[Farmall] IH240U Charging Problem

[Mike Sloane]

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