VR

[rmunro]

On Sunday I cleaned up a mess of snow with my 109. The tractor was operating for about two hours. During the day, so no lights were being used. The blade is lifted by a power winch.

The tractor performed flawlessly, and I was surprised how well it handled the snow---it was a good 16 inches or more deep in areas.

Just as I was pulling it into garage I notice ammeter needle was pinned full discharge. I shut it off quickly. Raised seat and there was steam?/smoke?? from regulator. The regulator was also wet. the ammeter was still pegged after shutting off. I promptly disconnected the battery. To touch the reg it was warm--not burning hot. The starter/gen was warm too, but no more so than seems normal to me.

I thought it was smoke from reg, but not sure---not that acrid stench usually given by electrical short.


Yesterday I checked for battery draw--none. Hooked up battery. Started tractor and full charge for 3 or 4 minutes, then quit charging. Shut it down, tapped regulator with screwdriver handle. Fired up and charging again. Used it for about 15 minutes and all was well.

What you guys figure?? Just water in reg?? Or am I due for new regulator??

[R Bedell]

Sounds like you had some "temporary short". May have been some snow on a terminal and creating a path to ground.

[rmunro]

So basically, just keep an eye on it I guess?


Would it be good idea to spray it with silicone, or other water repellant??

[rmunro]

Further to the previous posts, since we are forecast to get about 6 inches of snow over next few days, and, next Wednesday about a foot. I decided to get a new regulator. The one I got is a direct cross from the Delco number.

I have a copy of the wiring diagram, and here is R Bedell's info on the regulator.



The regulator I bought.

http://www.standardbrand.com/Online+...g/Content.aspx




Here's my dilemma. If you look at the back there is an unmarked screw terminal. Also, there is a a grounding at mount. Do I use both when mounting to the steel of the machine???? Or just one??

[R Bedell]

Roger:

Hook the three wires up as indicated. The grounding is through the V/R foot. Just make sure it mounts to bare metal. To check, use a DVM or VOM and you should have zero ohms resistance between the V/R Foot and the battery negative ( - ) terminal.

You should be good to go.

[rmunro]

Thanks Roland. I'll just ignore the screw terminal on the back.


I go a step further, and run a line from the bolt at the mount direct to the negative post.

[rmunro]

B]Wellllllll!!!!!!!!! I spent the whole day yesterday on this VR and SG deal, and am right back where I started from. Confused.


Sunday, I found the thing would charge for a while then quit charging. Shut it off and restart, would charge again. Sometimes took couple restarts.


Found a surprise when I took regulator off. The battery and gen wires had the insulation melted off back a good 6 inches!!! I repaired that. Properly. Soldered and heat shrink.

Ohm tests show no short to ground.


Now, the new VR isn't labeled as per instructions. It is labeled field, battery, L. Of course when hooked up field , battery, and gen to load terminal it cranks starter soon as battery hooked up.

I tried to use the terminal on the back of the VR. Couldn't get it to charge at all.


Sooo, I put old VR back on, and presto---charge. But at around 15.5 volts!!! and only for about 4 minutes, and no charge. Tried grounding SG field terminal, and appears gen quit charging. Shut off, restart, and it would charge few minutes, and quit charging!!!!!


So now, It seems for sure the VR is screwed(BTW one of the mechanisms inside was blue), but also perhaps the SG has an issue??


I need the machine tomorrow/Thursday because we are going to get dumped on heavily. A foot or more.


All of the parts are going to local rebuilder for testing and repair this weekend.


How long will A U1 battery run the ignition???? And, any guesses on if it is running winch to raise/lower snowblade?? I may try to mount separate battery for winch. Don't know if I have room, or the time with constraints I have. I will be needing this unit the next couple days!!! Dang!!! I passed up on a 125 with blade, should have bought it for a back up I guess.

[scooter6175]

Not trying to get totally off the subject, I have a question on the v/r the one i removed off my 149 has a wire on the back (the under side) connecting between the ground and the field connectors, I am thinking (guessing) its a fuse of sorts, am I correct?, the reason I ask is i kind of broke the wire, I did replace the v/r but if it is something I could maybe fix why not fix it for a back up. any thoughts?

[R Bedell]

What you are describing "sounds" like a Wire Wound Resistor.

[scooter6175]

R Bedell sounds like your right!
just found this,
"Next is the Field resister ( usually located on the bottom side of the regulator) this is a fixed resistance to ground when the voltage regulator points are open."