Need help, Generator Cutout or voltage regulator

Philip P · Jan 17, 2013

Hello folks I"ve been doing a lot of reading on this site and it has been a huge help. I"m new to tractor restoration. I"m currently working on a 1947 H. I was hoping someone can help verify that my H has the cutout as opposed to a vr. I"m attaching a picture to help the process. The picture matches up with the picture in my parts manual that has a box on top called the generator relay. Is that the same as a cutout? The tractor is not at the house, so I can"t check the switch but I think this it is a 4 position switch. The tractor is also equipped with a magneto. everything I can find is leading me to the cutout just hoping someone can help verify.

The tractor hasn"t been run in about 15 years so I need to get the generator checked to see if it works. Can a normal auto parts store bench test it for me or do I need to go to a specialty shop. Or is there a way for me to test it myself?

Thanks in advance.

Phil

Philip P · Jan 17, 2013

Apparently since this was my first post, I'm not allowed to attach pictures. Any help you can still provide would be great.

Phil

Janicholson · Jan 17, 2013

This will allow you to go forward. The cutout is called a relay. The true VR will have two internal relays in the nearly identical box on the gen. Jim
John T procedure

TractormanNC · Jan 17, 2013

First of all get an owners manual if you do not have one already.

The H was originally 6 volt pos ground with a CUTOUT and a 4 position light switch. Unless you absolutely positively must keep it original, go with the voltage regulator. Your battery will thank you for it. NAPA has a 6 volt pos ground reg with a curved bracket that mounts in place of the cutout. Part # is VR850. The correct police will never know its there.

Now if it is a working tractor, I would change it to 12 volt NEG ground with an alternator. Search the forum, many posts on this subject.

gene bender · Jan 17, 2013

If your sw is 4 position the system did have a cut-out originaly. Get the DelcRemy # on the gen if you need to replace the cut-out. I would take it to a gen shop and they should be able to check things out. That charging system needs all componets to have a good ground clear thru the sw for it to work.Simple test with engine running ground the field and if that makes it charge the cut-out is bad if it doesent charge the gen is bad. You can use an OHM meter to check all componets for ground.

John T · Jan 17, 2013

Im not as much a Farmall man as Jim or Bob M, but fer as I know if it has the LHBD light switch, the black box thingy on the genny is a Cutout/Relay/Cutout Relay NOT a full fledged Voltage Regulator. I think the later model cutouts only had 2 terminals, BAT and GEN while a VR had BAT FLD GEN butttttttt some cutouts on older light equipped tractors (BEFORE the LHBD switch system) still had BAT FLD GEN,,,,,but Bob M or Jim need to clarify and/or correct that??????? AS Jim noted if theres but one relay inside its a cutout relaY NOT a VR

Fer sure if theres a wire from FLD on genny up to the LHBD switch the black thingy is only a Cutout Relay......

Not sure if the box auto stores can bench test a genny, probably 0nly alternators but Jim posted my test procedure which may help if youre somewhat familiar with tractor electrics

John T Coming to you live from the Florida Flywheelers wooooooohooooooooooo

gene bender · Jan 17, 2013

That model had three terminals on the cut-out. F,G and Batt. You are thinking of AC,JD and others who just used two terminals and it was smaller and still be purchased.

Bob M · Jan 17, 2013

Phil - You can verify whether it is a cutout by removing the cover. If there's only a single relay inside it's a C.O.; 2 relays makes it a voltage regulator.

The OEM cutout has 3 terminals: GEN (or ARM), BAT and FLD. If the tractor is equipped with lights (evidenced by the 4 position light switch), the cutout FLD terminal is NOT used.

The only time the C.O.'s FLD terminal is used when tractor has no lights. It then gets connected to the generator F terminal.

SadFarmall · Jan 18, 2013

I have a 1940 Farmall H, which had never had a generator or starter motor fitted. It now has a generator with regulator and a delco starter motor. Too hard to fit the Lucas one for Australian specs with the belt pulley in place. The system is 6 volt positive Earth / Ground. Lights are Lucas, with 36/36W headlamps and 24W rear lamp. I used 00 cable and the tractor starts almost instantly on the button every time. It is a working tractor and people here can't believe I made it 6 volt; personal preference is all.
SadFarmall

Need help, Generator Cutout or voltage regulator

Philip P

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Philip P

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Janicholson

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TractormanNC

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gene bender

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John T

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gene bender

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Bob M

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SadFarmall

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