Posted by n9viw on September 19, 2010 at 13:42:10 from (75.105.62.178):
Hey all,
I have a '49 Farmall M that came to me converted to 12v (stock 6v starter and pushbutton start switch, Delco 10si alternator, IH ignition with can-style coil and resistor, copper wires). I keep burning out alternators, and I wonder if the points ignition (or the RF coming from it) may be damaging the alternator.
I found that the previous owner had wired the BAT terminal of the alt. to the ammeter, but rather than having the wire from the other side of the ammeter to the battery, he had them both on the same post. Eh? I swapped the battery wire to the opposite post, and of course, the ammeter went full-range. I plan to replace it with a 60-0-60 ammeter soon.
The second thing I found was that he had neglected to wire ANYTHING to the regulator- no sense lead, no excite wire. Nothing! I found this out after I kept burning out coils (and then resistors, after I learned a thing or two about 6-to-12v conversions), as the alternator was putting out who knows how many volts, unregulated. I say "who knows how many" because I can't actually get a reading on the volts, since the plug wires put out so much RFI all my voltmeters go wonky.
I replaced the alternator with a known-good 10si from our old '82 Jeep CJ-7, and in spite of getting it all connected correctly, it too was dead in short order (regulator again). Could the ignition be damaging the regulators? BTW, no diode, idiot light or resistor in the coil positive lead, just direct from the ignition switch to the coil.
When I replaced the alternator, I also replaced the can-style coil and resistor with a Ford TFI e-frame coil, which is rated to handle a full 12v without a resistor. With this coil, can I switch to spiral-core or carbon-core wires without degrading spark performance?
Ah, the joys of fixing other people's screwups! Thanks for any assistance.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Box Plow Blues - by Tom Schwarz. One of the first implements most tractor owners obtain is the box plow. For very little money, this piece of equipment promises to plow and flatten any hill or vale on your ranch road or farm. At least that's what I thought! As simple as a box plow appears, it can be rather challenging to make work correctly. In our sandy soils of Florida, traction is king. You can never have wide enough tires or heavy enough weights to get all the traction you want … unless you own a monster tractor. U
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
Oliver 550 Diesel runs like a watch three point hitch pto engine gone threw about two hundred hours ago nice clean tractor
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
