Generator

[PLZ1000]

My 3000 tractor has been sitting for a year and the generator is not working. Will flashing the field get it working again if the generator is still good? If so what the correct procedure?
Thanks

 

[awhtx]

Flashing the field (polarizing) can't hurt. Remove the Field wire from the regulator and momentarily touch it to the Battery wire on the regulator. You should see a spark.

 

[sotxbill]

doutful... you need to flash the field if its a new genny..

either the voltage reg has carbon on the contacts or the brushes are sticking.. both are common..

while running , take a hammer and tap the rear of the generator a couple of quick taps.. if the brushes are stuck this will loosen them and allow the springs to push them down into contact.. if this doesnt work,, then pull the cover off the regular and take a wooden emory board that your wife uses on her finger nails(make sure its wood) and clean the contact on the furtherst right side of the tractor.. then see if the problem goes away.

good luck.. bill

 

[sotxbill]

existing genny will have a magnetic field on the coils.. a new genny needs to be flashed as the field coil does not have a magnetic field on it and it will not start charging with out being flashed.

so unless its a new genny, or a new field coil in the generator, it does not need flashing... An existing gen will keep its field magnetisum for years. the soft iron core that the field coils are wrapped around are designed for this purpose.

 

[RickB]

Agreed. I have seen several instances where a dead battery or a tractor in relatively long term storage without a battery benefitted from a polarizing flash. New VR's come with directions for polarizing when installing a new VR in a system regardless if the genny is new, old, or whatever.

 

[PLZ1000]

Thanks for the info... I'll try this tomorrow and let you know.
PS. It is not a new genny but has been sitting for a year maybe longer.

 

[souNdguy]

I agree with rick and awhtx. I've bought many a tractor with a non charging geny that magically came to life after a polerization.

soundguy