Light switch problems

Well I got everything hooked up on the electrical side but don't show any charge. The amp gauge shows discharge when I turn the lights on.
I read through John T's trouble shooting guide and I still get nothing when I ground the Gen field and jumper the cutout relay.
Could my field resister be bad in the switch box?
How do I check it?

So If I decide to go with a voltage regulator, anyone have a part number for a 6 volt one?

I am getting so close to driving this H out of the shop

Randy

If you are not getting full charging amps when you ground the generator field, you have a bad generator. Grounding the field bypasses cut-outs, regulators, field resistors, all of it. It just puts the generator at full output.

The generator has been rebuilt, I guess I better take it back and have it checked out.

Randy

#1. You did polarize the generator, right?

Was wondering, after I saw your pic the other day, if that resistor was going to make it. The strip in the center is usually straight. When mine was't working, I found that the wires that make the winding weren't making a good contact to the hollow rivets that anchor it to the switch. A couple dabs of solder and, viola!

To test it, hook an ohmmeter to each of the rivets. If you get no continuity at all, test from the middle of the winding to each of the rivets. If you don't get continuity that way, test it up closer to the rivet on the winding. That should show up any break in the winding. It may be as simple as my problem.

If you do find the continutiy to be okay, hae your ohmmeter set on it's coarsest setting, as correct resistance is only a few ohms as I recall, maybe 3-5??? BobM and JimN are much better for those numbers than I am.

Still, even if the resistor were bad for whatever reason, it is only in the circuit when the switch is in the low charge position (fully CCW) and you should be showing a charge with the switch in the H position (one click turning clockwise), which takes the resistor out of the circuit.

Other thoughts . . . too much paint and not getting a good ground somewhere (like when grounding the field wire), bad ammeter, loose dirty connection . . . those are the things that come first to mind that might keep some of the tests on John T's very good list from revealing the problem.

Randy, I don't know the number from memory, but I can get those saddle mount 6 volt regulators.

Hey neblinc,
The NAPA # for a 6 volt POS ground VR is VR850 with a saddle mount, VR851 for a flat mount.

By the way, if you decide to stay with the 4 position light switch and the cutout, scrape some of that pretty red paint out of the groove in the switch box cover. It must be grounded because this is where the field gets its ground in both L and H charge. HTH

randy, did you try the motor test on the genny?
i had a problem getting my h to charge, janicholson and john t heped on that one, turns out the insulation under the field post on the genny. when you tightend the terminals down with the wires on them it would short out. bench tested fine, and motor tested fine, but when all hooked up, wouldnt charge.

Randy,
Is it possible that you have the Gen Cutout wired to the battery side of the Ammeter?
It wouldn't show a charge, but would be charging anyway and the lights, if connected properly to the other side of the Ammeter, would show discharge when on, emgine running or not.

Randy the test you made should tell it all.
If the cutout relay is jumped with the tractor off, and all other things connected, the connection should spark seriously like 20 amp spark with a snap. This should make the amp gauge go to negative (almost pegged) do not leave it this way if it does.
If it does not, there are three possible realities.
1 The generator is open and does not conduct electricity through it. Needs to be taken in for analysis.
2 The generator might not have a ground path. Even though connected to the engine, paint can stop the flow.
3 The wire to the load side of the Amp gauge could be open, not conducting. If it does spark, and you ground the field terminal with it running, it should charge as no other pieces are in the circuit. JimN

I put on a generator/cutout that my neighbor had laying around to test and it works great. So at least I have the wiring right :wink:
I guess everything is pointing toward the generator or a bad ground, I do have quite a bit of paint on everything.
Will give it another go this weekend and maybe take the generator back in to have him test it.


Randy