Ford 641 Charging problem

rsrecla

New User
Replaced the 6 volt generator and regulator and the belt is tight. The charge light is still on very dim.
Since the charge light went off after starting I did not polarize. I did not notice the light was on until I was working at night. Any suggestions for testing for problem.
 
(quoted from post at 12:00:06 10/19/14) Replaced the 6 volt generator and regulator and the belt is tight. The charge light is still on very dim.
Since the charge light went off after starting I did not polarize. I did not notice the light was on until I was working at night. Any suggestions for testing for problem.
s the system keeping the battery charged? What is voltage at battery posts before starting and measured again after 5 minutes running at half speed or greater?
 
(quoted from post at 09:23:52 10/19/14)
(quoted from post at 12:00:06 10/19/14) Replaced the 6 volt generator and regulator and the belt is tight. The charge light is still on very dim.
Since the charge light went off after starting I did not polarize. I did not notice the light was on until I was working at night. Any suggestions for testing for problem.
s the system keeping the battery charged? What is voltage at battery posts before starting and measured again after 5 minutes running at half speed or greater?



Wow fast reply! I don’t have a voltage meter available. The battery is new and fully charged. It was installed Friday. The light does get dimmer at higher engine speed.
I think the battery may be discharging when the Key switch is off. THe light is off when the key switch(Toggle switch) is off
 
(quoted from post at 12:47:05 10/19/14)
(quoted from post at 09:23:52 10/19/14)
(quoted from post at 12:00:06 10/19/14) Replaced the 6 volt generator and regulator and the belt is tight. The charge light is still on very dim.
Since the charge light went off after starting I did not polarize. I did not notice the light was on until I was working at night. Any suggestions for testing for problem.
s the system keeping the battery charged? What is voltage at battery posts before starting and measured again after 5 minutes running at half speed or greater?
ssuming it is all wired correctly, after 50 years, then it sounds like the generator isn't charging, but trying, as the lamp dims with increasing speed. The lamp is connected across regulator terminals BATT & ARM (via ign sw). This means that lamp is shorted out by the cut out contacts inside the regulator which connect BATT to ARM when generator outputs sufficient voltage. Sounds like this isn't happening. While running, you can try a temporary jumper from BATT to Field to see if it begins to charge as well as BATT to ARM. BATT to ARM should kill lamp, but does not mean it is charging. You can verify charging by a voltage measurement on battery, by a loading/speed change in engine as one of jumpers is connected/ammeter/etc.
Make sure regulator is grounded.



Wow fast reply! I don’t have a voltage meter available. The battery is new and fully charged. It was installed Friday. The light does get dimmer at higher engine speed.
I think the battery may be discharging when the Key switch is off. THe light is off when the key switch(Toggle switch) is off
 
(quoted from post at 10:01:20 10/19/14)
(quoted from post at 12:47:05 10/19/14)
(quoted from post at 09:23:52 10/19/14)
(quoted from post at 12:00:06 10/19/14) Replaced the 6 volt generator and regulator and the belt is tight. The charge light is still on very dim.
Since the charge light went off after starting I did not polarize. I did not notice the light was on until I was working at night. Any suggestions for testing for problem.
s the system keeping the battery charged? What is voltage at battery posts before starting and measured again after 5 minutes running at half speed or greater?
ssuming it is all wired correctly, after 50 years, then it sounds like the generator isn't charging, but trying, as the lamp dims with increasing speed. The lamp is connected across regulator terminals BATT & ARM (via ign sw). This means that lamp is shorted out by the cut out contacts inside the regulator which connect BATT to ARM when generator outputs sufficient voltage. Sounds like this isn't happening. While running, you can try a temporary jumper from BATT to Field to see if it begins to charge as well as BATT to ARM. BATT to ARM should kill lamp, but does not mean it is charging. You can verify charging by a voltage measurement on battery, by a loading/speed change in engine as one of jumpers is connected/ammeter/etc.
Make sure regulator is grounded.



I should have worked on it when the weather was still warm. I will get a volt/amp meter for the test you have suggested. I started disconnecting lights looking for a parasitic drain without any luck.
I never ran the engine a really high speeds until today.
Now I notice that the light is dimmed when at lower speeds and gets very bright at high speed.
Am I correct in thinking a dead short would melt the wires or at least drain the battery overnight or perhaps a small fire. Is it possible that wires from the generator have been reversed on the regulator?

I really appreciate the suggestions and time you spent helping.
 
Any wiring mis-wire is possible on anything that old & probably with so many hands on it. Dead short will burn wires as most not fused. Put a small 6v bulb between battery post & the disconnected battery cable, if it tries to illuminate, that shows a drain. Then one at a time disconnect wires until it goes dark....that will be the wire with the drain.
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The schematic is a great help. I will try working with the body cowling on the tractor to get around my charging problem. Hopefully this will not turn into a long term project and the source of the problem will be easy to find.
Thanks again for all your help.
Bob
 
Get or borrow a volt meter. Measuring across the
battery and running it should measure 7.4 volts or
so.
 

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