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Super Bug Generator
Agella - April 17th, 2013 at 11:39 PM

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone knew what the specs were for the generators in the '73 Superbugs.

Mine's playing up a little and may need replacing (or for the armature to be re-machined, but I'm not overly keen on that). I'm also hesitant to convert over to an alternator since I'd like to keep the car as close to factory as I can engine-wise.

Thanks!

68AutoBug - April 18th, 2013 at 02:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Agella
Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone knew what the specs were for the generators in the '73 Superbugs.

Mine's playing up a little and may need replacing (or for the armature to be re-machined, but I'm not overly keen on that). I'm also hesitant to convert over to an alternator since I'd like to keep the car as close to factory as I can engine-wise.

Thanks!


Hi
the VW 12 volt generator puts out around 360 watts.
the alternator puts out over 600 watts.. plus charges at low revs.. where a generator doesn;t..

Your problem could be the brushes are worn out on Your generator..
these are easy to replace.. and not expensive..
I would try that first... I replaced a set in a spare generator recently..
If You don't have a workshop manual showing a diagram of the brushes etc let Me know and I'll send then to You..

its very simple when You see how they are just held in place with curly type springs and a wire connected with one screw..

they are accessed thru the opening in the top of the generator...

If that doesn't fix the problem then it may be the regulator..
which do fail after all these years of good service..

an alternator looks much better to Me in an engine compartment.. lol [maybe Just Me]
You would just be modernising the electrical system. IMHO

Of course You could find a good inexpensive VW auto electrician somwhere and He could adjust or renew the voltage regulator and over haul the generator including replacing the bearings and having the armiture machined..
they a small skim to et rid of the wear
changing over to an alternator

best of Luck

cheers

Lee

Agella - April 18th, 2013 at 02:19 AM

I should have specified that both the brushes and the regulator (which was faulty) have recently been replaced, which has brought to light that the problem is somehow inherent to the generator itself. The bearings seem fine, so I'm guessing it's probably the armature.

Thanks though, if things get a bit too frustrating with the generator I may have to just throw in the towel and convert to an alternator. Haha.

Thanks!

Shuffs - April 18th, 2013 at 05:50 AM

When you say armature needing machining.do you mean the commutator,which are the copper segments,that the brushes run on?You should be able to check the condition,by removing one of the brushes,and have a look with a torch.If it is worn out,an electrical motor rewind mob,can get you out of trouble,but it may only need a polish,with sone fine emery cloth.

http://www.naasco.com/content/images/generators/commutatorsample.jpg

68AutoBug - April 18th, 2013 at 01:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Agella
I should have specified that both the brushes and the regulator (which was faulty) have recently been replaced, which has brought to light that the problem is somehow inherent to the generator itself. The bearings seem fine, so I'm guessing it's probably the armature.

Thanks though, if things get a bit too frustrating with the generator I may have to just throw in the towel and convert to an alternator. Haha.

Thanks!


Hi Aimee
OK on the brushes and the regulator..
The armature is probably damaged due to the failed regulator
especially if it was shorting out the armature when it was working... I take it the generator isn't working at all??
cheapest way out is to get another used generator that was known to be working... should be heaps of them out there..
Best to try locally as because of their weight its very costly to ship them anywhere...

If going the alternator way, You will need to get a good one as there are some chinese ones out there that aren't good..

Alternators have a built in regulator so the generator regulator wouldn't be used....

cheers

LEE

Agella - April 18th, 2013 at 03:08 PM

Weirdly the generator does charge intermittently. So I don't know what that's about. But it would seem that finding another one was my best bet.

Thanks.

Joel - April 18th, 2013 at 04:30 PM

It's an Lbug not a split, swapping to an alternator would not devalue the car, probably the opposite as its far more effecient and half of the 73s came with factory alternators anyway.

Leave the Generators to the purists who like candle power headlights.

Agella - April 18th, 2013 at 05:01 PM

It's not about value since I don't intend on selling it. It's just my own personal preference.

And yes, by armature I mean the copper panels. We've given them a decent scrub up and they don't seem to be excessively worn, so I'm not really sure what's going on.

As I said before, it's had new brushes and a new regulator but even so the generator light comes on and off intermittently, and not generally relative to to engine revs at all. Vey odd.

68AutoBug - April 18th, 2013 at 07:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Agella
It's not about value since I don't intend on selling it. It's just my own personal preference.

And yes, by armature I mean the copper panels. We've given them a decent scrub up and they don't seem to be excessively worn, so I'm not really sure what's going on.

As I said before, it's had new brushes and a new regulator but even so the generator light comes on and off intermittently, and not generally relative to to engine revs at all. Vey odd.


Hi again Aimee
it sounds more like a loose connection.. wire loose.. etc..
all the connections in Your car are old and the copper becomes dirty [contaminated] so many of the connections need cleaning up..
a wire brush on every connection so they are shiney where they touch.. including the fusebox..

I'm not saying do every one the same day etc.. lol

but the fusebox needs a good clean up...
battery disconnected... and just do one wire at a time so nothing gets mixed up... lol
You can buy wire brush sets very cheap at some of the cheap shops..

also, make sure You have a copper strap at the nose of Your gearbox.. this is the major earth to the engine... and many people take them off and never replace them...
it can cause all sorts of grounding/earthing problems through out the car...
even try putting a thick wire from the engine to the body...
even under the body if You don't want it seen..
ALL new cars and many older ones have these to the engine now...
usually a very thick cable or copper strap...
from the engine to the body...

cheders

LEE

colin - April 21st, 2013 at 12:19 PM

Sounds like a bad earth connection.

Cheers Col

1303Steve - April 21st, 2013 at 03:42 PM

x2 have look around the back of the speedo for bad connections, also connections on the generator and regulator

Agella - April 23rd, 2013 at 01:45 AM

Thanks everyone.

We're taking it apart tomorrow to scope it out.