JD generators

[aumick10]

I have two generators here that I am trying to find out more about.
One of them has a tag that is a "B" series. I understand this to be around 1922-23.
The other one has a tag that is a "B1". I have not been able to find out anything about this model.
Has anybody come across this model before?
Cheers,
Mick

[RichO]

Mick, Check Jerry Hatfield's Inside H-D book if you can find one or borrow one from a friend. It has some info on the J model generators. If you want to know a little bit that may not be in there I know enough to be dangerous so send me a personal message with your phone number and I'll get back to you. Rich

[aumick10]

Thanks for the offer Rich, If i get stuck I will contact you.
I forgot about that book, I had one in my bookshelf.
There is a clue in there about a change in generator size for 1923. maybe a "B" is 1922 and a "B1" is 1923. I will measure them next time I have them out.
I have a "D" 1929 generator that I am going to post a question about soon.
Cheers,
Mick

[aumick10]

I also have a "D" generator that has a brass tag on it. This generator has an adjustable third brush, so i assume someone fitted this to an earlier body.
I am restoring this generator and want to retain the brass tag.
can anybody suggest a way to remove the red paint from the tag, without removing the black paint. I can blast the rest of the body.
20200225_095904[1].jpg
Cheers

[Tommo]

The 1925 to 1929 HD parts book has at the start of the generator section a description of what was fitted to what in relation to generators.
I've done the attached list using information from all my parts books right back to 1915.
I'm not aware of a B1 generator so are you sure it's B1 and not D1.
D1 is the last of the series and has the adjustable third brush and if it has an oiler in the end cap it is 1929 only.
D1 generators are getting very hard to find so it would be a shame to alter one as all the earlier ones are fairly easy to find.
For whatever reason this new system won't let me upload files so I'll type it in under duress.
Delco-Remy Generators
Model 15; All 1915 Electric models
Model 250; All 1916, 1917 and a few early 1918 models
Models 235A, 235B and 235C; 1918, 1919 and most 1920 electric models. Note; These generators first appear in the 1917 to 1923 parts book.
H.D. Generators
Model A; Later 1920, all 1921 and early 1922 electric models.
Model B; 1922 from engine number 9835 and all 1923 electric models
Model C; All 1924 and 1925 electric models
Model D and D1: All 1926 to 1929 electric models
Hope this helps and this new computer system sucks.

[Steve Swan]

Great to hear again from you Tommo! to clarify, the 1929 D1 had no brass tag, is this correct?

[aumick10]

Great to hear again from you Tommo! to clarify, the 1929 D1 had no brass tag, is this correct?

Steve,
There is a D1 on ebay now that has a brass tag on it.

[Steve Swan]

Steve,
There is a D1 on ebay now that has a brass tag on it.

Interesting. i'm not so sure about that. i see the D1 i think you are referring to on ebay.

[Steve Swan]

The 1925 to 1929 HD parts book has at the start of the generator section a description of what was fitted to what in relation to generators.
I've done the attached list using information from all my parts books right back to 1915.
I'm not aware of a B1 generator so are you sure it's B1 and not D1.
D1 is the last of the series and has the adjustable third brush and if it has an oiler in the end cap it is 1929 only.
D1 generators are getting very hard to find so it would be a shame to alter one as all the earlier ones are fairly easy to find.
For whatever reason this new system won't let me upload files so I'll type it in under duress.
Delco-Remy Generators
Model 15; All 1915 Electric models
Model 250; All 1916, 1917 and a few early 1918 models
Models 235A, 235B and 235C; 1918, 1919 and most 1920 electric models. Note; These generators first appear in the 1917 to 1923 parts book.
H.D. Generators
Model A; Later 1920, all 1921 and early 1922 electric models.
Model B; 1922 from engine number 9835 and all 1923 electric models
Model C; All 1924 and 1925 electric models
Model D and D1: All 1926 to 1929 electric models
Hope this helps and this new computer system sucks.

Re-reading and re-thinking Tommo's post, the questions i have are, why a D and a D1 generator? which electric models were fitted with D and which electric models were fitted with D1? besides the electric twins, there are also the electric single models.

[aumick10]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the D1 generator had a different timer drive gear that was for singles. I think one had three drive gears and one had 5, but don't quote me on that.

On the B models, the hatfield book says there was a change to a bigger body in late 22. This would be the Model B from Perry Routers document.
I definetly have a B and B1 tagged generators.
If the D1 was for a single, I wonder if the B1 was also for a single. I will check the two drive gears tomorrow to see of there is a difference.

[RichO]

Steve, I have a D1 on the bench with a brass tag stamped as such.

[aumick10]

RichO,
So would that make it a 1926-27 Single generator?

[aumick10]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the D1 generator had a different timer drive gear that was for singles. I think one had three drive gears and one had 5, but don't quote me on that.

On the B models, the hatfield book says there was a change to a bigger body in late 22. This would be the Model B from Perry Routers document.
I definetly have a B and B1 tagged generators.
If the D1 was for a single, I wonder if the B1 was also for a single. I will check the two drive gears tomorrow to see of there is a difference.

Apologies to all. When i cleaned up what I thought was a B1, it turned out to be a BF generator. It looks to me like the F has been added later maybe.
Both generatos also had the same distributor drive gear, so probably not for a single.

20200228_073928[1].jpg20200228_074040[2].jpg

[RichO]

Your not the only one who didn't look hard enough. The one on my bench is a D model. No 1. The one is for sure the call out for a single model generator. There's one on flea bay right now. I have a ton of J generators and I'm going through them now to I.D. them and put them with the motors they belong with. Lot's of changes in end caps, timers, coils, brush holders, etc. Tommo's sheet helped and a conversation with George Hood helped a lot too.

[aumick10]

I have homes for my 3 "D" models.
My B and BF will be surplus at some time.
Still like to know what the BF is for.