ammeter reading

want to double check what my ammeter shows is "normal"

short version- i never seem to get a large + reading- it always hovers just above 0. I'm assuming this is because my battery is fully charged?

Long version- in my quest to rehab my 8n, i've basically replaced every component in the charging system.

in no specific order:
New battery
New cables (good quality, large cables)
new wiring harness
new ammeter
new voltage regulator
"new to me" 20 amp genny
new belt, properly adjusted

I had the smaller, 11 amp genny on and i could not get enough juice to charge my battery with the lights on. I lucked out and scored a bigger 20 amp genny on ebay. I swapped that in and now have enough juice to run my lights without discharging. my only issue is that i dont seem to get large positive charges anymore. my dad has an 8N and he will get like +10 amps when he first starts it up. mine never swings but a few amps past 0.

started the tractor yesterday for the first time in 2 weeks, it fired right off in 1/2 a revolution with no issue. Key on ammeter jumps slightly negative. lights on its further negative. start it up and it shows slight charge, pull lights it goes down then comes back up.

so is this normal for a fully charged battery? I was expecting to see larger voltage swings right after start up, settling down near 0.

Use a voltmeter and tells us what the battery
voltage is not running and a few minutes after
running. Should be 6.4 volts not running and get up
over 7 volts when running.

I would check the voltage as HCooke suggested to be sure, but
what you are describing is exactly the way my 9N runs and it has
never had a dead battery on me.
I chalked it up to two things- 1) having a fully charged battery
and 2) having an ammeter with a 30 amp swing each side of zero.
My meter wouldn't move much to show 5 amps, etc.

TJ,
As HC suggested, a volt meter is an excellent way to determine a fully charged system. Seems with your description it is working, especially the part about turning on the lights and it comes back to zero. When you start up it sounds like it is taking a minimal draw which would require less of a recharge compared to your dad's 8N. HTH
Mr. T. Minnesota