8N charging too much?

Hardheaded · Jul 25, 2016

My 8N hasn't been starting properly. I had the 6 volt battery checked out and it's good per Autozone. I put my voltmeter on the battery posts with it running and got a Low of 0 to a high of 18 volts. It's jumping all around so I put a new voltage regulator on and it's doing the same thing. I have + or - 6 volts at the generator. Can someone please tell me if these readings are correct or wrong. And what are the issues here. First time tractor owner. Thanks 👍🏼😎

tractorguy2 · Jul 25, 2016

Most likely your meter. Most modern digital meters don't like old generator systems.

Over the years I have owned maybe a dozen digital meters. Only one or two would work on a generator. The reading would jump up and down rapidly from 0-20.

You need one of the old school meters with a needle.

Jim WI · Jul 25, 2016

You're using a digital meter? Digital meters don't work well on N tractors because of the electrical noise caused by the charging and ignition systems. Try a cheap analog meter.

Bruce (VA) · Jul 25, 2016

As others are saying, check out tip # 47.

Clearly, your battery was good. And replacing the v/r (which is in the charging circuit, not the starting circuit) has nothing to do w/ starting the tractor.

" First time tractor owner."

We all were at one time. So don't continue to make the same rookie mistake we all made of replacing parts that do not need to be replaced. There are two schools of thought when it comes to getting a non-running tractor to start. One way is to just start replacing every part you can get to until it starts or you run out of money. The other way is to take a step-by-step approach to solving the problem, working from most likely to least likely. The trick to fixing these tractors (or trouble shooting any piece of equipment) is to be systematic about it. You need to isolate the problem step by step and work from most likely to least likely.

Please define " My 8N hasn't been starting properly." Tell us exactly what the symptoms are & you will get plenty of help.
75 Tips

souNdguy · Jul 25, 2016

TAKE away it's charge cards!

Elaborate ont he starting problems.

Don't buy any more parts before really knowing if that part needs replacing.. save your $$

Hardheaded · Aug 2, 2016

Im going to reply to the last message. please see my comment there. Thanks

Hardheaded · Aug 2, 2016

Upon receiving my new old school volt meter, I tested the voltage at the battery cables with the tractor running and the battery with a full charge. It read 6 volts and with the digital tester its all over the place as before.
When I tested the generator with the analog tester with the tractor running it shows nothing. with the digital tester it shows +OR-6 VOLTS. Now with the tractor running I disconnected the battery ground cable and it dies? Is it safe to say the generator is poss bad?

Bhunt · Aug 2, 2016

First let me say I'm not assuming anything This is for a 12 volt battery but for those that don't know and I have seen many folks who will measure the volts and get 12.0 and figure the battery is good,
Check your battery with a volt meter battery voltage should be
12.6V@100 percent
12.5v@75 percent
12.3 @50 percent
Mine will usually charge to 12.7

Now having said that I'm no expert and please correct me if I'm wrong but I would assume the same applies to 6 volt

Byron

Bruce (VA) · Aug 3, 2016

" Is it safe to say the generator is poss bad? "

If you unplug a lamp and the light goes out, is it safe to say the bulb is bad?

The likely result of disconnecting a battery cable from a running tractor is a burned up generator.

I'm not sure what you are trying to figure out. Your first post said the tractor wasn't starting properly & that you have a confirmed good battery.

I then asked you: Please define " My 8N hasn't been starting properly." Tell us exactly what the symptoms are & you will get plenty of help.

Are you trying to diagnose a yet to be disclosed problem in the charging circuit, or are you still trying to solve the hard starting problem?

If you will be precise in telling us your problem, you will get plenty of help.
75 Tips

8N charging too much?

Hardheaded

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tractorguy2

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Jim WI

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Bruce (VA)

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souNdguy

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Hardheaded

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Hardheaded

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Bhunt

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Bruce (VA)

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