Classic/Antique Car Repair: arcing a 1956 voltage regulator, battery cables, wiring connections

Question
my 1956 Cadillac does not recharge both the voltage regulator and the generator are new  how do i arc my voltage regulator

Answer
If you are relying on the dash indicator to tell you that it is not charging, perform the following test to make sure it isn't lying to you:  Start the engine, and let it idle. With it idling, lift one of the battery cables off the battery post (it doesn't matter which one).  If the engine keeps idling, your generator IS charging.  If the engine dies immediately, you're right, it isn't charging.

As for arcing the voltage regulator, that is not something you do to a voltage regulator.  

I'm guessing you meant to ask about polarizing the generator. To do that, momentarily connect a wire from the + terminal of the battery to the armature connection to the generator, but disconnect the other wire on the armature connection first - you don't want to have the regulator in the circuit when you do this.  You will get a healthy spark when you do this (or if you don't, there is a problem with your generator), but the spark won't hurt you - just tap the wire on there and then remove it quickly.

Once you have re-connected the wire from the regulator, see if that helped.   If not, something else is wrong.   Double check your wiring connections to both the regulator and the generator, and make sure you were given the correct regulator.

Next, suspicion falls on the generator: I am amazed that you found a new generator - but if it has been sitting on a shelf for 52 years, I'm not surprised it doesn't work.  Take it to a generator rebuilding shop and have them clean the commutator and then test it for proper operation.

Dick