[Farmall] IH240U Charging Problem

[E. John Puckett]

here is a link to a trouble shooting chart that should be of help
http://www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/Maintenance%20Tips%20and%20Techniques/Generator%20and%20Regulator%20Troubleshooting%20Flow%20Chart.jpg

Mike Sloane wrote:
> There are a lot of things that could be causing your problem. The 
> easiest is a generator belt that is a little loose and slipping under 
> load, especially in damp weather. Another is a "dirty" commutator on the 
> generator or worn brushes or "soft" brush springs. Those are not 
> difficult to remedy, but some knowledge and/or experience would be 
> necessary. The generator almost certainly not a three brush model, nor 
> does it have the "high charge" switch that was on some of the 1940s era 
> IH tractors.
>
> More difficult to deal with is a voltage regulator that has gotten tired 
> - generally speaking, replacement is the best cure.
>
> Now, it should be noted that those old Delco tractor generators aren't 
> all that powerful, and if you are running at only a little over low idle 
> speed with all the lights on, it is certainly possible that the 
> generator couldn't keep up with the load. Have you been watching the 
> ammeter while you were working? If the needle isn't positioned on the 
> "charge" side of center, then the generator just isn't keeping up. If 
> you bring the engine speed up, then the ammeter should show a charge. 
> The type of use you are giving the tractor is exactly the reason I have 
> converted some of my old Farmalls to 12 alternator - snow plowing at 
> night for hours on end. See: 
> <http://public.fotki.com/mikesloane/international_240u/240u4140506.html> 
> for the conversion on my 240.
>
> And, finally, why did you change out the battery? If it was because it 
> wouldn't start the tractor, the problem might have existed back then.
>
> If you aren't experienced with taking generators apart and assembling 
> them, I suggest you remove it and take it to a local auto electric shop 
> for diagnosis - they don't usually charge a lot to clean the commutator, 
> undercut the segments, and install new brushes/springs (if needed). Some 
> of the older places will even let you watch! And, if you remove the 
> voltage regulator (carefully noting how the wires are connected), they 
> will test the entire system under load to see where the problem lies.
>
> Mike
>
> Jim Jacoby wrote:
>   
>> Hi,
>> I've been lurking on this list for a year or so, since I got my IH240.
>> According to the serial number list on tractordata.com, its a 1959 model.
>> I've been using it to bush-hog a couple of fields and, this year, to snow
>> plow the driveway. Its been very dependable.
>>
>> Tonight, while plowing, the lights started dimming, so I turned around and
>> headed for home. I almost made it before it sputtered and died (but I did
>> get close enough to reach with a long extension cord for the battery charger
>> at least). I charged the battery, she fired right up, but now she's sitting
>> in her parking spot waiting for me to figure out what went wrong.
>>
>> Battery is less than 6 months old. Since I replaced it, I've had no
>> charging-related problems, and she always fires right up (as long as I
>> remember to turn the fuel valve on).
>>
>> I live about 30 miles SW of Madison, WI, and for the last two weeks we've
>> gotten snow every couple of days, so I've been doing a fair amount of
>> plowing, at night, with lights on.
>>
>> I am fairly clueless on the details of the charging system on this tractor,
>> even after reading through the IH PM and I&T manuals that I have and doing
>> some web searches, so I am hoping that someone on this list who has more
>> experience than I can point me in the right direction.
>>
>> Is it likely that I was just using more power than the generator could put
>> out, with the extended lights-on plowing?
>>
>> Is it likely that this tractor has a 3-brush generator? If so, what switch
>> position (number of "clicks") puts it in high output mode? Is there anyway
>> to tell (other than pulling the generator apart) what type of generator it
>> is?
>>
>> How, in general, so I diagnose the problem if its not one of the two "easy"
>> ones above?
>>
>> Thanks everyone,
>> Jim
>>     
> ___

-- 
 John
another one of them
*.?-!.* cub owners