8N Generator - 2brush or 3brush

My 8N is 1948 and I'm thinking about rebuilding the generator but I'm not sure if it's a 2 brush or 3 brush generator. Want to get the right rebuild kit. Any ideas on which one this one is?
Any thoughts on where to get good quality rebuild kit?
thx - Bill

Since it has 3 terminals, "ARM", "FLD", and "GND", it's a 2-brush generator.

Just about any autoparts store can get you a bearing, a bushing, and brushes IF they'll grab their "Ag and Industrial" paper "ignition catalog".

(NAPA/Echlin, Neihoff, BWD, Standard Ignition, etc.)

thanks much Bob. I'll check out local NAPA for the parts.
Bill

Bob, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. I believe it is a 8N10000A, three brush generator (earlier 8Ns), with the 3rd brush adjuster visible in the rear end plate. Along lifes way, there was a 3rd brush removal mod, but the generator would need to be opened up to see if such mod has been performed on this particular unit.

At 8N serial number 137, 685, the generator was changed to 8N10000B, a two brush generator (no 3rd brush adj screw in rear end plate)
.

JMOR, I don't claim to have been wide awake last night and am REALLY "caffeine free" as I type this, but a (unmolested) 3rd-brush "N" generator would NOT have all three terminals, would it? (ARM, FLD, and GND)

Hey JMOR - that second genny looks familiar! :lol:

es

the link is to a post last week about a 9n gen. picutes show 3 posts with 3rd brush switch. ground and field wired together and is using a cutout. Question, would not this be charging too high?
9n gen

(quoted from post at 11:43:35 12/14/09) the link is to a post last week about a 9n gen. picutes show 3 posts with 3rd brush switch. ground and field wired together and is using a cutout. Question, would not this be charging too high?
9n gen

Click to expand...

I kept following that hopeful of a resolution explaining it, but it didn't happen. Several problems there. We have no idea what generator he has........not any of the half dozen Ford N generators known to many of us. It has a stepped barrel AND in his pictures the barrel has terminals stamped "A" and "F" and those two are jumpered together!!! Something isn't copacetic here. In the end, he said that a new cut out fixed his problem. I contend that we still don't know what exact generator that he has, AND that those stampings are 1) wrongly hand stamped by someone in error (actually F & G) or 2) the terminal connections have been swapped around internal to the generator.....lean toward mis-stamped. You over-charge question........that is the purpose of the HI/LO adjust screw, so that operator can set output so as to keep battery charged but not overcharged. If it were a one terminal generator, the Field is simply tied to the case ground internally and the cost of screw/washer, etc. is saved. See the 3 brush units , right, top, bottom:

Thanks for the reply, I went back and reread the entire disscussion. I assumed the switch had been disabled hence the concern about over charging. I missed the stepdown body of the generator. At least it is working for him. Have a good day!

(quoted from post at 08:00:56 12/14/09) JMOR, I don't claim to have been wide awake last night and am REALLY "caffeine free" as I type this, but a (unmolested) 3rd-brush "N" generator would NOT have all three terminals, would it? (ARM, FLD, and GND)

Click to expand...

Ill have to agree with JMOR... I have the same genny only its on my 9N :lol: Its a 3rd brush.

I kept following that hopeful of a resolution explaining it, but it didn't happen. Several problems there. We have no idea what generator he has........

Click to expand...

JMOR, that was my thread about the odd generator. Sorry, I didn't mean to leave anyone hanging. "It's fixed" was resolution for me.

Anyway, if there is anything I can do short of taking the generator apart that would be interesting I'll do my best. I presume if this is a standard, more or less, three brush generator turning the adjusting screw should change the output voltage. Would that be of any interest?

I wouldn't mind pulling the generator apart and rebuilding it just for kicks but Dad may object.

Anyway, thanks for the help and let me know if you want me to try anything.

Jeff

(quoted from post at 23:35:07 12/14/09)

I kept following that hopeful of a resolution explaining it, but it didn't happen. Several problems there. We have no idea what generator he has........

Click to expand...

JMOR, that was my thread about the odd generator. Sorry, I didn't mean to leave anyone hanging. "It's fixed" was resolution for me.

Anyway, if there is anything I can do short of taking the generator apart that would be interesting I'll do my best. I presume if this is a standard, more or less, three brush generator turning the adjusting screw should change the output voltage. Would that be of any interest?

I wouldn't mind pulling the generator apart and rebuilding it just for kicks but Dad may object.

Anyway, thanks for the help and let me know if you want me to try anything.

Jeff

Click to expand...

O, NO, NO! If you have followed any of my posts, one thing ought to stand out besides my never-give-up-curiosity, and that is, "if it ain't broke don't fudge with it!" That rear terminal has to be the Armature/GEN terminal or it wouldn't be charging & I would bet a case that the markings "A" and "F" are wrong and that "A" is Field and "F" is ground. So, that is good enough for me........let a happy sleeping dog lie.
Thanks for the thought though & be happy with the charging.
Merry Christmas!

[/quote]

Fair enough, thanks and Merry Christmas to you as well.

Jeff

Okay, I think I understand. It's a 3 brush genny and I'll leave it alone if the 8N is charging. I see you reference S/N couple of times, but my problem is I can't pull the # off block cause too faint to see. With ya'lls help last week, I determined it's a February 18, 1948 8N. You may recall that this is the 8N I'm trying to get going. It's down on the farm whilst I'm up in city. Getting parts together to go down and get it started over Xmas. Got the pictograms JMOR. Thanks, these are going to help.
Will report back on how it's progressing. thx
Bill