D-15 Charging woes

It cranks right up but the ammeter never shows anything. However the ammeter is like all the other guages, lots of moisture and barely readable.

Here are some symptoms with the motor running at around 1000

Both the F terminal on the Generator and the F on the vr shows the same - pretty much of a steady 4 volts.

The other terminal on the generator that goes to the gen terminal on the vr shows a pretty steady 14.2 volts at the generator.

The gen and batt terminals on the vr make the digital meter go bonkers. It keeps flashing all kinds of numbers from 19 to something on the minus side.

If you hook the meter to the terminals on the battery it will go bonkers just the same as the two terminals referenced above.

When shut down and the key on all places that are supposed to show battery voltage shows the same steady voltage as does the battery.

The inside of the vr "looked" good with no corrosion and points that were not really pitted at all.

I am hoping that there is something simple here, but it has to be straightened up one way or the other?

Thanx

The VR's BAT terminal is wired to the battery to and through the ammeter which is like a short circuit therefore, its voltage ought to be nearly the same as on the battery. The gennys output is on its Armature post, but once it begins to gen (if it does???) thats then connected to the VR's BAT terminal via the internal Cutout Relay, so its voltage is near the same as on the VR's BAT terminal then and it should settle down fairly constant.

However, with no load to control n stabilize the gennys output, the voltage on its Arm post could and would read higher until its tied to a load via the relay and eventually the battery.

I dont trust a digital volt meter on some of this stuff so dont get too concerned unless the battery dotn stay up n needs recharged or the batterys voltage NEVER rises over 12.6 volts. Does the ammeter swing over to - discharge if not running n you turn on lights n ignition???

If an ammeter is good n works but it fluctuates too rapid n never seems to stabilize, the brushes may be worn down or the commutator is rough or the VR's contacts are burned or caboned up, but the type and price and qulaity of a voltmeter will determine how well it tracks n stabilizes and how stable it is.

In other words if the battery voltage rises as I described and it stays up I wouldnt worry too much yet about wierd voltmeter readings yet. The 14.2 you described sounds fineeeee eee !!!

Check for a tight belt,,,,, ,a good ground on BOTH the VR and the genny (an intermittent on ether can make the voltage fluctuate) ,,,,, ,good clean ammeter n VR n genny connections,,,,, ,,,,, check battery voltages setting n running as I described,,,,, ,,,,,see how she does, take 2 aspirins n call me Monday at the office.

Take care Henry

John T (your old JD buddy)

After i clean the dash up and put in an ammeter with something less than a gallon of water in it we will see.

Don't work too hard John