Installing Voltage regulator

I am going to install a new voltage regulator in my D15. It has a generator, not an alternator, and the generator works well. I would really appreciate instructions on the installation process and the do's and don'ts for the installation of the regulator, which mounts on the panel below the battery and in front of the control panel. For example, do I need to polarize the system initially by momentarily crossing the ARM terminal to the BAT terminal before starting. Will I fry the regulator if I accidentally hook it up wrong and cause a momentary discharge through the system (it is a mechanical regulator, not electronic)?
Thanks in advance, folks.

MOMENTARILY TOUCH BATT TO GEN OR B TO G  - IF UNIT IS NOT CHARGING CORRECTLY.  NEVER TOUCH FIELD.  REMEMBER TEACHER TOLD US Girl TO Boy NOT  Girl TO Female - However today that illustration would not PC work huh....   

This is a replacement mechanical regulator. The old one got tired.

DougS wrote: Why would he need polarize the generator when he stated that it is already working well, tbran? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Most anything I have read about polarizing a generator mentions doing it after the generator has been disconnected.

"Since even a very small current can polarize the shoes, never assume the generator is properly polarized. You must polarize the generator every time it is disconnected or serviced."

Oh, and no worries- you won't fry anything... it's very robust stuff, just don't nail it down and hold it... just a short swipe across the terminal is all it takes. 

Here's an excerpt from the "Regulator Maintenance" paragraph:

"
1. Mechanical checks and adjustments (air gaps, point opening) must be made with battery disconnected and regulator preferably off the vehicle.


CAUTION: The cutout relay contact points must never be closed by hand with the battery connected to the regulator. This would cause a high current to flow through the units which would seriously damage them.

2. Electrical checks and adjustments may be made either on or off the vehicle. The regulator must always be operated with the type generator for which it is designed.

{Dave's note here - This is because there's two configurations of generator-  types where the regulator GROUNDS the field (it's internally connected to the gen output terminal) and types where the regulator puts DC power ONTO the field (it's internally grounded in the generator}

3. The regulator must be mounted in the operating position when electrical settings are checked and adjusted and it must be at operating temperature.
{This is because the generator's nature is to generate higher voltage as temperature is lower, and the battery's charge demand is skewed by temperature, cranking recovery load, and internal chemistry}

4. After any tests or adjustments to the generator on the vehicle must be repolarized after leads are connected but before the engine is started, as follows:

{They say BEFORE the engine is started BECAUSE... if the GENERATOR is somehow polarized backwards, when you start it, there will be 12v coming from the battery, and the generator will try to DISCHARGE the battery with a -12v applied voltage... you'll have a 24v series circuit, carrying a WHOLE LOTTA POWER through wiring which will very immediately become a fuse.}

REPOLARIZING THE GENERATOR

After reconnecting leads, momentarily connect a jumper between the "GEN" and "BAT" terminals of the regulator.  This allows a momentary surge of current to flow through the generator which correctly polarizes it.  Failure to do this may result in severe damage to the equipment since reversed polarity causes vibration {they're talking about in the regulator points here} arcing, and burning of the relay contact points.
"