Battery charging

sdotzel

New User
I recently restored a farmall 350 utility gas engine . I installed a new VR and Ammeter. I tested the generator and it is working. I also installed electronic ignition. My question is , the Ammeter was showing charging but after running the tractor for about a half hour, it now shows negative charge even at high RPM. When I turn on the lights it even goes lower. When I turn the tractor off it goes to 0. As soon as turn the key on it goes to negative. Any thoughts on this. I double checked all the wiring and it is good
 
What is the charging voltage?

Is the ammeter connected properly... one terminal connected to the battery and the generator output and all electrical loads to the other terminal?
 
It would seem that maybe your voltage reg is bad. if the amp was showing charge for awhile and now is doesn't it would seem something has quit charging. Being you have an generator instead of an alternator then you should have a voltage regulator. I would test that .
 
(quoted from post at 05:52:54 05/19/18) That's a pretty wide open general and good question, so I will just post my Charging Troubleshooting Procedure which may help find the cause

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=jd&th=458743

John T
John Ts Charging Troubleshooting
John, I followed your troubleshooting guide and all is good until I get to the point with the battery voltage, I only have 12.4 volts at idle and increased RPMS. Wiring is good and Ammeter is hot on both sides. Your thoughts on this
 
(quoted from post at 08:00:22 05/20/18)
(quoted from post at 05:52:54 05/19/18) That's a pretty wide open general and good question, so I will just post my Charging Troubleshooting Procedure which may help find the cause

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=jd&th=458743

John T
John Ts Charging Troubleshooting
John, I followed your troubleshooting guide and all is good until I get to the point with the battery voltage, I only have 12.4 volts at idle and increased RPMS. Wiring is good and Ammeter is hot on both sides. Your thoughts on this
After further testing , I found that when I bypass the VR it starts charging. I ordered a new one, any ideas why that VR only lasted a half hour, it was a new one also. I double checked all my wiring and my grounds, I can't seem to find anything to cause that
 
If you ONLY have 12.4 volts at RPM she's NOT charging. If it starts to charge if you ground the Gennys FLD post that says the genny itself is okay so the problem is the VR is bad or not well grounded or somethings not wired right. If a tractor is started and the genny isn't polarized correct that can mess up a VR.

John T
 
(quoted from post at 08:36:13 05/21/18) If you ONLY have 12.4 volts at RPM she's NOT charging. If it starts to charge if you ground the Gennys FLD post that says the genny itself is okay so the problem is the VR is bad or not well grounded or somethings not wired right. If a tractor is started and the genny isn't polarized correct that can mess up a VR.

J
ohn T
John, thanks for your help, electrical is not my strong suit. One more question, my tractor has a 4 pole key switch to start it, do I run a wire from the load pole on the VR to a pole on the key switch and then run a wire from that to a switch for the lights or do I wire the light switch directly from the VR LOAD pole
 

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