Why my 56 buick wont charge?

**brutee** · 11-19-2013, 10:06 AM

I am trying to get all the bugs out of my 56 buick special station wagon after been in {somewhat poor storage}storage for 20 years. I have replaced the motor and transmission and now getting ready to send the radiator and see if it can be boiled out. Now the questions is why isn't is charging ? I replaced the voltage regulater about a year ago before I pulled the motor .I was told to short the field on the regulator and or on the generator{this is the 2nd generator }and it should show it was charging. I did and it showed it was charging. Do you think I could of burnt or damaged something during the swap or hook up of the other motor .I am disabled{CANT STAND ON MY FEET VERY LONG} so every penny counts on this project. Thanks in advance for all your inputs answers. Bruce.

**bob k. mando** · 11-19-2013, 03:40 PM

you've still got a Nailhead in it?

**brutee** · 11-20-2013, 06:44 AM

I replaced the bad 322 nail head with a good 322 nail head so yes shes still got the same kind of motor Thanks Brue.

**65specialconvert** · 11-20-2013, 08:18 AM

To full field the generator(bypass the regulator),power the "A" terminal & ground the field "F" terminal.

**bob k. mando** · 11-20-2013, 08:18 AM

here is the factory electrical troubleshooting section for 1957, this should be helpful:

http://www.teambuick.com/reference/l...files/10-b.pdf

**brutee** · 11-20-2013, 09:57 AM

What do you mean power the A terminal? Thanks Bruce.

**brutee** · 11-20-2013, 10:03 AM

Thanks for the information. It has a lot more information than the manual I have . But still not sure which is bad .The regulator or generator .If I ground the field on the regulator and it shows its charging is it a bad regulator ?Thanks again Bruce.

**65specialconvert** · 11-22-2013, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by brutee

What do you mean power the A terminal? Thanks Bruce.

Just that...unhook both the A & F terminals at the gen & power the A with a jumper wire to the battery & ground the F terminal to any ground.It should show full rate of charge at fast idle.If not,the generator is bad.

**brutee** · 11-22-2013, 10:18 AM

65 special conv.I will give it a shot tomorrow and post what I find . Thanks Bruce.

**raycow** · 11-22-2013, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by 65specialconvert

Just that...unhook both the A & F terminals at the gen & power the A with a jumper wire to the battery & ground the F terminal to any ground.It should show full rate of charge at fast idle.If not,the generator is bad.

If you connect the A terminal of the gen directly to the battery, the charging current will not show on the factory ammeter. You can avoid this by leaving all wires connected and jumping the ARM and BAT terminals at the regulator.

Ray