I don't know the M-37 specifically, so the following advice is probably
worth what you're paying for it:
Brent McClearen wrote:
>
> 1. I set the point gap to 0.018, got good spark at the points when manually
> opened. The coil I have is old and looks like it served its last tour. Is
> it possible for a coil to fire enough, but not be real "HOT"? I mean, can a
> coil die slowly? It just doesnt seem to hit real well.
The coil is a possibility but the condenser is also a potential
culprit. The coil and consenser together form a resonant circuit, so
that the spark is enhanced. If the condenser is bad, the spark won't be
as strong, and the points will burn quickly. Another problem I've
encountered is excessive slop in the distributor shaft bushings, which
makes the point gap jump all over the place when it's running. Wiggle
it side to side; there should be almost no play. While you're in there
check to see that all the lobes on the distributor cam look okay...
>
> 2. I noticed when it was running, one of the batteries started sputtering
> acid water out the caps. These are new batteries. Can you get too much
> charge from the generator? Is it gonna blow up and take me out too!
A generator of this era requires an external regulator to reduce the
charging rate when there is no demand. Does this by three separate
means: Voltage regulator, current regulator, and cutout. The cutout
takes the generator off-line when it's turning too slow to produce high
enough voltage to charge the batter(ies). Possibly you have frozen
contacts in the regulator which are forcing the generator to charge at
full capacity. Does the ammeter work? Should charge heavily for a
short period, then taper off. Charge is also dependent on RPM, more so
than an alternator...
>
> 3. Once I get it running again, should I use a top cylinder lubricant like
> Marvel Mystery oil or what? It acts like some valves are not moving yet.
I would check compression to verify valve operation. If anyone tried to
run it on really old gasoline, it will form varnish on the valve stems
which can stick them open (I learned this lesson the hard way, on a
Plymouth flathead 6). And yes, I have used Marvel Mystery oil ever
since that incident.
-Rob Root
1942 GPW
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