6 volt generator

Good evening all. I am still troubleshooting my cub generator. I took the original one apart and re-did some of the wiring. I put it back on and got a reading of 7.9-8.1 volts(it was only 4 volts), at the same time the ammeter was showing discharge. I ran a magnet over the ammeter face and the needle would only go to the discharge side. Is this normal? I know the volts are still high and am thinking VR problem. Thanks, Bill

7.9-8.1 volts is not too high if you are not using the tractor for long periods of time. It sounds like you have the battery in backwards . It should be positive ground if everything is still original. I would keep that magnet away from the ammeter . It won't do any good and could do some harm.

It is positive ground from the factory. If yours is negative groundm no issue, it does not care a whit. If the amp meter was not reversed (wires transposed to opposite sides) it will read backward.
If the lights work turn them on with the tractor shut off. If the gauge moves to the right, the amp gauge needs to be switched around.
If they also move it to the left, then the gen needs to be polarized. Briefly jump the non ground bat terminal to the Arm (big) terminal of the Gen. with the engine off.!!!

If the lights do not work, and it has coil ignition (not mag) it will also move the needle a little when the switch is turned on. To the right means reverse the amp meter leads.
JimN

I thought I already provided you my Troubleshooting Procedure URL Link??? it has an easy test (See Para. 5) to determine if Non Charging is a Voltage Regulator versus a Generator problem....

Where you reading that voltage??? You need to be measuring the voltage at the battery as the open unloaded output of the genny itslef really dont tell you all that much BUTTTTTT if its only 8 volts (at genny alone not connected to battery via the VR's internal cutout relay) at high RPM that may not gonna cut it when you attach it to a somewhat discharged battery (like after a start up) which is like a big fat empty electron bank sittin there ready to suck up electrons out of the generator lol

I trust you POLARIZED the genny BEFORE starting the tractor, if not and the gennys is opposite polarized from the battery, you can harm the VR (See below)

The battery just sitting there tractor not running should read around 6.3 volts but when connected to a GOOD WORKING CHARGING SYSTEM AT FAST RPM it should rise to at least 6.5 to 7 and a lil over THAT SHOWS IF ITS GETTING CHARGED OR NOT

(From my Troubleshooting Procedure)

ARE YOU SURE THE AMMETER IS WIRED CORRECT AND WORKS????? If you turn the lights or ignition on (if coil ignition not a mag) when she’s not running, the ammeter should swing over to the - discharge direction, does yours??? Are BOTH the ammeter terminals reading hot battery voltage?? They MUST !!!!!!! There’s but one wire on the ammeters Supply (from battery/starter) terminal while its other Load terminal wires to the BAT terminal on a Cutout relay or VR PLUS wires to feed loads like lights or ignition, unless where a 4 terminal VR is used where lights n ignition are fed from the LOAD terminal on the VR.

To Polarize the Generator, first temporarily dead ground the Gens Field post to case/frame, then momentarily flash jump a wire from the Cutout Relay or VR's "BAT" terminal over to its GEN (or ARM) terminal and you ought to get a small spark. Same things accomplished by momentarily flash jumping a hot wire (BAT terminal on Cutout Relay or VR or starter post etc) direct to the Gens ARM post to get the spark


THis link below in Para 5 shows how to troubleshoot the system and also determine if non charging is a VR or a genny problem.

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=farmall&th=665110

If youre not handy with generators or electricity you may wanna have a shop fix it, theres only so much we can do over the net to help you, but to get much from our advice you need to have a basic working knowledge of these systems. Its IMPOSSIBLE to put in a paragraph here what can fill entire books or take years of experience to comprehend.

Best wishes n God Bless n happy memorial day

John T
John Ts Troubleshooting Procedure

Yes I polorized (Vr bat. to VR gen. before starting) the gen. before starting the tractor. I followed John's testing procedure. I motor tested the gen. before hooking it up. It ran one direction with a ground on the field, and ran the other direction faster ungrounded. I am taking the voltage at the battery. When not running, it is around 6.4volts.I unhooked the ammeter wires and circuit tested each to make sure they are hooked up correct. I appreciate all your help you have given me. Thanks, Bill