I converted my 550 over to an alternator a few months back. I also put in a new wiring harness. Everything was working fine. Since then the cluster guage has stopped working and now the tractor is not charging. The alternator is functional. My question is do you think that by not having the amp light working any more that the alternator is not "excited" properly and not putting a charge back to the battery?
- Thread starter wmthrower
- Start date
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Not sure about the amp light, but there are some alts that require a min voltage for excitement. If battery/ies are gone they will not charge.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Since I don't like to guess explain what alternator you have and how you hooked it up. Also do you have a voltmeter and have you done any checking at all.
I'll give you some more details J. I put in a 12SI alternator that was working. When installed I did check it with a voltmeter and it was putting out roughly 12.4 volts. I was expecting more but that's all that I ever read regardless if I turned the lights on or not.
Lately it will not charge enough to start the next time I use the tractor and if I'm using it for extended periods with the lights on they get dimmer. I've checked the grounds and everything seems to be ok there. I'm thinking that something, like the cluster guage, is not exciting the alternator properly. The cluster guage at this time is not working in any fashion.
What do you think?
Lately it will not charge enough to start the next time I use the tractor and if I'm using it for extended periods with the lights on they get dimmer. I've checked the grounds and everything seems to be ok there. I'm thinking that something, like the cluster guage, is not exciting the alternator properly. The cluster guage at this time is not working in any fashion.
What do you think?
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Did you full field the alternator has it been converted to a single wire. What happens if you use a jumper to excite the alternator and then check the voltage. I do have an alternator troubleshooting chart but I need your address to send it to you. J.
Bob M
Well-known Member
The 12SI won't charge unless there's it's being excitied thru a warning light (or an equivalent resistor/diode) connected to the alternator's #1 aux terminal.
When the alternator is charging you will see 14.0 and 14.7 volts measured across the battery with the engine running (actual varies somewhat with temperature, etc). As you suspect your reading of 12.4 volts says the alternator is not charging at all.
When the alternator is charging you will see 14.0 and 14.7 volts measured across the battery with the engine running (actual varies somewhat with temperature, etc). As you suspect your reading of 12.4 volts says the alternator is not charging at all.
The alternator isn't converted to a single wire. I haven't used a jumper wire to excite the alternator. I can try that tonight. J, can you PM me to get my address?
Bob, I was suspecting that with the cluster guage not working, the ampmeter light/buzzer is not coming on and the alternator might not be excited. Does this make sense? Could it be as simple as changing the guage? I suppose if I use a jumper to excite the alternator that I might see 14+ volts then?
Bob, I was suspecting that with the cluster guage not working, the ampmeter light/buzzer is not coming on and the alternator might not be excited. Does this make sense? Could it be as simple as changing the guage? I suppose if I use a jumper to excite the alternator that I might see 14+ volts then?
Bob M
Well-known Member
Yeah - that makes sense. The warning light not working tells me the alternator is not being excited.
Try jumpering the alternator's #1 and BAT terminals together with the engine running at about half throttle. If the alternator now gives 14+ volts you found the problem.
Don't leave the jumper connected however - it'll drain the battery thru the alternator when the engine's shut down!
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