willysmjeeps.com

I have a 1952 A1. Does the generator need to be polarized if I installed a new electronic voltage regulator? It was in the green, with the new regulator. After a few weeks, now its running in the yellow.
I installed new batteries too, the old ones were 12 years old and one was weak.

If the gen wasn't charging you would have run out of battery power in a few miles - not over a few weeks. You can try polarizing but it may be time to do a thorough diagnostic on the charging system to see where the problem lies. Visit your TM.

If polarity was reversed you would have a much more odd volt meter reading then yellow. It may be your meter is in error. Always check/troubleshoot electrical issues with a digital VOM and not the jeep's on board gauges. The requirement for polarization of the generator exists for anytime the Generator is removed and replaced or repaired no matter weather you are using a mechanical voltage regulator or an electronic voltage regulator. The only thing that differs on the two type of regulators installation is the type meter used. The mechanical regulator uses and amp meter powered by wires 8 & 9 from the regulator and the electronic regulator uses a voltmeter powered by wire # 27.

Get a digital VOM & select a volt range that covers 24 volts, and start the jeep up. Put the red lead of the vom on the starter's battery terminal and the black lead on the engine ground strap or the voltage regulator ground strap. If your volt reading is positive (No [ - ] in front of the number) polarization is correct. If the volt reading is preceded by ( - ) then the polarity is reversed.

If, with the engine above 1200 RPM, the VOM does read a voltage of 28 (-1V to +4V ) then you have a charging issue. Usually either bad connections, bad grounds, generator brush/commutator issues or a regulator issue.

The advantage of the mechanical regulator is we have a complete parts list for it, we have a complete troubleshooting and overhaul manual for it and we have spare parts available for it.

The disadvantage of the electronic regulator is we have none of the above for it. Thus it is a throw away unit, (Expensive one).