Generator replacement

[jetguy]

OK, what's the name of the rebuild shop somewhere I think in Louisiana?
Ended up with 2 different defective overhauled generators from Falcon, can't take anymore chances with them.

[wesley2012]

I think this is who you might be looking for.

http://www.aerotechlou.com/generators.shtml

[Metal Master]

OK, what's the name of the rebuild shop somewhere I think in Louisiana?
Ended up with 2 different defective overhauled generators from Falcon, can't take anymore chances with them.

Some times even a new generator needs to have the field flashed before it will generate.
Good discussion here:
http://avstop.com/ac/apgeneral/dcgenerator.html

[GAHorn]

Actually both the gen and reg need to be polarized. It's easy.
With the BATT ON (but engine not running) MOMENTARILY connect the ARMature and BATtey terminals on your REGULATOR. That's it.

http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... tor#p42449

The gen and/or reg can lose polarity when either they or the battery is removed/reinstalled. Everyone with a generator system should know this simple trick. It can be done with a short jumper or even a paper-clip.

The guy you mentioned is actually from Kentucky, ... it's John at Aerotech of Louisville who presented at the BArdstown convention. He made an offer to all TIC170A Members to send them their generator for a complete going over/tune-up before failure for $100. Pretty good deal.

Aerotech of Louisville
2209 Watterson Trail
Louisville, Kentucky 40299
Phone: 502-263-7090 (local)
Toll Free: 800-634-0190
Fax: 502-263-7094
Email:info@aerotechlou.com

[jetguy]

Yes, that's the outfit I was thinking of.....thanks everyone. Just an FYI, as always, 'let the buyer beware' (or whatever the Latin translation is). The first generator I received had a front mounting plate that was so beat up and distorted from previous careless disassemblies (PLEASE don't use chisels and screwdrivers when removing your drive coupler!), that the front seal retaining boss was actually elongated, causing the seal itself, when installed, to become distorted. Not acceptable. Some parts, even though somewhat scarce, just shouldn't be reused.
The second generator was a troubleshooting nightmare. After checking every other component in the electrical system multiple times (who wants to believe they got two bad rebuilds in a row?), I finally had the local generator shop do a bench check - mainly as a CYA for warranty reasons. They found the armature had been dragging on one of the pole shoes during rotation, eventually ruining the armature. The reason the problem was initially so difficult to isolate was because it took several flights before the generator completely failed. One time it would work fine, the next time it wouldn't.
A note on polarizing, and I believe George has mentioned this previously - the generator should be polarized independently of the regulator when the regulator has been upgraded to a solid state GCU (Zeftronics or similar). In other words, take the wires completely off the GCU BEFORE flashing the field.

[GAHorn]

Thanks, Greg. The procedure I mentioned above should not harm a Zeftronics but their recommended procedure isolates their regulator guaranteeing protection of solid state components.
1. Disconnect the Zeftronics regulator.
2. Ground the generator field wire.
3. Momentarily connect the Battery wire to the Armature wire a few times. (which is exactly what is done with the standard procedure mentioned previously because in that procedure with the Master ON the field is grounded and momentarily connecting the Armature and Battery terminals directly connects the battery to the armature. Disconnecting an original Delco-Remy vibrating-points (automotive) type regulator is unnecessary.)