[AT] "After Tractor is running" questions.

[charlie hill]

I'm searching my memory here but doesn't the light switch on a super A have 
to be pulled on for the generator to charge or something like that?  Isn't 
it a two position switch?  I can't remember if it has a pull out switch that 
comes out one notch for run and two for run, lights, charge or if it has a 
rotary switch with an off, run and lights position.  Or am I off all 
together.  It's been 40 years since I've been in the seat of a Super A.

I'm thinking you might have the ammeter wired backwards so that what looks 
like discharge is actually full charge.

Charlie

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Ben Wagner" <supera1948 at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 6:58 PM
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] "After Tractor is running" questions.

>  On 10/8/2010 5:07 PM, Dean Vinson wrote:
>> Ben, I can't add to Mike's good comments on the hydraulics and throttle
>> lever, but I recommend you very carefully inspect all your wiring to make
>> sure it's hooked p correctly and to look for places where the insulation
>> could be worn through and allowing the wire to short to ground or to some
>> other wire.  (Bob Melville's wiring diagrams may help--can't recall if 
>> we've
>> talked about them before.  Check out
>> http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m46/farmallbob/Farmall%20Tractor%20Wiring
>> %20Diagrams/ if you need them.)
>>
>> I wouldn't expect the lights to draw enough current to make the ammeter 
>> show
>> full discharge regardless of what the generator is or isn't doing.  I 
>> don't
>> know what kind or how many lights are on your tractor, but assuming 
>> they're
>> about the same as on M series tractors I'd expect the lights alone to 
>> pull
>> maybe 5 or 8 amps.  But full discharge, as in around 20 amps?  I don't 
>> see
>> how that can be coming from the lights alone.
>>
>> I also don't see how the generator couldn't keep up with the lights if 
>> it's
>> able to keep the battery charged.  If the generator is working that well,
>> I'd expect the ammeter to show zero or very close with the engine running
>> and lights on--meaning the generator is powering the lights rather than
>> making the battery do it.
>>
>> So, if the generator is keeping the battery up but somehow can't come 
>> close
>> to keeping up with the lighting load, and the lighting load sounds too 
>> high
>> to begin with, I have to think there's something other than lights 
>> pulling
>> that high current.  Must be a short somewhere.
>>
>> Dean Vinson
>> Dayton, Ohio
>> www.vinsonfarm.net
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
>> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Ben Wagner
>> Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 10:09 AM
>> To: At; Farmall/IHC mailing list
>> Subject: [AT] "After Tractor is running" questions.
>>
>>    Just so you know, I am not familiar with Farmall Super A's working
>> like they are supposed to.
>>
>> That being said in the open now, I will show you a couple of
>> observations that I have seen while driving the Super A.  What I need to
>> know is whether these are normal or abnormal and what is wrong if they
>> are abnormal.
>>
>> 1- When I work the hydraulics, engine full throttle, the tractor acts
>> like I have overloaded the engine.  It struggles and gasps.  I was
>> wondering if this was related to the air that was trapped in the lines
>> (stupid mistake that I did) or maybe something else.  Maybe this is a
>> normal phenomenon, but I am seriously wondering if, since the engine
>> struggles moving the hydraulics when the hydraulics are not loaded, the
>> tractor will be able to lift the snowblade.  Speaking of snowblades, I
>> have some questions about it too, but I will send them a little later
>> after I fiddle with the snowblade itself.
>>
>> 2- When the lights are one, what should the ammeter say?  My ammeter
>> shows full discharge.  Does this mean the battery is running the
>> lights?  The generator does charge the battery, so I know it works.
>>
>> 3- I have to hold the throttle lever to keep the engine in full
>> throttle, otherwise the lever returns to about a high idle.  I hesitate
>> to ask this, because I am thinking this is a result of the worn teeth of
>> the quadrant, but I want to make sure something isn't adjusted wrong.
>>
>> Thanks for your help.
>>
>> Ben Wagner
>>
>>
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> Well, there could be a short.  I am just wondering if the lights are
> being powered by the genny, but the ammeter is confused because my
> wiring is simply confused...  and you are right, the lights are the same
> as on the M's.
>
> I may have confused you, though, now that I think about it.  When I said
> full discharge, I meant that that ammeter looks the same as if I turn on
> the lights when the tractor is not running.  So the discharge is not
> more than normal... and I am sorry that I confused you.
>
> Is there any way that I could have screwed with the wiring enough to
> allow the genny to power the lights, but the ammeter to think that the
> battery is powering the lights?
>
> Ben Wagner
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