WD-45 generator

[jbeeje]

My wiring on my WD-45 was shot, and I ran it for some time by just charging the battery. I finally bought an entire wiring harness and just installed it, but my generator doesn't charge. I'm pretty sure the ammeter works, because it shows a discharge when I turn on the lights. I put a new cut-out on the generator. Do I need to energize the generator since it has been a while since it was working? It seems like I remember my dad doing something like that, but I don't remember what he did exactly. Could someone tell me what the procedure is?

 

[Bob Bancroft]

It's called polarizing. I think some call it "flashing". You should have battery voltage on the BAT side of the cut-out. Take a piece of wire and briefly jump power over to the ARM or GEN terminal on the cut-out, or generator, whichever is handier. To eliminate any hi-low charge issues, you can also temporarily run a wire from the F(field) terminal on the generator to ground. This will give you the full output of the generator, for where your third brush is set.

 

[steve(ill)]

IF you do a quick test and ground the "F" ont he generator, measure the voltage at the "A" terminal, or the "G" at the regulator to see the generataor output. If the reg is the problem, you wont see a charge at the amp meter even if the generator is working.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

He mentions a new cut-out. So he doesn't have a voltage regulator. A cut-out was original equipment on the WD45.

 

[John T]

Try my Troubleshooting Procedure linked below

If you have a Cutout Relay and the Low High light switch charge control (its also covered below) the light switch needs a good ground to work or even if you hade a full fledged Voltage regulattor System the VR needs a good ground to work YES Id polarize the genny also

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=farmall&th=665110

John T
John Ts Troubleshooting

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Excellent point/reminder John. The little screw that goes from the bottom left corner of the "instrument panel" on the AC's into the battery box is the ground path for that switch.

 

[jbeeje]

Thanks for the help, guys. I "flashed" the generator, and now it is charging again.