One wire alternator

[rrlund]

OK, I bought a new ammeter today and put it on. I started the tractor and it's charging almost 10 amps with the old generator on it. If it's putting out that much power, it shouldn't have gone dead on that ride in July. Unless the problem was in that old volt meter. I'm going to let it sit for a few days and see if it goes dead again. If it doesn't, I'll put the tank and hood back on and call it good for the winter.

 

[Jim.ME]

OK, I bought a new ammeter today and put it on. I started the tractor and it's charging almost 10 amps with the old generator on it. If it's putting out that much power, it shouldn't have gone dead on that ride in July. Unless the problem was in that old volt meter. I'm going to let it sit for a few days and see if it goes dead again. If it doesn't, I'll put the tank and hood back on and call it good for the winter.

good you have it charging.

I doubt the old voltmeter made it go dead during a ride; I would expect it to go up in smoke if it was passing amperage enough to drain a battery. I quicker think you have/had some bad connections, mucked up wiring, and moving things around while trying to figure out the issue has corrected or improved a connection and it is working again. If the Lucas regulator has spade terminals, corrosion or rust on one of those could stop it from charging.

 

[rrlund]

good you have it charging.

I doubt the old voltmeter made it go dead during a ride; I would expect it to go up in smoke if it was passing amperage enough to drain a battery. I quicker think you have/had some bad connections, mucked up wiring, and moving things around while trying to figure out the issue has corrected or improved a connection and it is working again. If the Lucas regulator has spade terminals, corrosion or rust on one of those could stop it from charging.

The regulator doesn't even have any terminals. The wires just come out from the inside. It has a ground wire on it that grounds under the mounts. I had the bolts out and was going to take it right off, but hasn't yet. I put the bolts back in. I don't know if that could have had anything to do with it or not.

 

[Jim.ME]

The regulator doesn't even have any terminals. The wires just come out from the inside. It has a ground wire on it that grounds under the mounts. I had the bolts out and was going to take it right off, but hasn't yet. I put the bolts back in. I don't know if that could have had anything to do with it or not.

If it grounds through the case removing and reinstalling the mounting bolts could restore the ground.

 

[rrlund]

If it grounds through the case removing and reinstalling the mounting bolts could restore the ground.

The real test now is going to be seeing if it stays up. When I put the battery terminals back on, there was no spark or sizzle, but I don't know that there was before either.