Charging system on 50

Last spring I had my generator rebuilt and put on a new regulator and new china made JD amp gauge. It was working fine until last week now the amp guage is not showing any charging or discharging. I've cranked it about a dozen times since last week and even today and it being thirty degrees. Cranks and runs good and the lights burn bright and haven't had to charge the battery. Could the amp guage have failed again this soon? Anyway to do some simple testing like with a dc test light? Thanks

To see if shes charging despite an inoperative ammeter, place a voltmeter on the battery and whsn shes sittin there not running it would read around 12.6 volts butttttttttt when shes running at fast RPM if the batetry voltage rises to the 13 to 14 or so range shes charging okay. It may even be possible at night to turn the lights on and see if when you rev up the tractor the lights brighten again telling you if its charging.

An ammeter is near a dead short (like on a ohm meter test) it has to have continuity other wise loads like lights n ignition wouldnt be working. You might pass a magnet close over it to see if the needle deflects as it should,,, try tapping it lightly perhaps the needle is just stuck/rusted etc.... See if the ammeter needle deflects to - discharge when shes setting and you turn lights on, it should if its not stuck and wired correct.

If its NOT stuck, swings to - discharge when lights are turned on, a magnet causes needle deflection, thennnnnnn she may not be charging after all which would be proven if the battery voltage never rises from what it is setting versus fast RPM

If the battery voltage isnt rising then shes not charging so heres a link to my non charging Troubleshooting Procedure.... Check easy simple things first like a good tight belt and a good genny and VR ground and then run the tests in my procedure in the URL Link

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=jd&th=304795

John T
John Ts Troubleshooting Procedure

With the tractor idling the ammeter does not show discharge when I turn on the lights. When I speed the engine up to full throttle it starts wiggling a little. I know it's wired correctly cause it was working perfect until last Saturday. Last Saturday night it got rained on kinda hard. I'll follow your testing procedures and see what I can find out.