Trying to find charging issue on an Allis WD-45

Was out looking at my cousin's WD-45 and the ammeter never shows it is charging while running.





Anything look out of place on the generator wiring? Missing wires? Not even sure where to start looking.

Make sure the screw that holds box where the ammeter and switch are located has the screw that holds it to the frame of the tractor is tight

Belt looks pretty loose.

Belt looks like it could use an adjustment.

Sorry but I have to ask, is the pulley turning ?? By the rust on it, hasn't been turning much.

Full field the generator by connecting the F terminal to a good ground and note if it charges.

(The F terminal is the terminal NOT connected to the cutout, and the wire from it runs back to the light switch.)

Don't forget that ammeters can go bad. Does the battery always start the tractor or does it need to be charged sometimes? Put a voltmeter on the battery terminals and see if the voltage is higher when the engine is running.

After you snug up the belt check it with a meter and make sure there is really a problem, our Farmall C has an ammeter that the needle never
moves, but the generator is putting out 7 volts, so all is well.

The first thing is do the obvious. Tighten the belt. But not too
tight. The pull the pos. batt. Off for a second. Tractor will
either continue to run or stop. If it wants to stop that means
its. Not charging. Pretty instantaneous procedure to find out
the charging deal. Plus you are hurting nothing doing this.

Looks like a simple cutout relay there on the genny. Make sure the genny and the relay (via its mount to the genny which should be
grounded ???) have good solid grounds and the belt is tight. Just in case the ammeter is bad or stuck not showing charge it may or may not
still be charging. When running at fast RPM a working charging system should raise battery voltage to at least 6.5 to 7 on a 6 volt or 13
to 14 on a 12 volt, is it ?????????

Click on my Troubleshooting procedure below for step by step methods to see if non charging is due to the genny itself orrrrrrr the relay
etc. In Para 5 it shows how to MOTOR TEST the genny alone to see if its the problem, if it passes BOTH tests its likely okay.

On many of the old manual light switch type Low High Charge controllers that used a Cutout Relay (like you have) if they dont charge its
because the Low High switch ISNT WELL GROUNDED orrrrrr is bad orrrrrrr the wire from FLD post on the genny (NOT one to cutout) up to the
switch is bad/broke/open

See if it charges if you jump the gennys FLD post (NOT one to cutout relay) to ground ?????????? If so but NOT otherwise the switch is bad
or not grounded or the wire from FLD to Low High charge switch is bad/open........

Tighten the Belt,,,,,,, Polarize the genny (see my procedure),,,,,,,,, Insure Genny and Cutout Relay have good grounds,,,,,,,,,, insure
switch has a good ground and is wired down to FLD post on genny,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, try to ground the gennys FLD post,,,,,,,,,, Work my
Troubleshooting Procedure for cutout relay style systems..............

Best I have to offer over the net

https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=ttalk&th=2060825

John T
John Ts Charging Troubleshooting

Oh my, thank you for all the good feedback guys. Hoping to get back out to their place this weekend, so making notes on all the things to do. Definitely going to check the fan belt slack and make sure the pulley is spinning, as it does not seem as shiny as it should for turning.

Thank you for the Write-Up John T. (and others with similar comments). That is fantastic; going to do my best to give it a whirl.