Late JD A ground ?

Cjet · Nov 4, 2017

I just picked up a late John Deere A with a 12v generator that had no battery in it and was wondering if these were positive ground? Just want to be sure before hooking anything up.

Mike(NEOhio) · Nov 4, 2017

Positive

Cjet · Nov 4, 2017

(quoted from post at 16:39:26 11/04/17) Positive

Thanks, Mike. I thought it was, but just in case I didn't want to burn anything up.

John T PS · Nov 4, 2017

Cjet, you ask "was wondering if these were positive ground"

YES, your John Deere A came from the factory at POSITIVE GROUND...........but over the years many tractors got changed now n then. As a used tractor dealer I saw it happen hundreds of time. The generator can still work at either Polarity if properly polarized and the starter motor still turns the same direction regardless. For best performance if its a battery powered coil distributor ignition the coil should be wired to match the tractors polarity IE for the original POS Ground the coils + wires to distributor, but if NEG Ground its - wires to the distributor. The other end of the coils LV primary (if a coil ignition) receives its power via the ignition switch. To be safe it wouldn't hurt to Polarize the Generator BEFORE starting after you install the battery. If alls well and polarity and ammeter are all correct, if before starting you turn on lights or ignition (if a coil ignition) the ammeter should swing over to - discharge, but then when running at RPM if the charging system is all okay it should register + charging.......

Congratulations and best wishes, post back any questions

John T

Cjet · Nov 4, 2017

(quoted from post at 17:44:38 11/04/17) Cjet, you ask "was wondering if these were positive ground"

YES, your John Deere A came from the factory at POSITIVE GROUND...........but over the years many tractors got changed now n then. As a used tractor dealer I saw it happen hundreds of time. The generator can still work at either Polarity if properly polarized and the starter motor still turns the same direction regardless. For best performance if its a battery powered coil distributor ignition the coil should be wired to match the tractors polarity IE for the original POS Ground the coils + wires to distributor, but if NEG Ground its - wires to the distributor. The other end of the coils LV primary (if a coil ignition) receives its power via the ignition switch. To be safe it wouldn't hurt to Polarize the Generator BEFORE starting after you install the battery. If alls well and polarity and ammeter are all correct, if before starting you turn on lights or ignition (if a coil ignition) the ammeter should swing over to - discharge, but then when running at RPM if the charging system is all okay it should register + charging.......

Congratulations and best wishes, post back any questions

John T

Thanks for the info. It is a coil ingnition. The ground cable that's on the tractor fits a pos. terminal on a battery so it looks like it was setup that way. When I get closer to hook up time I may have more questions. Thanks, Chris.

John T PS · Nov 5, 2017

You're welcome and thanks for the feedback. Just to be safe after you install the battery I would Polarize the Generator BEFORE you start it.

John T

Late JD A ground ?

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Mike(NEOhio)

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John T PS

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