As previously posted, I have a '50 side mount with a hyperactive ammeter. Based on a bunch of solid suggestions from this Board (Dell, Bg, Soundguy, etc), the Claus 8n website for the electrically challenged (very helpful) and the IT-F04, I think I've got my problem isolated to the voltage regulator. Per previous instructions, I put a multimeter on the battery with the engine stopped - it read 6.2 volts. Started the tractor and ran the engine up to about 1500 rpms, battery then read 8.6 volts. I haven't used the tractor enough to boil much water out of the battery, but not good..... Ammeter showing charge of between 5 and max, fluctuating rapidly. I then removed the field terminal from the VR with the tractor running. The ammeter went to zero. According to everything I've read, looks like a bad VR, right? Ok, took the VR apart and one side (I assume the voltage regulating side) had virtually no gap at the points, so I loosed the adjustment bolt and widened the gap. At first, the voltage went higher (over 9 volts) as I increased the gap, then as I got the max adjustment, fell off to 6.5 volts at the battery with the tractor running. Ammeter shows -0- or maybe just a tad positive. I ran the tractor like this for about thirty minutes, didn't get any discharge. Turned the tractor over for about 20 seconds or so with the ignition off, then started and didn't get much increase. I pulled the field terminal off the VR and the ammeter went positive, although not all the way to 20 amps. My tinkering may have temporarily "fixed" the VR, but I assume I need a new one. I didn't do much to test the generator, other than to take the voltage at the arm/ground with the tractor running - forgot to write down the exact number, but was over 9 volts. What am I missing? Thanks again.
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