '53, and they could mount a box on it easily. The fit is slightly different, and there's a section at the front of each rear fender where they meet the running board that had to be pieced in to fill a gap created by the later bed.

I just took it for a spin to OSH to pick up some potting soil today. As I exited the store I saw a guy standing against the wall right by where the truck was parked. Sure enough, he walked over when he saw me approach the truck. He kind of laughed when he greeted me because he has a '54 Jimmy and gets hit up all the time, and I told him that as soon as I saw him I figured he was laying for me. We had a nice talk. He's 75 and wants to sell his. I've learned that I should never be in a hurry when I'm out in this truck because I'm liable to get stopped by somebody. Even by cops who just want a closer look.

 

[volvoguy87]

I want one!

I'm straight, but it's certainly a great way to get some work done with some class! I have friends with 2 1931 Chevrolets with the original Chevy Stovebolt 6 cylinder engines and 3 speed non-synchromesh transmissions. They are actually quite pleasant to drive and are surprisingly capable vehicles. Also, there's nothing quite like the look you get from bystanders as you start the engine with both hands visible on the steering wheel.

Good for keeping it useful,
Dave

 

[rp2813]

Thanks to all for the positive remarks. My dad preferred to rebuild the original engine rather than pop something in there that didn't belong. Basically this truck has been in operation for 60 years, never having had a chance to sit for too long at at time. To me, it's a testament to the longevity associated with regular exercise whether it's man or machine, and part of the reason so many of the original components are still functioning.

It really is a member of the family. It was purchased when my parents bought the house I'm currently living in. It was a complete wreck and the Jimmy literally did tons of hauling in both directions. A friend of mine has suggested I assemble old photos and home movies that capture the truck over the past 50 years here at the house up to the present day, where it's still on the job for me and my partner as we take on the task of once again having to renovate the place, and see about getting the material into the right hands in GMC advertising.

Rich, I'll have to check out that guy in Niles. I've never actually spent any time in Niles so now I have a reason to buzz on over sometime.