Generator Questions

sbarr · Post by **sbarr** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 11:38 am

I completed (I think) a generator swap on a 66 12 volt Beetle last night.
I used some YouTube videos as a guide. The fan nut being the exception, things went pretty much as expected.
On to the questions.
On the video, it was demonstrated how to polarize the generator, I followed these steps, but a small spark was all I got for my trouble. Battery was fully charged, verified voltage was at the coil. Nothing.
I remembered he said not all generators need this, so I finished hooking it up, measured voltage at one point on the voltage regulator for reference, started the car, measured again, and had +1.75 volts than the baseline. Didn't worry then about the polarizing as it was outputting voltage.
Today, at an idle, the generator light is lit on the dash. I read where its nothing to worry over if you can verify your generator is working, which I believe I have done.
Am I overlooking anything here. Advice appreciated.

Blue Baron · Post by **Blue Baron** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:50 pm

If the light goes out and stays out when you increase rpm, you should be fine. The light staying on during idle could indicate some resistance in your 49-year-old wiring.