generator troubles

[Tony in Mass.]

The F40 was doing its first job for me, and after a half hour- a wild squeel started. I thought it was the water pump, but, the switch was steaming hot too. Why both at once? The bad bearing shorted the wiring? Anyway, brushes look good, field wires look good, rear 'bushing' looks good. But pulley is possibly now scrap, and so is the front bearing- seems oil never got in the race, to much crud too long ago. The 'tractormeter? tach still works- this gen still has the gearing, boy I'd love to save it. Auto electric people around me are dropping like flies. Any thoughts on this job?

 

[Bruce(OR)]

Air grinder with a cut off wheel. Cut a notch on both sides and hit it gently with a hammer/chisel to split it and remove it. Crocus cloth to shine the shaft and install a new bearing. Then reassemble.

 

[maxwell99]

i have the same generator on my TO-35, it has the gears on the rear to drive the tach.

so I try to take good care of that old genny.

my local NAPA dealer has a generator repair shop, might check with them, if you cannot get it repaired yourself.

ask you local MF dealer, who they take them too for repair.

note: do not get the belt too tight as that will put extra stress on the rear bearing in the gen.
the rear bearing is bronze, keep the belt as loose as possible and still do the job.

good advice:

 

[Tom H.]

Hi Tony, I have a guy out here in Pittsfield who still rebuilds these old generators and starters. He is Smith auto elelctric 413 448-8261. He has worked on a lot of my stuff.

Tom

 

[Anonymous-0]

Hi Tony! No Auto Parts Available should have the bearing, is also clutch pilot bearing. I may have a pulley if you can't save old one.

 

[Tony in Mass.]

Just thinking about you Tom, you aren't on the Fergie map! Worst yey, my arrow is pointing to downtown Northampton! I 'might' be able to sort this one out locally- even if I did it myself, I need to start getting into these things again anyway, haven't tore into one in years, about time to teach myself how to do it right! But now I am pipe dreaming about converting other gens and alternators to take these tach drives. Something to do on a long winter night... but we haven't had many of those this year!
Thanks for the lead, I might check him out soon. I am near exit 3, he is off exit 2, or up Jacob's Ladder huh? An excuse for a day trip?

 

[Tony in Mass.]

Keep an eye out for the right sized cardboard box Rich, I think I will need it. The gear and pulley puller I bought at a tractor show is paying for itself, but the bearing snapped and the pulley might take more torch gases than it is worth, we'll see. Right now my lathe is a fire trap, so won't be atempted till that is sorted out. My local autoparts stores are getting very dissappointing, which is a national trend it seems. But I have a bearing shop in the city that loves to look at this sort of project. I guess with all the disposable parts nowdays, autoelectrics must find it hard to keep the doors open with just a few old timer things like this from time to time.

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you want an alternator for a tach drive, MF late 175 and 180 diesels, also AC 190XT used them as original equip, maybe other tractors too. Did need external regulator though.

 

[dennisinohio]

I work at NAPA and needed a bearing for my TE 20. I was shocked that they had it on the shelf and very reasonably priced as well.