JD 60 generator not charging

[GregA]

I took my generator and voltage regulator to a shop for a bench test, I don't know how long he had it on test but said it was putting out 14.2 volts. I ran a new 10ga wire from the voltage regulater to ampmeter and ampmeter to battery (new battery). I have hot battery voltage battery terminal on the VR at all times. Started tractor ampmeter showed charging for about 1-2 minutes then slowly droped to nothing, turned switch to lights and ampmeter showed discharge. Found a post from John T, tried Polorizing and wire direct from battery ground to generator case same results. Any suggestions

 

[teddy52food]

Try grounding the regulator to the generator.

 

[John T]

At the shop theres a chance they polarized the Genny to Neg Ground. Then when you hooked it to the tractor at Pos Ground (if as Original???) and didn't Polarize it prior to start up, you may have damaged the VR.

Now that you correctly polarized it (if unsure do it gain) she may or may not work. However in Para 5 of my Troubleshooting Procedure it tells you how to effectively by pass the VR functions to see if it charges then which can tell if non charging is a VR problem or not.

To be safe polarize it once more then insure BOTH the Genny and VR have good grounds then if she don't charge run my Troubleshooting Procedure including Para 5 to see if its a VR or a Genny problem.

John T
John Ts Troubleshooting

 

[GregA]

John, I am going to try Teddy's suggestion grounding voltage regulater to generater first as that is quick. Then if I need to go to Para 5 how long is momentarily as I will have to jump it and get around to read the gauge, don't want to cause anymore damage. If I do need to install a new VR do I need to polorize before starting (didn't realize that should have been done before starting tractor). Thanks for the help, been reading your posts for a long time.

 

[John T]

"Momentarily" flashing requires only like a second or so. What happens is the fields draw current to impart a degree of the correct North/South residual magnetism into the soft iron field poles. Like I said BOTH the VR and genny require good grounds regardless how you do it. Paint is an insulator so a good clean metal to frame ground is required for the genny and the VR also needs a good ground which is often via its mount to the genny.

Its the Genny not the VR that gets polarized and yes do that BEFORE a start up because if the genny is at opposite polarity from the battery that can damage the VR. A lot of genny shops would have the genny polarized for Neg ground which is why I asked.

John T