DELCO BATTERIES

Careful tests in many parts of the country indicate that many discharged Delco Batteries are being returned to U .M.S. Accounts as being defective under the 90-day or 4,000 miles warranty. This practice is not only very expensive, but it also constitutes a decided waste of materials that are very hard to replace under present day regulations.

In order to correct this practice, United Motors Service has instructed their battery accounts to return to the U .M.S. Zone Office all Delco Batteries removed from service during the 90-day or 4,000 miles warranty period. Such batteries, when received at the U .M.S. Zone Office, will be carefully inspected for visual damage and an attempt will be made to charge each battery. If the battery accepts a charge and comes up to capacity it will be tested very carefully to determine its fitness for further service. Should the battery pass these rigid tests it will be returned to the account, transportation charges collect. In the meantime, the U .M.S. Account will not issue credit on the battery until its condition is determined by the U .M.S. Zone warehouse.

You are requested to cooperate with United Motors Service Accounts by having the necessary equipment to slow charge and properly test batteries for owners, and to make certain the battery is actually defective rather than merely discharged, before application is made for replacement under warranty.

Our current production battery is the E-6 type and we feel that a dealer is taking a chance if he delivers a new car containing a battery with a specific gravity of less than 1.230 corrected to

80°. It is recommended that new car batteries be checked at time of new car make ready and slow-charged if necessary to assure that the new owner will not be bothered with an unnecessary road failure due to an undercharged battery.

 

DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR

Approximately March 20th, all series engines were equipped in production with a new type distributor rotor. This rotor, shown in Figure 33, has a “built in” 10,000 ohm resistor that eliminates the necessity for a suppressor equipped high tension wire on radio jobs.

1951 Buick Distributor Rotor

1951 Buick Distributor Rotor

Parts information is as follows:

1951 Buick Distributor Rotor Parts

1951 Buick Distributor Rotor Parts

*Same as formerly used on jobs without radio.

 

CRANKING MOTOR ADJUSTMENTS

The linkage between the cranking motor solenoid switch plunger and the shift lever is no longer adjustable. If solenoid switch is removed from cranking motor for any reason, the pinion travel must be checked, as on previous models. The clearance between the pinion and housing with switch contact closed is 3/16″ plus or minus 1/32″. (Previous information released from this Department stated that the clearance should be 3 1/16″ plus or minus 1/32″. In the event that you have received information to this effect at

1951 Product Schools, please be advised that the correct dimension is 3/16″ plus or minus 1/32″.) The method of checking is essentially the same as described in paragraph 10-39 (c) of the 1950 Shop Manual; however, adjustment is obtained by loosening the solenoid mounting screws and moving the solenoid as required.

Solenoid switch and relay test specifications are slightly different from 1950 specifications. These will be included in the 1951 Shop Manual.

 

STARTER RELAY TEST

If difficulty is encountered with 1951 starter relay operation, the following test procedure should be used:

  1. Remove red and black cross wire from terminal marked (2) of relay. (Figure 34)
1951 Buick Cranking Motor Adjustments

1951 Buick Cranking Motor Adjustments

  • Connect one lead of 6 volt test light to terminal marked (2) of relay and the other lead to one of the relay mounting bolts. (Using test light in place of cranking motor makes it possible to hear the click of the relay when it seals.)
  • Use a variable rheostat of at least 10 ohms resistance and a capacity of 2 amperes. (The Ohmite Rheostat Model ”J” – 50 watt Stock No. 0314, 12 ohms 2.04 Max. Amps., made by Ohmite Manufacturing Company, is satisfactory. This rheostat is available at most electrical supply stores.) Connect the center lead, which comes from the rotating arm of the rheostat, to relay terminal No. (4). Connect the lead from one end of the rheostat to relay terminal No. (1), and the lead from the other end to one of the relay mounting bolts.
  • Connect the leads of an accurate low reading voltmeter to terminals marked (3) and (4) of the relay.
  • Turn rheostat until voltmeter reads zero, then slowly turn to increase voltage watching voltmeter. Note voltmeter reading at instant that test light goes on. This is the relay closing voltage and should be between 1.5 and 2.0 volts.
  • Continue to slowly turn rheostat to increase voltage. Note voltmeter reading when a click is heard. This is the sealing voltage and should not be more than 0.1 volt above the closing voltage.
  • Quickly turn rheostat until voltmeter reads 6 volts, which is applied to the relay to fully saturate the magnet core.
  • As quickly as possible turn rheostat to decrease voltmeter reading. Voltmeter reading should be .35 volts minimum at instant that relay points open when test light goes out.
  • If relay does not operate within the voltage limits specified, it may be adjusted as per instructions in paragraph 10-48 in the 1951 Shop Manual. If relay being checked is old type, it should be replaced with new type, having a 1/4″ vertical line stamped on the mounting bracket.
  •  

