Ford 3000 generator conversion to alternatorp

Mitchelle

New User
Has anyone used the FORD 12 Volt Conversion Kit - Part No 6X10300ALTH My ford 3000 currently has a generator with the tach drive coming out at a 90 degree angle. It looks like this conversion kit has the tach drive coming straight out. How can the tach drive cable be connected?
 
Is the conversion a must for you? I have a gen that I bought on the www for like $165 best I can remember, Lucas brand, has been on the
tractor at least 20 years, zero problems good output voltage at lower rpms similar to what you'd get with an alternator, diesel rated
meaning the amperage is higher than for gas engines; 30 vs 20 amps comes to mind. Don't know how you 'd adapt with out buying a new
tach cable that is straight on both ends. Old voltage regulator is still in (1965 year model with about 5200 hrs) and working fine.
 
I replaced my troublesome generator with a a new alternator on my 5200 and had the same problem as you describe. The tack cable came in
straight and its path was obstructed by power steering lines. I solved the problem by getting a longer fan belt which swung the alternator
out far enough out so that the tack cable had a clear path to the alternator.
 

I've converted two of my tractors, I reclocked the alternator to get the tach cable to clear.
I like the Delco alternator but the tach on both tractors read about 400 rpm off at pto speed, 540 pto is 2200 on the tach instead of 1800, I just have to remember which tractor I'm on when using the pto.
 
The tach cable comes straight out from the back side of the instrument cluster towards the front of the tractor and it normally is curved upwards and then back downwards to connect to that right angle drive on the back of the generator. You should be able to re-route it so that it can go straight into the back of the drive on the new alternator, just make sure that you allow it to follow gentle curves and that you do not put any kinks in it.

I haven't installed one of those alternators with the tach drive myself, but I can't see how anything would block the path of the tach cable to get to it, as the alternator is much shorter front-to-back than the generator, so there should be enough room to route the cable around anything that is rearward of the generator. But if something is in the way you can try the tricks suggested by jo-ker or Destroked.
 

The two kits I purchased (1 from this site, the other from eBay) both had the exciter wire plug pointed toward the engine which has the wires pushed up against the engine pretty tight with the factory length belt, the power steering lines on my older 5000 with remote reservoir interfered with the tach cable, on my 4000SU the tach cable run close to the exhaust manifold.
I reclocked the alternators rear case 90* to the left to position the exciter wire plug at the top moving the wires away from the engine.
This moved the tach drive out and down a small amount, but was enough on the 5000 for the cable to fit through the power steering lines, I did have to use one size longer belt as the stock size belt wouldn't fit.
On the 4000SU this moved to tach cable away from the manifold so I could route it to the outside and up behind the manifold similar to how a engine driven tach cable routes on later model tractors.

Both tractors where converted last year before hay season and have not given any issues to date.
I converted my 4000 to a engine driven tach and Delco alternator nearly 20 years ago, with my trucking job I was doing a lot of farming at night and the Lucas generator wasn't able to handle the extra lights I added to the roll bar and canopy for night work.
Still running that same Delco alternator.

As I stated in my other post these conversion kits do cause the tach to read fast, about 200 rpm more at idle and 400 rpm+ at pto speed, I used a digital tach to get 540 rpm at the pto then observed the tach readings, the tach on both tractors showed 2200-2250 rpm, one can use a small dab of paint, finger nail polish or pin stripping tape on the glass to mark where tach needs to be for correct 540 pto speed.
PTO operations is the only time I pay attention to the tach, my 4500 doesn't have a pto so I converted it to a simple Delco alternator without a tach drive, a hour meter will keep track of engine hours for oil changes.
 
Granted, this is a 5000 not a 3000, and I made/adapted the brackets, but here's a pic anyway.

Ignore the power steering hose, they said it was for a 5000, but I think it would have looked
a lot better on a 3 cyl tractor.

Fred
a160687.jpg
 

I put one on a 2000, tach drive straight out the back, bought about an inch longer fan belt. I couldn't make it work with the existing belt regardless so... your mileage may vary there.

No problems. Bolted right on and works good.
 

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