[Farmall] Electrical/Generator Issues

[farmallgray at aol.com]

I'm not aware of the original style cutout relays being reproduced. I suppose you could probably find a used one. Jim Becker had mentioned to me one time
about putting a diode inside one that is bad, but I never got any details from him. Another easy way to check the generator is to ground the field terminal
with the engine running. If it is good, that will make it charge.



Todd Markle 

Spring Mills, Pa.



-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Wagner <supera1948 at gmail.com>
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>; Farmall/IHC mailing list <farmall at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sat, Mar 3, 2012 1:59 pm
Subject: [Farmall] Electrical/Generator Issues


Good afternoon,
I have had a few issues with my 1945 A's electrical system recently, and
anted to bounce a few ideas off the folks on the list.  I will warn you
hat this email is long and complicated!
The generator was new in the early 90's, according to the previous owner.
t was equipped with a regulator (3 connections) which seems to be
nappropriate for the tractor.  The generator did not work at all, and I
ound that it was wired incorrectly. Someone had stacked the "bat" wire
nto the far right "arm" wire on the "arm" bracket of the regulator.  The
oad hook up (lights) was on the "bat" terminal.  Would this have injured
he generator since it has been run this way probably for years?
After rewiring it, I found that the generator still gives no charge.  I
easure no voltage from the generator, and the "motor test" also did not
ive any positive answers.  I believe the regulator is good, but the
enerator itself is not.  I am going to disassemble the generator and see
f I can find a problem.  What are the places I should look beyond loose
onnections, grounded field, and worn brushes?
For reference, what the previous owner did was replace the old generator
ith a new one.  He rewired it, and replaced the original relay (1 line
oing to the ammeter) with a regulator (2 wires going to the light switch
nd ammeter).  From the original A electrical parts, only the light switch
4 position) and ammeter remains.  The wiring was updated to match the
egulator demands (2 wires) leaving the light switch to hook up strangely.
Now, I am leaning towards replacing the regulator with a relay to regain
riginality and to simplify the wiring, but the budget is tight.  If I can
ix the generator, that would be great, but keeping the current generator
nd regulator would also create the need to really solve this wiring mess
or certain.  If anyone has any experience in wiring a regulator to an A 4
osition light switch made for a relay, I would like to hear from you!
I hope this email made sense.  If you need me to clarify, let me know.
Thanks in advance for all your help.  My brain seems to not be wired for
omplicated electrical problems!
Ben Wagner
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