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How do you polarize the generator on a 37 with the cut out i did a search but could not seem to find anything any help would be great. THANKS

Because you do not have a voltage regulator polarizing is not required.

Generators with a cut-out do require polarizing and the Delco-Remy manual gives specific instructions on polarizing generators with cut-outs as well. Anytime the generator is rebuilt and reinstalled it should be polarized. Here are the instructions listed in the Delco-Remy manual:

"CAUTION: If the generator or battery is removed for any reason it is possible that the polarity of the generator may be reversed. Reversed generator polarity will cause the cut-out points to vibrate and burn. This condition can be corrected by momentarily connecting a short jumper lead from the "BATT" to the "GEN" terminals of the cut-out after all lead connections have been made to the cut-out and before the engine is started."

Would those instructions be the same for a car with a voltage regulator? ( substituting volt. reg. for cut-out)

My 1939 shop manual lists polarizing for the voltage controlled generator only :confused:

Questions-

If the polarity is reversed will the ampmeter read backwards - informing you that it is correct?

Would it be necessary to polarize when ever the battery is dead or disconnected?

For a voltage regulator, touch "BATT" to "GEN" (or ARM") and do not touch "FLD" (or F) terminal.

Regardless if a generator has a cut-out or a voltage regulator, whenever the generator is removed and then reinstalled it should always be polarized to the battery. The Delco-Remy electrical manual recommends doing this when the battery is changed as well. I never have when I changed a battery but I have always re polarized the generator after removing it for any reason.

Normally, (and we have done tests on generators with cut-outs) when the generator has changed polarity and then reinstalled on the car without being polarized, the generator usually will not charge at all, and the amp gauge shows a slight discharge because the car is running off of battery power. In some cases, the amp gauge will fluctuate back and forth rapidly from "0" to discharge. Once the generator was polarized, it started to charge as it should, and the amp gauge was reading the proper charge as well.

Again, generators with cut-outs must be polarized just the same as generators with voltage regulators, because in both cases the generator can change polarity when removed from the car.

Thanks i hope this clears it up for everybody

ALL:
Great advice! I believe I may have skipped this step when I put my rebuilt generator in my '35 Master. I recently found I was running on battery only power as I incorrectly thought I may have had a bad amp gage. Wrong, the problem was the generator isn't putting out. Time to pull out the generator, check her over and re-polarize as she gets installed!

Before you pull out the generator, polarize it and then see if the generator works. Let us know what you find.