VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Electrical - 6 volt Generator Oil Wick

Does anyone know of a source for the 7/32" diameter felt oil wick used to oil the rear bushing on the 29-54 Delco 6 volt generators? It is GM Group 2.301, P/N 804076.

Mark

McMaster-Carr carries it:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#felt-wicking/=q6u5ih

But I think one of the wicks used in the rocker arms of the engine would work fine. The Filling Station has them.

All the Best,

Chip

I ask that question of the people who just rebuilt my starter & generator & they indicated that use a newer oil bushing which requires no oiling. Let's see what others have to say...Joe

Those wicks are too short.

Story of my life..............

The bushings that did not require oiling were impregnated with graphite and had little depressions in them. The graphite made the brass look black in some areas.
When I put my 1934 together in the early '70's I rebuilt the starter and generator. Never bothered to check the wick. It went out in 1986 on the way back from a meet in StLouis. Lasted over 10 years and 15,000 miles. The old wick had turned to like a stick of wood.....I replaced the armature and rear end frame of the generator at that time.

Chip,

Thanks for the McMaster-Carr link. Looks like I'll have to buy 5 feet of it, so I'll have plenty of extra in case anybody needs it. No charge.

Mark

No problem --- Good luck with it!

All the Best, Chip

Yes, these days they use a bushing that is porous...I believe they called them "oil-lite" bushings...I recall installing them in the machine shop...no oil...

A starter can get by with out oiling. Infact from about 1948 and up there was no oiler on the starter. The generator is a different story. It is spinning all the time the engine is running. Has pressure on one area due to fan belt tension. At one time Chevrolet even made a replacement generator rear end plate fitted with a ball bearing because the bushing were failing.

I agree....the generator bushing should be oiled via the oil wick for long lasting and trouble free service.

That's correct...Generator needs much more lube...

Just to help try and clarify. The modern oil-lite type bushings do indeed need oil, they just don't require the cutout for the oil wick to be exposed to the shaft. The new bushings are made in a way that allows for oil to pass through them, therefore not needing the oil wick cutout.
-Jason

Hi Mark,

How did the McMaster-Carr wick work out for your generator application? Was it the right size? Is it the same size as needed for a starter motor? What material did you choose? Does it hold oil well? Did you end up buying 5 feet of it?

I am thinking of buying some of the same material from them, but in different sizes, to use on making up wicks for the distributor and maybe my Carter Carburetor. Let us know your results and if you think the material you choose would work in those applications.

Best wishes, Mike

Usually the oil wick for the starter motor is larger in diameter.

Mike,
I bought 5ft. each of the 3/16" diameter and the 1/4" diameter, both in the extra firm F1 White grade. According to my Chevrolet parts catalog, the generator wick diameter is 7/32", which is right between 3/16 and 1/4. So, the 3/16" was a little too small, and the 1/4" was a little too big. However, I was able to roll a piece of the 1/4" felt in my hands to reduce the diameter slightly, then forced it into the wick hole in the generator bearing. Using the oversized felt insures that it stays in contact with the armature shaft journal. The felt looks like it holds oil OK and should work just fine. I road-tested the generator with no problems, but as Chevgene pointed out, it would take many miles before the bearing failed, even with no felt in it. As I intend to put many miles on the generator, and don't want to be changing out a generator at midnight in the Nevada badlands, I thought it best to fit a felt wick in the generator.

I'm not sure what diameter the starter motor uses, if any. McMaster-Carr offers the felt wicking in 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" diameters. I think this wicking is perfectly suited for oil wicking in any application where it fits.

Mark

I did not know there was supposed to be a wick. I just rebuilt my Gen and nothing was said about a wick. What about the front of the Gen? there is a place to oil there also.

Pete.

The front oiler lubricates the front ball bearing.
the wick is under the cover an the rear end frame.
There is an opening in the rear bushing that allows the wick to contact the shaft on the armature to lubrication to the bushing.
The wick had turned to stone on my '34 and took out the bushing and armature.
The wick is not mentioned in the shop manual because they usually lasted longer than the generator and the car. It is pictured in a blow-up of the generator in the parts book.

There is an oil wick in front of the ball bearing and the oil wick is actually a large felt washer. However, if you install a double sealed 6203 bearing in the generator the felt washer oil wick is not needed.