VR Cutout Relay Sticking

[1010 Blues]

Today my "Gen" light on he dash was burning with about 1200 RPM on the motor. I lightly tapped the VR and it went out. Could this be the indicator of a sticking cutout relay and more frequent occurrences to come? Any one know how to service a cutout relay contact?

 

[souNdguy]

cutout.. field.. etc....

many types of vr can have the cover carefully pryed off or removed for inspection.

some vr have cheap contacts.. some don't strike square and burn..some stick.

won't hurt to look..

 

[John B.]

It may need to be adjusted. Tighten the spring tension on the relay that has the
Bat & Gen (or A) terminals connected to it. It is also called the reverse current relay. Current flows both ways thru this set of contacts. This is why it is referred to as the reverse current relay. Reverse Current Relay or Cutout Relay example;

When the generator charges it sends current to the battery closing this set of points (contacts), when it's not running fast enough to charge, current then flows back thru the generator from the battery causing the lite to come on. At the point the generator is not sending enough current to the battery this set of contacts should open to "cut out" the generator to keep from discharging the battery.

 

[John T]

"Could this be the indicator of a sticking cutout relay and more frequent occurrences to come?"

Often when a person says a cutout relay is "sticking" they are referring to it as sticking CLOSED and not releasing and once the tractor is shut off the battery would therefore rapidly discharge. That can be caused by burned carboned up relay contacts.

If it takes tapping to latch it in (so light goes off), that sounds more like it may need adjustment or theres a loose connection or a poor ground (Insure the VR is well grounded!!!!) or the gennys output is getting weak.


"Any one know how to service a cutout relay contact?"

You might to lightly clean/buff/polish the contacts to remove any carbon or oxide coating and use an air gun to blow out any dirt or crud around the coils and check connections and especially insure BOTH the Genny and VR have good grounds.

To see if non charging is a VR versus a genny problem, run Para 5 of my Troubleshooting Procedure linked below.

John T
John Ts Troubleshooting

 

[1010 Blues]

Thanks John T, I have had so much trouble with this tractor's charging system I have just about gave up on it. Thanks to your trouble shooting in have fixed all the issues. It appears that on these older tractors a periodic cleaning of all the contacts and connections is good advice to limit the problems associated with running a Genny. Thanks you a life saver.