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CLOONEY OR JOHN T

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MICHAEL

01-07-2003 22:20:42




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I'm still trying to change my 3020 gas from a generator to an alternator. It is a 12 volt positive ground.
I'm a little shakey about the switch from positive to negative ground. I know I have to change the battery cabels and ground the NEGATIVE side to the tractor-positive goes to the starter. Do I have to change the ignition coil? Mine has three wires. The big resister wire in the center goes over to the center of the distributer cap. I assume I leave this one alone. There are two smaller wires(about 8ga) on either side of the big resister wire. One goes to the starter or battery. The other goes down under the distributer cap. Do I simply swap these wires on top of the coil? Do I have to buy a different coil? Thanks for all the info on the conversion of the 3 wire alernator. I feel I can do it with no problems---if I can get this ground changed correctly.

Michael

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Clooney

01-08-2003 10:51:56




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 Re: CLOONEY OR JOHN T in reply to MICHAEL, 01-07-2003 22:20:42  
Michael, I don�t know what to tell you on your coil. If I knew what coil you had on it a recommendation would be easy... The thing is, if you have an internally resisted coil, & depending on what kind of resistance is in the coil, you might be better off leaving it the wired the way it is. If you have a 12-volt positive ground coil running at 6 volts with an external ballast resistor then reversing the wires on the coil would be the proper thing to do. If you have a 12-volt positive ground coil with internal resistor you might be better off leaving it alone... If you have access to an ohmmeter & can measure the coils primary resistance between the + & - terminals you can then determine which way to go. If the coil�s resistance is below 2 ohms then reverse the coil�s power lead coming from the ignition switch to the coil & hook it to the [+] coil terminal. The coils [negative] terminal should then hook to the distributor... If the coil�s resistance is over 3 ohms then it has an internal resistor & [depending on the coil], you could end up with the resistance between the coil & points & in that case you would be better off leaving it wired the way it is now, or buying a new negative ground coil.
~The other things to consider are the fuel gage; unlike the earlier tractors I don�t believe it will work at negative ground. Any other positive ground things you have on the tractor like radio or counters probably won�t work either.
~My recommendation would be to measure the coil�s primary resistance & go from there, [see above], or do nothing & see how it runs when done[it will probably run ok the way it�s wired now], or measure the coils� running voltage at the ignition switch lead side of the coil & if it�s 6-8 volts reverse the wires, if it�s 12-13 volts buy another 12 volt negative ground internally resisted coil & install that.

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G Taylor

01-08-2003 07:27:52




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 Re: CLOONEY OR JOHN T in reply to MICHAEL, 01-07-2003 22:20:42  
A properly built and set-up generator will work just fine. Plus there are not hours lost in frustration looking at dangling wires and risk of electrical fires/burned components. If you have to convert to an alternator then hiring a pro with tools and experience for a couple of hours is the cheapest way out.



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John T (Ammeter)

01-08-2003 05:38:48




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 Re: CLOONEY OR JOHN T in reply to MICHAEL, 01-07-2003 22:20:42  
PS, if it has any Ammeter, it would also have its wires reversed, otherwise it would read backwards. John T



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John T

01-08-2003 05:36:14




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 Re: CLOONEY OR JOHN T in reply to MICHAEL, 01-07-2003 22:20:42  
Hey Michael, youre thinking is RIGHT ON. The high voltage spark plug looking wire out the top, still goes, of course, to the top of the distributor cap. The two small coil side wires just get swapped sides, and no need to buy a new coil whtsoever. It should, after reversal, have the small coil side wire + terminal receiving power from the ignition switch, and the little - side terminal is now what goes to the distributor side and gets to ground through the points (when closed) inside the distributor. Ol John T in Indiana

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ChuckW

01-08-2003 05:00:28




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 Re: CLOONEY OR JOHN T in reply to MICHAEL, 01-07-2003 22:20:42  
while I'm not Clooney or John T. have changed a lot of systems over. I believe they will tell you that every point of the wiring harness that is pole sensitive, it will have to be reversed. Pole sensative means any item with a + or - connection.



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