More fixes
I’ve been lazy about pulling the generator this week.
I got a spare generator, but I want to test it before I replace the one in my car. You have to remove a lot of stuff to get at the generator, like the carburetor and air filter.
I called around to see if I could get it tested, but nobody can. The machines at the parts stores can only test units with rabbit-ear style mounting holes; the VW’s generator bolts on to a pedestal, which bolts onto the crankcase. They also need the pulley on the generator (I don’t have a spare, only the one on the car), and there are clearance issues with the cooling fan, which is mounted on the back of the generator.
While working on it last weekend, we noticed that the wires on the generator were reversed (D+ was connected to DF & vice-versa). We swapped them, but still had issues. My current theory is that the generator’s field got reversed, and repolarizing it may solve my problems, without having to dismantle the engine.
In the mean time, I replaced the autochoke, and it seems to be working pretty well. It’s set pretty high at the moment; the transmission is shot, and binding inside the case, which pulls the engine RPMs down. I also need to lubricate the autochoke valve, since it doesn’t seem to step down on it’s own as the choke opens up.
September 5th, 2005 at 9:55 am
you may want to look into ‘polarizing’ your voltage regulator (especially if it’s recently been replaced). also, it’s my understanding, that (possibly-confirm this elsewhere first) another method of testing an old VW gen may be if ‘it’ll run like a motor’ when hot leads are hooked TO it (fan belt removed, of course). I don’t believe the gen coils can be ‘reversed’ in polarity….
from your discussion above, i can only assume you either live in a remote place, or have no ‘real’ starter/generator rebuilders nearby. ‘real’ places DO know how to test these things. ‘auto zone’ and their ilk don’t count in the ‘real’ category, BTW. you may try your query in rec.autos.vw.aircooled (or maybe it’s rec.autos.makers.vw.aircooled) newsgroup.
September 8th, 2005 at 9:43 pm
I wasn’t aware that the regulator itself could be polarized. Perhaps you’re confused? The generator can definitely be polarized. I tried that, but had no luck. I’m pretty sure the field windings on my gen. are burnt out, but I haven’t had a chance to get in and replace it yet. I should be dropping the engine soon, and I’ll look into an alternator conversion while it’s out.