Charging issues

Trapper D

Member
Well I have been having some trouble with my 6 Volt 8N charging. I have to take a screw driver and jump the two terminals on my generator to get it to charge. Once it starts charging it does ok but eventually it stops again and even goes into the neg. on my gauge.
Is it the generator or the regulator that may be the issue or maybe something completely different? Any advise or help would be great.
Thanks in advance.

If it matters my tractor does not have a distributor it has a magneto.
 
Trapper.........uhmmm? Most N's with magneto's use an "arm-strong" starter ...ie... crank thru radiator to front of engine that YOU pull against compression. Usually there is a manual choke knobbie thru the side of the radiator shroud that you pull before you pull the crank. But lets go with yer claim of a genny. There should be 3-wires to yer genny. One HEAVY wire on the back end that goes to the squarecan voltage regulator. You do have a voltage regulator, don't you??? (hint: its under the oil pressure gauge) Then you should have two thin wires that go to the voltage regulator. You claim you are jumping these 2-wires together. 1-wire is GROUND and the other wire is FIELD. So you are GROUNDING the FIELD and amazingly enuff, it starts charging. Lets go with squarecan voltage regulator. There should be 3-termanals inna row, and wire to the can mounting screw. (hint: thatza GROUND from yer genny) With yer ignition OFF, yer gonna re-polarize yer squarecan regulator by touching the side-by-side BATT and ARM terminals, I use a wide blade stubby screwdriver, but you kenn use bailin' warr iff'n you want. Yes, it will SPARK, donna worry. Gonna make a WAG (Wild A$$ Guess) you still have yer starter motor and BIG thumb switch by the tranny shifter. Just starter like normal; ignition ON, 1/3-throttle, 2-rumpa-rumpas, and QUICK pull on choke knobbie, shuld gittcha started. ........HTH, Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister and electrical guru
 
I also have a 8n with a magneto. generator does not charge and I just hook a battery charger on it time to time.
In your case it sounds like a regulator problem to me. sounds like the cutout relay is not kicking in and holding like it should.

When you short out the field to ground, it is telling the generator to throw out a full charge rate and it may be enought to jar the cutout relay enough to make it work for awhile.

I have been having a hard time to get a new regulator to work as it should. The one I have in my other side dist 8n works but once in while I have to tap the regulator to get it to start charging.
good luck
 
if you can full field and make it work, or junker the cutout and make it work, it very likely is the regulator.

if it is the field that needs jumping, see what putting a tail lamp wired across field and ground does when running.
 
Sorry I have not responded but had some stuff that pulled me away. I will check under my oil pressure gauge for a regulator. I know on the left side of the tractor there is only a starter, solenoid and generator. I did not know if the regulator was internal or what.
Would there be a problem with just putting a permanent jumper wire on the generator? Would it burn something up?
I am going to go out and check for the regulator now and will let you know what I find. Thanks
 
This is the generator.
a206183.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 12:13:32 11/20/15) This is the generator.
a206183.jpg

you should have a regulator also. square with three wires going to it. like said behind dash bekow oil pressure gage.
 
I found the regulator. Thanks.
I know Dell did not seem to believe that I have a generator but I posted a few pics to prove it. I will ask you the same question I asked him. Would you be able to permanently jump the 2 terminals on the generator or would that burn something up? I know you said you have had problems with your new regulator working as it should. That's why I ask. Thanks again for the help.
 
(quoted from post at 09:16:19 11/21/15) I found the regulator. Thanks.
I know Dell did not seem to believe that I have a generator but I posted a few pics to prove it. I will ask you the same question I asked him. Would you be able to permanently jump the 2 terminals on the generator or would that burn something up? I know you said you have had problems with your new regulator working as it should. That's why I ask. Thanks again for the help.

I am no expert by a long shot but I would not jump the 2 terminals together. It would cause a way too high a charging rate and could do damage to your battery. Better to buy a new regulator and hope you get a good one. The hardest part about replacing the regulator is getting it out and new one in. I remove the air cleaner assy to do it and find it is a good time to clean out the air cleaner also.
In my case the generator is not working at all. I need to take it in and have it repaired but with the magneto we only use the battery for starting and I find it easier to hook up a battery charger as needed.
 
I will try my luck with a new regulator then. I figured it would not be a good idea to run it at full charge with it jumped but it was worth asking. Thanks for the advice.
 
(quoted from post at 11:36:09 11/21/15) I will try my luck with a new regulator then. I figured it would not be a good idea to run it at full charge with it jumped but it was worth asking. Thanks for the advice.
Make sure the wiring is good. make sure the ground wire is getting a good ground at the regulator.
I would look at a wiring diagram and make sure you have all the wires going where they should. Probably OK but you never know what you will find on these old machines.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top