Were most B and Cs positive ground?

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   We have a C that is still a 6 volt system but converted to a distributor.  It's never worked out where we've put an extensive amount of time working on it.  It always seems like we work on it a little bit and then it sits for a few years and then we come back to it.  So we kind of never make any progress.  We're always kind of starting over on it.  Lately we've been getting more time into it.  

We have always used it negative ground.  I couldn't tell you how it was hooked up when we first got it.  And I didn't even know there was a such thing as positive ground until I got on here.  Anyway I'm beginning to wonder if it's supposed to be positive ground.  The ground cable is red and we always kind of just took that as just a weird thing and shrugged it off.  We've always had issues with it charging the battery properly now that I think about it, which we're fighting with now.

If it's supposed to be positive ground and we've been hooking it up wrong what would happen?  Would it even run at all?  Would it fry something?  Would it work but just not charge the battery like it's doing?  We got a new battery today and tried to start it (without pulling it for once, we've run it in the last week) but it wouldn't start and acted like it wasn't getting a spark.  Is that because the battery is hooked up wrong?

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briwayjones Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Bronze Level Joined: 09 May 2010 Location: Sykesville, MD Points: 75	Post Options Post Reply Quote briwayjones Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Were most B and Cs positive ground? Posted: 12 May 2010 at 11:44pm
	We have a C that is still a 6 volt system but converted to a distributor. It's never worked out where we've put an extensive amount of time working on it. It always seems like we work on it a little bit and then it sits for a few years and then we come back to it. So we kind of never make any progress. We're always kind of starting over on it. Lately we've been getting more time into it. We have always used it negative ground. I couldn't tell you how it was hooked up when we first got it. And I didn't even know there was a such thing as positive ground until I got on here. Anyway I'm beginning to wonder if it's supposed to be positive ground. The ground cable is red and we always kind of just took that as just a weird thing and shrugged it off. We've always had issues with it charging the battery properly now that I think about it, which we're fighting with now. If it's supposed to be positive ground and we've been hooking it up wrong what would happen? Would it even run at all? Would it fry something? Would it work but just not charge the battery like it's doing? We got a new battery today and tried to start it (without pulling it for once, we've run it in the last week) but it wouldn't start and acted like it wasn't getting a spark. Is that because the battery is hooked up wrong?

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CTuckerNWIL Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: NW Illinois Points: 22823	Post Options Post Reply Quote CTuckerNWIL Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 May 2010 at 12:10am
	All B's and C's were Pos ground from the factory. Which side of the coil goes to the distributor? If you run Neg ground the neg side should go to the distributor. If it was converted properly the generator would have to be polarized in order to charge the Battery right. It would run either way if the generator is disconnected. I don't know what it might fry if the gen is not polarized. The smoke might have already escaped the geeny so for a temporary test disconnect it from the system and try starting it.
	http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF

bigfish_Oh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Location: West Liberty,Oh Points: 1226	Post Options Post Reply Quote bigfish_Oh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 May 2010 at 12:12am
	I think they(AC's) were all 6 volt positive ground until early sixties, with distributor and pos ground the positive coil connects to the dist. Do a search for electrical, 12 volt, 6volt, etc most real manuals will have a wiring diagram. I post a pic if someone else doesn't first.
	1941 WC sat for 29 years,started & dynoed 27 h.p. 1957 WD45 Grandpa bought new,factory p.s.,added wfe 1951 WD, factory p.s. 1960 D14 HnMk IV BkHoe 4 sale 2014 HD Tri Glide 2009 GMC CC SLT Dually

bigfish_Oh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Location: West Liberty,Oh Points: 1226	Post Options Post Reply Quote bigfish_Oh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 May 2010 at 12:24am
	This is for a C, original with a mag
	1941 WC sat for 29 years,started & dynoed 27 h.p. 1957 WD45 Grandpa bought new,factory p.s.,added wfe 1951 WD, factory p.s. 1960 D14 HnMk IV BkHoe 4 sale 2014 HD Tri Glide 2009 GMC CC SLT Dually

Dave(inMA) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Grafton, MA Points: 2398	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dave(inMA) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 May 2010 at 6:31am
	Here is the wiring diagram for the CA - a little easier to use with a distributor setup. Sorry this image is so large - software I use to resize won't smallerize this one.
	WC, CA, D14, WD45

Brian Jasper co. Ia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Prairie City Ia Points: 10508	Post Options Post Reply Quote Brian Jasper co. Ia Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 May 2010 at 1:02pm
	All of A-C's generator charging systems were positive ground originally. The starter doesn't care about battery polarity. To switch from positive ground to negative, all you have to do is polarize the generator. Just momentarily jump between the battery and arm terminals of the cutout relay or regulator and see if it works. PM me and I can walk you through testing the generator.
	"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford

briwayjones Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Bronze Level Joined: 09 May 2010 Location: Sykesville, MD Points: 75	Post Options Post Reply Quote briwayjones Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 May 2010 at 10:57pm
	We worked on it some today. It is negative ground. We didn't think the old battery was taking a charge because it wouldn't charge with a battery charger either. We were hoping that's all that was wrong with charging. We got it running and I polarized the generator and it started charging. Although the regulator doesn't seem to be too good which is something else we suspected. It would charge some, then stop charging or even flip to discharging, but if you wacked it, it would start charging again. So a new regular is next on the list. Thanks for every ones help.