Z-man

Member
On my 30, once at a idle the amp gauge will show a discharge after the engine has been throttle up it seems to go to the negative side of the amp gauge. Is this normal or is something wrong. once throttle back up it will good back into the positive side of the gauge and is would appear that the system is charging
 
Is this original 6 volt with exterior voltage regulator? Or is it converted to 12 volt alternator with internal regulator? With lights off, normally at low idle it should be around zero on ammeter. Check battery with a voltmeter when running and see if it's charging.
 
I think that sounds like a normal cycle for the regulator. A discharge is shown, when it gets to a certain point the regulator kicks in and provides some charge to bring the battery voltage back up then it cuts out again and you would see the ammeter either zero out or go negative.
The regulator is simply switching the power from the generator on and off so as not to over or under charge the battery.
 
the gauge is not reading in reverse when running at a work rpm only when dropped down to a slow idle which could just be a dead battery cause it needs a jump to get it to start
 
no light, 6 volt system external regulator and I believe the battery is either weak or dead which may have an increase affect on the system, however the last time I checked the generator was charging when I would pull a battery terminal and when running at a working rpm the gauge is showing charge
 
Zman, Hi!, My 35 has a delco reg. and gen.. The reg. has two coils in it, 1 regulates and 1 is a cut out.
the cut out is suppose to disconnect the generator from the battery when you go to and idle just as the amp gauge passes 0 (center)and not let it go into the negative side. If the tractor wiring hasn't be altered only 2 things should pull it in the negative side, at an idle it should show about a 1amp discharge as the tractor is not charging and the coil on the ign. system is drawing from the battery, and of course the headlamps. The 3rd thing that will make it show discharge is the cut out sticking or out of adjustment.If the cut out doesn't break the connection between the gen. and the battery as the gauge passes 0 the the flow reverses and the the battery current flow back into the generator and it tries to run like a motor.THIS HAS CAUSED MANY TRACTORS TO CATCH FIRE AND BURN OVERNIGHT. If you suspect the cut out is not right I would get a new regulator. I didn't really understand your problem the way you explained it so i'm just trying to give you some insight on the system- hope this helps-ed
 
first, can I clean the regulator to fix the problem? the generator and regulator are both original which both seem to be working. I thought it may be a weak or dead battery? though the battery was purchased new in Sept of 2013 unless it had been on the retailers shelf for some time and the owner of the store would just change the date sticker to make it look as if it were new. but it goes in the negative just a little and will go back up as soon a I give it throttle. being a new battery I thought it would be strong enough to start the engine without a jump. and even if I run the tractor for half hour or so it will not start without a jump and I really sure that the generator is working
 
Zman,If the cut out lets go just slightly into discharge before it kicks out it's ok. It's just a little out of adjustment. Always look at the amp gauge when you shut it off, If the cut out sticks it will show heavy discharge on the gauge.If it does that and you don't notice it you will come back to a dead battery and a very hot generator, If the wiring is poor it may catch fire.
Your starter may have internal shorts in the armature and needs a lot more power to turn it over, your cables could be making bad connection, or a bad battery. You can have the battery load tested at the parts store and go on from there.-ed
 
it does not seem to show a large discharge after engine stops turning and is shut off, so I don't think the switch is sticking, however can one adjust the regulator and if so how is it done. I will be taking the battery to the place I bought it from and have them check it and if need be replace it. thanks for the help you have been a blessing
 
Zman, Hi! On the cut out, they are hard to adjust as they don't put an adjusting screw on them any more. First you must determine witch coil is the cut out. There is a little spring beside the coil, when the generator is putting out it powers the coil and over comes the spring and connects the cut out points.when the generator stops putting out the spring pulls the points open. By bending the arm on top of the coil that the spring is hooked to you can change the tension on the spring and change when it cuts out.It is very sensitive and hard to adjust.I recommend just getting another regulator as a new one is set from the factory and that cut out can be a serious fire hazard.
 
ok sound good I believe I will try the battery first the regulator on the tractor is original and does still work and I don't think it is to far out of adjustment, but thought maybe it could be set with a gauge to a certain number or width to make it work better. I do have another regulator but I have been told the new one a not as good and they don't last very long so I hate change when the regulator is working. I did take the cover plate off both regulator at one time and I could see the difference in how they were made at that time I thought the points were sticking together and wouldn't let the system charge come to find out the regulator needed a better grounding.
 

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