Batterys Installed Backwards

[Anonymous-0]

My father-in-law has both a Case 211-B and a Farmall Cub and on both them he installed the batteries backwards, i.e. negative ground. Consequently neither one of the charging systems will charge. He's been running both tractors by charging the batteries whenever they go dead by use of an external charger. In order to get the charging systems working on either or both these tractors, what should I look at first (the quick and easy way)?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Connect them properly, then flash the generator as described in the owner's manual to set the polarity of the generator to match the battery.

If the change in polarity is going to be permanent, you still need to flash the generator and you also need to reverse the primary connections on the ignition coil and the connections on the ammeter.

Gerald J.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Buy a couple of $99 GM 1 wire alternators, and replace the generators with them. You may have to fabricate brackets, and change belt sizes, but this is cheaper than rebuilding generators (up to $150.00)and replacing regulators ($40-$60). What you will need to do is run 1 wire from the alt to the battery. (you can completely rewire if you want to, but the tractor only needs the wire run to the battery to charge it) A lot of this will depend on your level of expertise in electrical systems. Good lock, and keep asking questions here if you run into additional problems.

 

[Anonymous-0]

He may have damaged the Voltage Regulators!!!! Its worth a try to install the batteries correctly then polarize the generator as Gerald mentioned then fire her up n hope for the best. If she dont charge, with it running try to full field the genny by temporarily grounding its FLD post n see if she charges while its dead grounded. If so but NOT otherwise EITHER the VR is bad or the VR isnt well grounded or the wires open from FLD on VR to FLD post on genny.

I have a complete long winded troubleshooting procedure for non charging which can show if its a VR or a genny problem, try the above first n post back if you want more help. His VR may be bad Im afraid.

John T

 

[Anonymous-0]

It's possible all they need is to polarize the gen.
As for the fast, easy, cheap alternator "upgrade"? Every old tractor & vehicle discussion area is loaded with the same question time & time again. Something to the effect of " wah, wah, wah I bought a $39.99 alternator at Napa. And either I can't get it to work and there are crops to harvest. Or I just tried to connect it and there was smoke/sparks".

 

[Anonymous-0]

I'm not looking for a "quick and easy way" to upgrade to an alternator on either one of these tractors (on the Cub I think I would have to cut a hole in the hood in order to do so) I'm looking to determine if the problem is either the generator, VR, or both.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I don't believe I need to reverse any connections (coil, ammeter, etc.) because I'm sure they are correct (for pos ground), only the batteries were backwards.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Heres how to determine if the problem is the VR,,,,,,, or the Genny,,,,,,,, or Both


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.

8. MOTOR TEST. You can Motor test the Gen. If its grounded and you remove the belt and apply hot battery voltage direct to its ARM Post and have the Field Post dead grounded to frame, it should motor n run well (Armature n Brushes and Commutator likely okay). Then, if you next remove the Fields ground and it speeds up some, the Fields probably good. If it passes both those tests, it should charge, and if not, it may be a wiring or battery or grounding problem. The hot battery voltage may be taken off the VR's BAT terminal or the starter post or the battery itself for this test.

John T

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you put the batteries back to positive ground then its correct you need no other polarity swaps.

If you can't keep the batteries positive ground THEN you do need to swap the coil and ammeter polarities.

Gerald J.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Take them down to your local tractor dealer and for a small fee they will fix them. Its rather obvious from your writing that you know absolutely nothing about this type of work. Better to be safe than sorry by doing something wrong and burning the whole system up. Or makes friends with a good mechanic there nice people they just have dirty hands.
Walt

 

[Anonymous-0]

Do you always reply to post(s) in this manner?