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Harry Ferguson Tractors Discussion Forum
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TO-35 ammeter needle shaking? Help!

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770

04-10-2008 18:02:53




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I have a 1958 TO-35 gas. Generator seems OK (charges, it was rebuilt a few years ago), new wiring, battery.... The ammeter needle shows in the charging side when running, but the needle shakes something fierce. I put on a new voltage regulator, but the needle still shakes. I want to sell, but would like to make sure that it's right for the new owner to be. Any ideas??? Thanks!




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ChallengeHill

04-13-2008 08:16:35




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 Re: TO-35 ammeter needle shaking? Help! in reply to 770, 04-10-2008 18:02:53  
Sometimes a poor connection in the wiring will cause a problem like this because the weak connection drives the regulator nuts. (Most pronounced with mechanical regulators) I ran into this problem when restoring my "66 Dodge A-100 pickup. As my electical shop instructor used to say: Connections, Connections, Connections!
Hope this helps.



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Fred Martin

04-11-2008 08:43:25




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 Re: TO-35 ammeter needle shaking? Help! in reply to 770, 04-10-2008 18:02:53  
Mine wouldn't work at all...so I smacked it on the tire and now it vibrates all the time. ohfred



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Jeff-oh

04-11-2008 05:53:29




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 Re: TO-35 ammeter needle shaking? Help! in reply to 770, 04-10-2008 18:02:53  
Could it be mechanical vibration not electrical vibration? i.e. just the shaking coming from the engine vibration.



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Don Hooks*

04-10-2008 19:07:32




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 Re: TO-35 ammeter needle shaking? Help! in reply to 770, 04-10-2008 18:02:53  
Fred is right, most mechanical gauges are dampened in some fashion. On the other hand, the new wiring may have a bad connection that engine vibration causes to partially open. If you can borrow an ammeter from another application and temporarily hook it into the current wiring you should have your answer. If the "new" ammeter jumps around try holding parts of your wiring harness steady to see if you can locate a bad connection. I had a broken wire in my generator that touched its intended mate some of the time and I tried two replacement voltage regulators before I found the real problem.

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770

04-11-2008 13:14:05




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 Re: TO-35 ammeter needle shaking? Help! in reply to Don Hooks*, 04-10-2008 19:07:32  
When you first start it, the needle is steady for about 10 seconds, then it dances around like crazy. I do have a good used ammeter. maybe I'll try it out. I'll let everyone know. THANKS!



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Dell (WA)

04-12-2008 12:43:23




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 Re: TO-35 ammeter needle shaking? Help! in reply to 770, 04-11-2008 13:14:05  
770..... .there is 'nuttin' wrong with yer ammeter, its yer "vibrating relay" inside yer squarecan voltage regulator. Its sticking for some reason. The voltage regulator "turns-on, turns-off" the genny field, (viberating) thus controlling the genny armature volts output. This variable output is "damped" by the HUGE battery load and neither voltmeters nor ammeters see this due to the battery.

That said, many modern digital voltmeters will still try to "detect" the peak-volts of the natural arc-spark of the brushes going across the armature bars; and are very "un-steady" reading tractor genny circuits and are "all-over" the place with digital readouts. Its a technical thing called "peak sample and hold" detector.

I know you said you replaced yer voltage regulator, but guess what??? Its STILL BAD! ..... .respectfully Dell

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770

04-25-2008 13:46:31




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 Re: TO-35 ammeter needle shaking? Help! in reply to Dell (WA), 04-12-2008 12:43:23  
After TWO new regulators...and a used one, It was the ammeter.



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Fred T. Hart Jr.

04-10-2008 18:54:14




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 Re: TO-35 ammeter needle shaking? Help! in reply to 770, 04-10-2008 18:02:53  
Probably the gauge, I replaced the one on my TO-35, do not remember why. Guess the face pealed and could not read numbers any more.

I believe the gauges have a dampen feature and this keeps gauge needle from moving so.

I installed a stewart warner gauge and it works great.



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