How to polarize a generator?
 

While reading up on my 39 Pontiac I saw several sites that said the generator needs to be polarized if it has sat for a long time. Well, mine sat for 50 years so how do you polarize one?

The way I remember--from reading, not from doing--is to jump a couple of terminals on the voltage regulator. You're basically using battery current (electromagnet) to re-magnetize the iron of the generator. It has to have some residual magnetism to begin charging. Once it starts to charge, it self-magnetizes the generator. Leave the generator long enough, and there's no residual magnetism, and it won't begin charging.

I'll have to look that up in the Delco 1.2 manual.

Is the generator charging the battery at all? If the ammeter on the dash is anywhere on the positive side when the engine is running, and/or if voltage at the battery is greater than 6.5 volts or so (assuming it's still a 6 volt system) the generator is polarized already and you don't need to do anything.

If the ammeter shows a discharge instead when the engine is running, then it may need to be polarized. With the engine off, use a jumper wire to momentarily touch between the BAT terminal and the GEN or ARM material. You should see a little spark. That's all you have to do.

When I replaced the voltage regulator the easiest way is to turn the headlights on to polarize the voltage.

Look in the right hand column
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...5559mm334.html