B Charging System

[Anonymous-0]

I have recently been having trouble with my 52 B not charging all of the time. When first started it would not be charging then when working in the field it would sometimes beging charging. I researched the archives and found a trouble shooting procedure, I jumped F post on the generator to ground and it began charging this should of determined I had a bad regulator, I replaced the regulator and polorized it and the charging system acts the same as it did before sometimes it works and sometimes not. I don't think it is the gauge because when it is showing no charge you can turn on the lights and it shows a discharge. Any suggestions.

 

[F-I-T]

If it always charges when you ground the field, but it is intermittent when you use a regulator, check for poor ground on the generator mount. I like to take a clip lead from the battery chassis grounded post (the positive terminal if you have positive ground) and take that all the way up to the generator and probe around and see if I can find where the paint/rust may be causing a problem.

Frank

 

[John T]

Greg, if its NOT a bad ground caused by a poor connection where the VR mounts to the Gennys case (a classic suspect) like the Frankster was suggesting, one other thing to look at is the wire terminal connection on the gennys Field post and that lil wire itself. (Was that wire replaced or disconnected when you changed VR?) I would remove n clean n wire brush the terminal n connection at the gennys FLD post or even try a new wire (or jumper) from the gennys Field post up to the FLD terminal on the VR. If EITHER that connection (on gennys Field post) or the wire from FLD on VR to gennys Field post were bad/intermittent, that could account for why she will charge if you dead ground the gennys Field post.

I dont think the problem is a poor genny case ground connection to the tractor, cuz if thats not in place she wouldnt charge even if you dead ground the gennys field post to its case cuz theres STILL NO GROUND. If grounding the FLD post to the gennys case makes her charge, that tells me the case ground istelf is OKAY........Id check belt tension while youre at it and confirm BOTH the gennys and VR's grounds like the Frankster mentioned.

If its NOT any VR or ground or connection problem, next thing Id suspect is weak/stuck/corroded brush hold down spring assemblies (clean, light lube n exercise them free) or worn brushes.

Let us know, best wishes

John T

 

[John T]

Greg, if its NOT a bad ground caused by a poor connection where the VR mounts to the Gennys case (a classic suspect) like the Frankster was suggesting, one other thing to look at is the wire terminal connection on the gennys Field post and that lil wire itself. (Was that wire replaced or disconnected when you changed VR?) I would remove n clean n wire brush the terminal n connection at the gennys FLD post or even try a new wire (or jumper) from the gennys Field post up to the FLD terminal on the VR. If EITHER that connection (on gennys Field post) or the wire from FLD on VR to gennys Field post were bad/intermittent, that could account for why she will charge if you dead ground the gennys Field post.

I dont think the problem is a poor genny case ground connection to the tractor, cuz if thats not in place she wouldnt charge even if you dead ground the gennys field post to its case cuz theres STILL NO GROUND. If grounding the FLD post to the gennys case makes her charge, that tells me the case ground istelf is OKAY........Id check belt tension while youre at it and confirm BOTH the gennys and VR's grounds like the Frankster mentioned.

If its NOT any VR or ground or connection problem, next thing Id suspect is weak/stuck/corroded brush hold down spring assemblies (clean, light lube n exercise them free) or worn brushes.

Let us know, best wishes

John T

 

[F-I-T]

My point on checking the ground is that the higher current track of a full field condition can sometime "make it through" the high resistance of a dirty/rusty ground, and a lower current track like the "normal" charging rate cannot. I would do the grounding checks with the lights on to create as much load as possible, and if you find a poor ground, then turn the lights off and see that it works once you clean it up. If the belt were loose, it should slip or squeal under the full field load as well, but it's always good to check. I still like checking for a good ground as it is a cheap test.

 

[John T]

Darn good point....... Typical Field current may only be like 2 amps while full charging armature curent may be in the 20 amp neighborhood (depends on state of battery) n we both know the effects of voltage dropping carbon etc in a poor ground conenction grrrrrrrrrr. I bet if he checks n repairs BOTH his VR to genny and genny to frame grounds (does the jumper test you advised) and his genny FLD post to VR FLD terminal wiring/connection, if his belt is tight SHE WILL CHARGEEEEEEEEE. If not we still have other tricks up our sleeve.....

PS I changed my mind on your State of Florida this year so will miss Florida Flywheelers, but were headed to Rio nnalert of deep South Texas since the favotire daughter took an Architecture job in Dallas

Later yall gotta go rake some hay

John T

 

[F-I-T]

The last one I worked on that had a bad ground, I had jumpers all over it. Battery to generator, then one from there to the regulator. Found the ground strap on the regulator was bad. It wouldn't show up when the field was grounded and she had full output, but at no lights, low load, it would not pass current. Must have had some plating under the rivet.

Get that hay in. Not much hay here because of our terrible dry weather. It's starting to rain a bit more regular, but it was woeful for months.

 

[Machinery-Man]

I've had several of those B's and darn I don't think the rpm is right on them. I found that by going about 1/2 to full throttle the charge would kick in, while at slower rpm nothing. Had a lot of trouble with the regulators as Deere seemed to design them located at one of the hotest most vibrating places on the tractor. Never could adjust or satisfactorily repair one. I do know the generators have a small amount of output adjustment, believe you rotate the brush one way or the other. Beyond good connections to brush, and clean connections and good regulator I don't know any other remedies.

 

[John T]

Welllll I got it raked n it was THE WORSE RAKING IVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE GRRRRRRRRRR The field was rough n rutted n tore up as they had logged the woods and drug logs n the truck all through it grrrrrrrrr n I shook out my kidneys n liver I feel like. PLUS it was all oddbal irregular shaped n had turns n narrow strips and pie shaped strips galore (NOT a nice rectabgular field) PLUS my buddy wasnt there to bale up the outside rows as I raked them to make my end turns easier PLUS it was lousy dried up over ripe weedy hay PLUS did I mention it was rough as *&^%$ lol

Like my buddy said its so dry n hay is so scarce this year we been baling up any patches of anything we can find. I told him DONT CALL ME IF HE EVER CUTS THAT FIELD AGAIN GRRRRRRRRR I always tell him I quit farming once before n I can sure quit again............

Whew I feel better now. Gotta mow the yard n get ready for the Fourth

Happy Fourth Frank n others

John T

 

[John T]

Some of the late three brush gennys (the adjustable output ones like youre thinking) used a 2 coil voltage regulator (as opposed to the cutout relay and light switch control), one was the regular cutout relay n the other was a combination Voltage and Current regulator. Then when they went to the more modern 2 brush genny they still used a 2 coil VR but the one was for current regulation only. I dont have any data but wonder if that particular VR (the early ones used on 3 brush gennys) had more problems then they did later when they used a 2 brush genny. Duane or Frank may have some info on that??

John T