108 Charging Problem
 

Hello, I'm brand new to this forum, and a brand new CC owner. I recently bought a CC 108. There is a lot of great information on here! After doing a lot of searching on Google, this is the closest I've come to the problem I'm having.

When I bought the tractor, it wasn't charging the battery. PO installed a new battery and VR. The SG started the tractor a few times but eventually would only spin very weakly. I replaced the SG and now It starts great, but I'm reading over 17 volts across the battery terminals. The SG gets very hot while running and at full throttle for about 5 minutes there was smoke curling out of it.

When I remove the f terminal wire from the SG OR the VR it stops charging completely. I opened the VR and everything looks very clean and new in there and the contacts open easily.

Any thoughts? would a bad battery cause this high voltage and overheating of the SG?

Thanks for your help!

Is the tractor wired as to the Factory Wiring Diagram...?? Is the V/R the correct one..??
Is the V/R properly grounded..??

I found a wiring diagram, I will double check that. The V/R is properly grounded. I'm not sure if it's the right one...I'll see if I can find some numbers on it.

In the meantime, is there anything else theoretically that would cause the high voltage and heat? I've seen references to bad batteries causing issues like this. This battery has been fully discharged a couple of times in all my testing the last few weeks.

I seriously doubt the battery is the problem. You are correct in what you are saying about bad batteries causing issues, but what you are describing tells me that either the VR isn't working as it should, or you have a short in the wiring. I think you will find that the SG is being commanded to "full output".

Double check everything R Bedell is asking you to check. Sounds like F terminal is having constant ground.

I seriously doubt the battery is the problem. You are correct in what you are saying about bad batteries causing issues, but what you are describing tells me that either the VR isn't working as it should, or you have a short in the wiring. I think you will find that the SG is being commanded to "full output". Disconnect the "F" terminal at the SG and see if the overcharging stops. If so, find the bad wire, or see if the V/R is bad. :beerchug:

I didn't get to spend as much time on this project as I wanted to this weekend, so I wasn't able to trace out all the wiring to see if the V/R is wired up right. What I did notice is that the wiring diagram has "B" "G" "F" and Ground connections on the V/R. Mine has "F" "B" and "L" plus a wire coming out of the back. There is nothing connected to "L". Would this indicate I have the wrong V/R or would this type work? Forgive my ignorance!

When the "F" terminal is disconnected from the S/G I get NO charge.
when the "F" terminal is disconnected at the V/R I get NO charge.

NO..that would not be the correct V/R.

How about a picture of this V/R....??? Check to see if there are any markings and/or numbers on your V/R.

Attached are pics of the top and bottom of the voltage regulator. The model number appears to be vr 896 Made in USA is also stamped on the side

I believe that's a napa v/r part number. I think the VR 896 or vr898 will work. Have you verified that wiring is correct from s/g to v/r and everything is connected to the right terminals? Again, it sounds like a constant negative is being applied to f terminal of s/g.