Late B electrical trouble

MessingK · Mar 20, 2019

I've gotten myself in over my head and need some help with the electrical on my 52 B.

To start, I had the starter and generator rebuilt several years ago when I started working on getting the tractor running again. When we were getting it running for the first time, something happened in the regulator on the generator. It got super hot, like a contact was in the wrong position and was shorting out. May have been because I didn't polarize it properly?

Anyway, I took the generator in to an auto electric repair shop to be looked at again and they convinced me to get a 6 volt alternator. The electrical had been stock to that point, 6 volt negative ground with an Wico XB distributor.

I've tried doing some reading, but need help. What's my best path forward? Put on the alternator and rewire for that and switch polarity at the same time? Or should I try and get the original generator functioning and keep it as is. The selling point on the alternator was that it would be cheaper than repairing the generator and more reliable.

Thanks in advance for any help

Mike M · Mar 20, 2019

Are you sure it is not a 12 volt alt. ? I can't say as though I ever hear of a 6 volt one ?
Also those wico XB dist. can be a pain at times. If you switch to 12 volt I'd also put a delco dist. on it.
If left 6 volt a mag. is better.

Sam Vastano · Mar 20, 2019

I would give Ken a call at Classic Generator. PH# (817) 473-1448. He is a great guy. My guess is that your regulator is bad. Had that happen to my 50 B.

John T · Mar 20, 2019

Most alternators are for Negative Ground but they can make them for Positive, MAKE SURE WHAT YOU' HAVE...?...Also insure its 6 not 12 volts!!! Then wire the tractor and battery for the new correct Ground (Pos or Neg). The Wico XB is a battery powered coil ignition and yours is for 6 volts, so be sure to put the correct voltage to it. If you choose to stay with Generator and Voltage Regulator check my Troubleshooting Procedure linked below to determine the cause of non charging...

John T
John Ts Troubleshooting

susandiane · Mar 20, 2019

I think it might depend on what you want to use it for. If it's for show or parade where the correct police might nab you, you'd want the original gen/regulator and positive ground. Not polarizing will
definitely eat a regulator, a fact I learned on my '55 IHC truck many years ago! My 2 cylinder is a working girl so after a rebuild of the gen went bad, I switched to the alternator & reversed wire on amp
meter so it wouldn't scare me when I looked at it. As a precaution I put a couple of layers of header wrap on the exhaust pipe that ran pretty close to it. The alt has a life time warranty thru Auto Zone,
but that doesn't mean too much at my age. It charges up the battery fast on days I don't have it running long. You pays your money and etc. Good luck!

Resting Relics 1 · Mar 20, 2019

Hey MessingK,
Gotta agree with Mike on this. Never heard of a six volt alternator. The electrical system on a B is pretty simple. Follow John T's direction with a new regulator after making sure your generator works and your battery is good and you should be able to make it charge. Make sure it's wired correctly and connections are clean. All basic stuff. Good Luck!
John

jsborn · Mar 21, 2019

(quoted from post at 19:44:38 03/20/19) Hey MessingK,
Gotta agree with Mike on this. Never heard of a six volt alternator. The electrical system on a B is pretty simple. Follow John T's direction with a new regulator after making sure your generator works and your battery is good and you should be able to make it charge. Make sure it's wired correctly and connections are clean. All basic stuff. Good Luck!
John

Flee Bay is full of 6 volt alternators both pos and neg ground. not sure I would want one but they are available at a bit of a high price.

Late B electrical trouble

MessingK

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Mike M

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Sam Vastano

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John T

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susandiane

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Resting Relics 1

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jsborn

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