420 electrical

[dnede]

I have a 1958 420 utility and have some electrical questions. Specifically the amp gauge never showed a charge, so I installed a new voltage regulator. I also had the generator repaired and for a year the amp gauge showed a good charge, but now again the gauge doesn't show charging, but when lights are on while tractor is running shows a sizable discharge. I did test the voltage on the generator and it appears it is charging, but not certain how well. My question is what should I be looking at to ascertain the charging system is working properly? Any help here would be very much appreciated

 

[buickanddeere]

The regulator's cutout and voltage regulator likely need to be set. 6.9V to 7.1V is good.
1-800-522-7448

 

[John T]

If the charging system is working, the voltage at the battery when shes setting NOT running would be around 6.3 volts on a 6 volt system or 12.6 on a 12 BUT when running at fast RPM the battery voltage should rise to 6.5 to a lil over 7 on a 6 volt or 13 to 14 and over on a 12 volt.

Heres a paragraph in my Troubleshooting Procedure to determine if non charging is a Voltage Regulator or Generator problem. First make sure the genny was polarized (see my procedure),,,,the belt is good n tight,,,,the grounds n all wiring conenctions are good

TO DETERMINE IF ITS A GEN OR VR OR CUTOUT RELAY PROBLEM

5. a) VOLTAGE REGULATOR SYSTEM: With the tractor running, temporarily ground the Gens Field post to case. If she charges then but NOT otherwise, the VR may be bad, or a wires missing from VR's Field post to the Field terminal on the VR, or the VR isn’t well grounded.

b) IF IT’S A CUTOUT RELAY SYSTEM and she charges only if you dead ground the Field but NOT otherwise, its either a bad switch or the switch isn’t well grounded or else the wires bad or open from the Gens Field post up to the switch. INSURE THAT GOOD SWITCH GROUND AND WIRING

6. If she still don’t charge, leave the Field grounded and jump a wire across from the VR or Cutout Relays BAT terminal over to its GEN terminal (jump by passes the cutout relay) and see if she charges. If then but not otherwise, a VR's cutout relay isn’t working correct (maybe points burned/carboned) or a Cutout Relays NOT working or not wired correct.

7. With the 2 steps above, you have basically by passed the VR or Cutout relays functions, so if she still don’t charge, you're left with a bad battery or wiring or the Gen itself.

Troubleshooting Procedure

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=farmall&th=665110


John T
John Ts Troubleshooting Procedure

 

[TURNER]

All above is correct, however, I had the same problem about a month ago. after 3 new volt regulators i found out the points internally were not making good contact. after that no problems she works great!

 

[dnede]

Turner

Forgive me for being a little unsure, but what points internally were not making good contact?

I did check the generator and it seemed it was putting out about 6.27 volts. The battery was fully charged and I did not think about putting the lights on to see if the charge rate would rise.

 

[TURNER]

the points inside the voltage regulator. the voltage reg is the brains of the charging system.