ac d17 IV wont charge

farmerjoe2

New User
My ac stopped changing. In fact it would intermittently discharge at 30 amp, the charge at 15 amps or so. Thinking it was the regulator I replaced it but no good. And to make it worse, if I don't disconnect the battery it will totally drain the battery. Yes the lights are off. Could the generator cause this? If not, what.

Thanks
 
Running the battery down when sitting overnite, sounds like the regulator cut-out points not opening. They must release (open) as soon as the engine quits turning, or the generator (not alternator) acts like an electric motor and will drain the battery down flat, as well as burn up/damage the generator. So, you may have TWO problems.....a failed/non-charging generator and a voltage regulator that isn't working properly. That tractor was a POSITIVE ground on the battery...not negative ground.
 
If the Cutout Relay portion of a Voltage Regulator is bad and the contacts are sticking closed, it will drain the battery fast plus the genny get warm. In fact if that were the case and the belt were removed the genny would spin (see my Motor test)

A VR cant work unless it well grounded, you may want to insure that first.

Before you guess in the dark and throw money and parts at it, if you work through my Charging Troubleshooting procedure linked below it can determine if its the fault of the VR or the Generator. It has the two tests to by pass the VR all together plus the Motor test to test the genny all by itself.

If the battery is reversed and it was started it can damage the VR unless you first polarized the genny.

My advice is to work my troubleshooting procedure instead of guessing at the cause

John T
John Ts Charging Troubleshooting
 
I am getting 12 V to both the field and armature posts on the gen. Opened the regulator and found the contacts were welded closed. Opened the old one and found the same thing. To run some of the tests I need the engine running. Can you start and run on battery?
 

follow up - had a friend come over and help. We overhaul the carb. Works great now. Took the gen out and cleaned it (was really bad) put it all back together an now the gen works, tractor even has a little more power. Unfortunately the VR did not survive the abuse, contacts in bad shape and won't hold in.

Just for the beak of it, is there a solid state VR for an ac d17 IV?

Thanks
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top