1951 Super C Won’t Charge

[Norske]

This belt is not tight enough!
May have to make a special wrench.
YT post on tighten belt on FSC
View attachment 78723

That was it! I knew it was something that should be super simple. Thank you. I had electrical in mind the whole time.

 

[Norske]

The forum shows you looked at this several times yet haven’t replied. Don’t you believe me? Looking closer even the belt for the alternator does not look real tight. In your case if the belts are tensioned correctly you should be able to push on the alternator cooling fins with your thumb and rotate the engine. Hopefully you are not one of these guys that thinks if the belts are to tight it will knock out the bearings. If you want an alternator on there and you want it to charge the belts have to be tight.

I apologize…. I thought I sent a reply but it didn’t send.

 

[used red MN]

Great to hear! I will have to add this to my mental troubleshooting list of problems for these. Another guy I just helped on the JD forum, didn’t get off the seat to look at the alternator while the engine was running, same thing the list of things tried was getting about exhausted. In the end he admitted that likely during some of the tests the alternator probably wasn’t even turning because he had changed the mount for is so it would run in better alignment. In doing so the cooling fin on the alternator was hitting the bracket and locked it from turning.

 

[rustred]

I apologize…. I thought I sent a reply but it didn’t send.

That was it! I knew it was something that should be super simple. Thank you. I had electrical in mind the whole time.

Holy smokes !!! A loose belt ! Now I will add. That to my stupid list also. An alternator belt is not like a generator belt where it will charge with the belt loose. Simple test in the belt check is if you can turn the cooling fins with your thumb and finger ITS TOO LOOSE !!! Geez lucky we give free info !
That belt must have been really loose if you did not even get a squeal out of it . As I said if I have eyes on that it would have been a 30 sec fix. At least u didn’t ignore us as lots do when they find out it was a simple stupid thing. Lol. So why not post them same readings I asked for yesterday .

 

[Jim.ME]

Hard to say for certain from the picture but the belt used red MN circle also look narrow for the sheave. Belts need to be the right width as well as length to perform and last properly. Standard automotive alternator pulleys generally need to be changed to wider belt width and a smaller diameter pulley for best service. The fan belt is called out a .66" wide and the generator belt might be .5", >53", 0r .55 wide depending on the serial number. Just another thing to look at going forward.

 

[used red MN]

my stupid list

In my opinion there is no need to imply that it was “stupid” he is just not as familiar with machinery as you are. Should he know about the belt tension to properly maintain his machine, arguably yes. My guess is he may have worked in an occupation that has many things you know little about. Everyone has their niche or two. Have a good day!

 

[rustred]

In my opinion there is no need to imply that it was “stupid” he is just not as familiar with machinery as you are. Should he know about the belt tension to properly maintain his machine, arguably yes. My guess is he may have worked in an occupation that has many things you know little about. Everyone has their niche or two. Have a good day!

ya ok , dont know what else to call it. maybe green horn mistake ? but any how i tryed just as hard as you did to help him out so why do you feel u must give me a reprimand for working in spare time trying to help him? i have been in this 90 degree tempertures all week making hay on tractors with no cab or air. so maybe i got my brain a little overheated too. i also know a little bits about lots of things and can figure stuff out too. you even said u post about stuff you know nothing about ,... well i dont. its all called common sense and a loose belt fit in that category. and yes i do have good days as i enjoy what i do. hope he answers to your guess also.