Need Help Troubleshooting 9N Charging System

[PTG]

Hi Guys,

First off I have a 1942 9N 6 volt front mount.
The background on the issue is my battery is not
recharging when operating the tractor. Every time
I need to start it now I have to jump it (per the
50 tips). Once jumped it fires up right away, it
just does not charge any more. This is a new
issue in the last 1.5 weeks. I assume I'm letting
it run long enough, 10 min or so. But either way
at 1/3 throttle the ammeter reads -3. Assuming it
were to read a positive charge. How long does the
tractor usually need to run to charge the battery?

So after good advice from a lot of you on ammeter
reading, I noticed regardless of how many turns I
give the adjusting screw on the back of my
generator my ammeter still reads -3.
(Assuming I'm adjusting the correct screw. An
arrow pointing to "low", and an arrow pointing to
"high" embossed on the generator near the screw)


I can't figure out what the issue is and why it
wont go positive to charge the battery. One thing
I can think of is the wire running from the
generator is old and deteriorating. I would like
to replace that for now with a new wire but don't
know what gauge to use. Any advice on the correct
generator wire gauge? I have also re-polarized
the cut out relay per Dell's post.

So to recap these are the questions I have:
Assuming that I replace the generator wire and
things still run at -3 are there any suggestions
to what needs to be tweaked/replaced next?

How long does the tractor usually need to run to
charge the battery?

Am I turning the correct screw on the generator to
adjust properly?

What is the proper Gauge wire to use on the
generator? (Specifically the one that runs from
the cut out relay to the generator)

Assuming the wire is not the issue what is my next
step in figuring out what needs to be tested, and
then replaced?

I'm super new to this so responses as specific as
you can be would be really helpful.

I will be picking up an analog volt meter today
per the advice of many of you...

Thank you all for your help. My Grandfather has
passed away. He taught me this stuff. He left
this earth before I got my first tractor last
fall. It means a lot that you guys are willing to
help a young guy figure this stuff out as he goes.



PTG in MN

 

[JMOR]

You need a voltmeter to measure the generator terminal voltage to see if it has any output. Second, the adjusting mechanism in the generator is broken if you can turn the adjusting screw multiple revolutions.

 

[Jubilee85 (VA)]

first thing - the multi meter - get it, great troubleshooting tool.

next make a cheap pair of leads using aligator clips, we only got two hands and using the clips will help a lot. IF you cannot make the clips, hold the leads on the battery.

when you get your multimeter. Set it to DC voltage. Place the leads on the battery - tractor off. You say that it is a 6 volt system, meter should read somewhere above 6 volts, should be close to 6.3-6.5. write down your voltage.

Then start tractor, meter might and should drop during cranking but once running should increase in voltage, like 7+ volts. A running engine that has NO charging system will have a voltage drop, and your meter will show a lower number than you had before. If you voltage is lower than before, you can assume...ouch...big word... that one of the pieces of the charging system is bad. Take genny to a local auto store, they may be able to test it. report back your findings

 

[HCooke]

12 or 14 ga wire will work. Here is a simple test for the generator - slip the belt off the pully, connect a temp wire from the neg terminal of the battery to the back terminal of the genny - the genny should spin. If not, then you need to have the gen repaired. If the gen spins, it should charge. If the gen tests good, then jump around the cuttout with the tractor running and see if you system is charging.

 

[lha]

If all else fails,take your gen.,cutout to a mom& pop gen& starter shop.Tell them you need them tested.If it needs rebuilding,have them do it ,as they are almost allways good at their jobs.Nowadays, when there is a autozone or O'reilly's on every corner,it seems most of this type of shop are gone.---lha

 

[b.jones]

PTG, One of the other guys suggested this, but I would like to repeat it. Use a wire with 2 little clips, and with the motor running jump across your cut out. The cutout is just an off and on switch and it has only 2 terminals. If your amp meter starts showing a charge then your cut out is bad. When you start the motor and rev it just a little the cutout is supposed to connect the two terminals together, it may be bad. If it still does not charge then you probably have a bad generator. If this does not make sense , post back, we will help you. By the way, the one wire from the generator should connect straight to the cutout which is located under the battery box, it is round. Barrett Jones

 

[PTG]

Guys,
I got a multimeter. Battery shows about 6 volts not running. Will wait for daylight to jump it and find out what it shows when running.

When I ran a wire to both terminals on the cut out the ammeter didn't show a charge in fact it went so negative that the needle buried negative.

I removed the belt and put a wire from the negative terminal on the battery to the terminal on the generator the pulley didn't spin. Can I some how test the Generator with a multimeter? Or should I be assuming the generator is the issue?

Would this be related to my post about a month ago? I posted that I noticed the terminal screw on the bottom of the cut out was loose and glowing orange. I went to tighten the bolt before removing the battery and I got zapped with the wrench. Would that have fried my generator?

I have re-polarized my cutout by touching the two terminals together with a wire correct????

Your thoughts on this all would be great...

PTG in MN

 

[JMOR]

" Or should I be assuming the generator is the issue? "

Sounds good to me. It won't 'motor' and I told you two days ago that your HI/LO adjust mechanism was broken as well. Pull the generator apart & see if you see anything physically wrong & if not electrical checks of arm, fields, & connections are in order or a trip to a good generator re-builder.