    STARTER DAMAGE

    1951 ALL SERIES

    In BPS 2.295 dated March 15, 1951, Page 56, you were instructed to replace with complete new starting motors any motors damaged as the result of sticking relays.

    In the future please disregard these instructions and replace only the damaged parts. The necessary new parts may be obtained from the factory warehouse. The damaged parts may then be returned to your Zone M. R. Room for credit.

     

    OPTIONAL CRANKING MOTOR

    1951 SERIES 40-50

    Supplements Sec.10-A, Para.10-3 (a), 1951 Shop Manual.

    In order to conserve critical material, an optional cranking motor is now being used on all Series 40 and 50 cars. This motor, which carries Part No. 1107110, will not be available for service until stocks of the former motor are completely exhausted. The Parts Department will, however, furnish the field coils and end frame. These parts are listed in Supplement No. 6 to the 1951Chassis and Body Parts Book, dated September 1, 1951.

    The new cranking motor has different test specifications, which should be entered in Section 10-A, paragraph 10-3 (a) of the 1951Buick Shop Manual. The changed specifications are as follows:

    No Load Test – Series 40-50

    Amperes – 70
    Volts – 5.65
    RPM – 5500

    Lock Torque Test –

    Amperes – 550
    Volts – 3.25
    Torque – Lbs. Ft. – 12

    All other useful specifications remain the same. The optional cranking motor was effective in production with the following engine numbers:

    Series 40 and 50 – 6501915 to 6506699 Inclusive – 6507354 continuous

     

    GENERATOR AND REGULATOR

    1951 ALL SERIES

    Supplements Sec. 10-A, Par. 10-2, and Sec.10-D, Par. 10-29, 1951 Shop Manual

    Approximately August 9th, a change will be made in the 1951 production generator assembly in order to conserve copper. This will result in less generator output at low car speeds, which will be partially compensated for by use of smaller 2 7/8″ diameter generator pulley.

    The new generator will be identified during the first six weeks production (other than by part number) by a green tag on the field terminal. At the end of this period, the red tag will again be used but it can be assumed that all generators produced after original usage of the green tag are the new type.

    A new voltage and current regulator will be used in conjunction with the new generator in order to provide a different current regulator setting. In addition to part number, the new regulator can be identified by omission of the usual yellow dye on the upper mounting bracket. The new generator and regulator must be used together. No interchanging of new and past type generators and regulators should be attempted in service.

    Specifications for the new voltage and current regulator are as follows:

    Cutout Relay – Closing Voltage
    Range 5.9-6.7, Adjust to 6.4

    Voltage Regulator – Setting (Volts)
    Range 7.2-7.7, Adjust to 7.4

    Current Regulator –Setting (AMPS)
    Range 45-51, Adjust to 47

    Air gaps and point openings remain unchanged.

     

    GENERATOR SPECIFICATIONS

    1951 ALL SERIES

    Supplements Sec. 10-A, Par. 10-2(a), 1951 SM. Test specifications for the new production generator assembly, described in BPS 2.304, page 109, are as follows:

    Items – All Series

    Ratio – Generator to Engine: 2.14 to 1

    Max. Charge Capacity (Amps.) Hot, @ 8 volts and 2550 Gen. RPM: 45

    Amps. Motoring Freely @ 6 volts and 850 RPM min.: 6.8 Approx.

    NOTE: With brushes seated and bearings run in.

    Amps. Max. Stall Current@ 6 volts: 70

    Amps. Field Current@ 6 volts (Room Temp.): 1.90-2.05

    Brush Spring Tension-Ounces: 24-32