Voltage regulator service

[rsessoms]

My 1958 130 isn't charging and believe I have it traced down to the regulator. The generator has been rebuilt.
I've seen posts where others have lightly filed the contacts and cleaned connections. One of my contacts looks pretty nasty.
My question is what is the set gap after service?
I'd like to try this before I drop a hundred dollars for a nice new one.
And is the gap the same on Cubs as well?

[tst]

did you polarize it ? follow the steps to test it

[rsessoms]

Yes. Definitely polarized.
You can tell the bottom set of points have burned at some point. Didn't know if I could try cleaning and setting the gap again. My manuals don't have that anywhere.

[Jim Becker]

Adjusting points inside a regulator isn't as simple as setting a gap. I suggest doing the absolute minimum of filing to clean up the points. Try to do it without disturbing the adjustment. After filing, be very careful to get ALL filings and loose material out of the points. Spray them with some Brake-Clean or similar. Any loose junk will cause them to quickly burn again. This is more critical with the voltage regulator points than the cut-out points. The cut-out points should be open when at rest while the voltage regulator points are closed.

If you do have to make adjustments, I believe the instructions are in the PDF manuals in one of the service manuals that covers charging systems. You will have to look in the Cub manuals. Check the part number on your regulator and the specs for it should be in the Cub manuals.

[rsessoms]

Thank you.
Sounds like I might be better off getting a new one. The gasket is a mess and one of the screws is missing, along with rust and corrosion. I'll keep the old one to practice with.

[Jim Becker]

If there is corrosion under the cover, it is likely a lost cause. Try to get a made in USA replacement. It will cost a lot more than an import. But there have been multiple out-of-box failures of the imported ones.

(Maybe the imported regulators have the same problem as the knock-off carburetors. They might work if adjusted properly. Unfortunately, as I already mentioned, regulator adjustment isn't easy.)

[tst]

Jim is correct about the imports, but beware of sticker shock for the USA ones now, a alternator conversion for example with a delco 10 style 1 wire alternator can be less than the cost of a new USA regulator

[inairam]

The failure of the import regulator issue is especially high with the 6-volt units which is what the 130 had OEM. I am a big fan of 6 volts but have converted some tractors. If you want to get a regulator you can go to napa https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHVR851 It is $120 and TST is right ( as usual) you can get an alternator and an alternator bracket for that.

[rsessoms]

Replaced regulator and working like a champ.