Discharge when running

[HobbyFarmerInWI]

I have a 1957 case 311, 6 volt. The tractor will not hold a charge, but with a twist.

I will charge the battery, and the charge will hold. When I start the tractor and run it for a short period of time, such as to move it from one spot to the other, there will still be enough of a charge to start it again.

If I use the tractor for an extended period of time for work, the battery will now be dead, and I am back to using the battery charger.

Any ideas?

 

[JGarner]

I am not sure, but I believe the 311B is a positive ground like my 630. When you put the fully charged battery in and start the tractor does the ammeter show a discharge with the RPMs up enough to charge (with generator, not alternator)?

Try putting a fully charged battery in and hook ground to the positive battery terminal and the starter cable to the negative side and see if the ammeter turns around. Just converted my 630 back to generator and positive ground from a poorly done alternator conversion with negative ground.It works like a champ now.

If you have a generator with a voltage regulator (VR) you may want to repolarize the generator to be on the safe side. Take a piece of wire and touch one end to the VR BATTERY terminal and the other end momntarily (just enough to get a good spark) to the ARMATURE terminal. Then start her up and see if she's charging.

Sounds like the battery is in electrically backward and the generator is tring to charge in the wrong direction which discharges the battery.

Anyone know if the 311B was originally positive ground?

 

[CWhinton]

The 311B was originally was positive ground;
as a matter of fact, just about ALL 6v systems (both tractor and automotive) were positive ground.

 

[Gene Dotson]

Not so on the positive ground on all 6 volt systems. All Case tractors built in Racine used a negative ground regardless of battery voltage. The X30 series built in Rock Island used a positive ground, but when production was moved to Racine, they used negative ground.... Gene

 

[Gene Dotson]

Not so on the positive ground on all 6 volt systems. All Case tractors built in Racine used a negative ground regardless of battery voltage. The X30 series built in Rock Island used a positive ground, but when production was moved to Racine, they used negative ground.... Gene

 

[HobbyFarmerInWI]

The tractor is a postive ground.

 

[1stout]

Does the meter show it to be charging at low RPM"s?

 

[HobbyFarmerInWI]

I will check and post in the morning. Thanks for the help.

 

[Haywood]

Your ignition Coil is going to drain the system if it runs long enough.

doesn't sound like it is charging at all.

Have the generator checked and if it is ok...Check the condition of the wiring and the Regulator.

 

[Jerry W]

Sounds to me like you have a cut-out relay problem.

Jerry.

 

[HobbyFarmerInWI]

I have no idea what a cut out relay is. Would you mind helping me out?

 

[JGarner]

Jerry, did the number series tractors have a cut out relay? Case parts site break down doesn't show one for the 311B. I was going to send HobbyFarmer a pdf file of the electrical parts list for reference, but I can't find this relay on the diagram or in the parts list. I know the letter series tractors used it but I'm not sure it carried over to the number series. Anyone??

 

[CWhinton]

What years/models were made in Racine, and how can I tell the difference?