444 replies to this topic

[Jairus]

Great link Doug!

I am betting the bent wheel happened in somebodies garage while backing in with the spare mounted on the back.  Greg better check the mount for damage too if that is the case.

[Champion 507]

Boy, that wheel straightener would be a great find nowadays, wouldn't it? I'm sure most of them have been cut up for scrap by now.

 

It would take an enterprising machinist who already has all the tools and access to a bunch of steel to make a new one without it costing a small fortune. And then, how quickly could he recover all his time making it? Probably not worth it.

[Bill from NH]

That rim straightener is something I would expect a garage, like that one they stopped at in Denver, to have around. Are there other ways for straightening a rim? Anything similar to bicycle rim straightening technology?

[Phil Hackett]

Greg,

 

Regarding the generator: you're a slot car racer! Check the brushes and springs! Unless the commutator and wiring is shot there's not much more that can go wrong and since it's a fluctuating failure I'll bet the brushes and springs are the problem…. I'm not up on Model A generators but I will guess there's a way to get more usage out of the brushes when they end up short. Time to be inventive.

 

Either that or it's the voltage regulator (do Model As even have them?). You might have to clean the contacts or check the wiring to the regulator….

[Champion 507]

Phil,
 
Model As don't have regulators. They have cutouts. A number of Model A owners have fitted their cars with 6 volt alternators with built in regulators.
 
Here's all about the cutout:
 
Generator Cutout

[BillyBob]

Greg,

 

Contact Crooks Auto Electric in Lebanon, TN, for your problems.

 

1007 West Main St.

(615) 444-9500

 

Then go see if the A will fit in The Grove for next time the AACA is in town.

[Michael Rigsby]

As long as the bushings are in good shape, the generator should be repairable. My dad and I used to do a lot of rebuilds on these many moons ago for the pump units. Maybe a simple cleanup with the liberal use of some fine emery cloth and some new brushes available from NAPA can get them back to the road. If the field coils are shot, then he'll need to get a rebuilt unit as it will be cheaper in the long run.

 

Hopefully you won't be delayed too long, Greg. Good luck with the repair. Keep us posted.

[Cheater]

I'll give a full report in tomorrow's trip narrative entry, but we were not able to repair the generator. I also thought it was a brush and spring issue, but that seems not to be the case.

 

So we charged up the battery and drove the 85 miles to Tullahoma with no issues with the electrical system... which is not say no other issues, as the trip daily report will reveal.

 

In any case we're here at my cousin's place and the easiest thing to do is to overnight in a tested, guaranteed rebuilt generator from Bert's. Again, the great folks at Bert's are going out of their way to assist me on my journey. More tomorrow...

 

Not upset at the electrical trouble late in the trip, as I have been expecting it from day one! LOL! This will mean staying with cousin Don an extra day, but that's no hardship for us nor, he insists, for him.

[Cheater]

Bill Nolen,
 
I was already on the road for Tullahoma when you posted, or I might have rung those folks up. Thanks for the reference.
 
Bert's gets a mere $110 for a rebuilt and tested Model A 30-amp generator and covers it with a one-year guarantee. Kinda hard to turn that down, even if the overnight shipping is going to be expensive because that sucker is heavy!

[Half Fast]

Greg,

By the time you finish the trip you will have a nice totally rebuilt Model A.
 
Cheers,

[MattD]

Greg,

You might have been able to find a local auto electric company that could have repaired the generator. It may not be anything that they haven't fixed before. I bet they do/have done lots of old Ford tractor generators which are about the same as a Model A. That would have saved shipping and if you explained the situation they may have gotten on it right away.

That generator is heavy to ship next day!

[Cheater]

Matt,

That was an option I considered. Joe Wylie convinced me to go with one of the new 6v positive ground alternators most of the vendors now sell for Model As. For the type of use I envision for the car, it does make a lot of sense. Most of the guys who tour these cars use these alternators. Plus they have a modern internal regulator.

And they're much lighter to ship.

If today wasn't Sunday, it would have not delayed me a day, I don't think.

[Michael Rigsby]

Good luck with getting the car back on the road soon, Greg.

 

The alternator may be the best way to go as I looked at what new armatures alone are going for the generator and about choked. Back in the day, we had a reman facility out of West Palm Beach that did all our reman armatures for generators and starters for $35 apiece. Guess that's inflation though.

 

Looks like the alternator setups use a Delco type internal regulator which is easy to change out at least and should be more reliable.

 

Get home safely.

[Cheater]

Yeah, I didn't really want to switch to an alternator, but the more I thought about it the more sense it made.

 

The generator cutout Ford used is a very crude form of voltage regulator and is known for needing to be adjusted for long trips, as the around town setting will tend to overcharge the battery.

 

Plus the old generators are not known for being reliable, even when rebuilt to modern standards.

 

Michael, we're planing to avoid the interstates almost completely on the final leg home from Tullahoma to Norcross, which ought to be a little safer than playing in 80 MPH traffic. Kind of silly that one day from home, we have a component failure that sidelines us for a day awaiting parts, but it gives me an opportunity to visit with my oldest cousin, whose mother (my aunt) passed away last year. Not the worst place to have to hold up for a day.

[Phil Hackett]

  on getting the alternator.

[S.O. Watt]

Good thing you avioded the old moniker of the Fords - Found On Road Dead.

[Cheater]

Fix Or Repair Daily.

[Jairus]

At least they CAN be fixed.

[DPmax]

My favorite is for FIAT... Fix It Again, Tony!!
 
Have a safe last leg, Greg, enjoyed following all the way.

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

FORD... First On Race Day.

[Phil Hackett]

I'd put up what PONTIAC means (and you'll have a hard time finding it on the 'net) but I don't wish to be thought of something I'm not AND having Greg get PO'd at me... so I'll refrain...
 
But to be fair to the Ford guys: CHEVROLET =  Can Hear Every Valve Rattle On Long Extended Trips[/size]

[The Number of]

Fiat. Feeble Italian attempted technolgy

[Champion 507]

Mike McMasters...what you said  

 

How about these:

D-O-D-G-E...Dirty old dead gas engine

C-H-E-V-Y...Car had everyone vomiting yesterday

C-O-R-V-E-T-T-E...Car only ran very erratically till the end

[Mike Patterson]

I'd always heard that FIAT is Italian for rust.