Flash the Field?

HTH,
Dan

The large, HEAVY cutout contacts will be open, however, the field relay contacts will be CLOSED, whether there is one field relay (combination voltage and current), or two (one for overcurrent regulation, and one for voltage regulation).

Having these contacts closed at startup "full-fields" the generator, 'til it comes up to speed, and current and/or voltage regulation kicks in, and the appropriate contacts begine to vibrate, limiting volage and current ot a safe level by interrupting field current.

Dan

The A Type Field Terminal is (NC) connected to "Ground" via both the current & voltage Relays.

The B Type field Terminal is (NC) connected to the Armature Terminal via both the Current & Voltage Relays.

This regulation method is one of the bad features of a Generator. The Generator has residual(uncontrollable)Magnetism and must be Turned-off (regulated) by "reducing" the field current. Its akin to controlling the speed of your Car using the brakes, with the Gas Pedal floored.

Most PLL know better then to Short the +ve (Pos)& -ve (neg) posts of a battery but they don't consider that when the wires or contacts are smaller. The Smaller wires or relay contacts have near the "SAME" potential, as the Battery Posts, and will try to supply the >150 amps but will self destruct.

This is why PLL that play with the regulator Field Terminal damage the Regulator &/or the wiring.

JMHO

The field "relays" are "N.C.".

ALL the "relays" are "up" (away from the coil/core) at startup, so they appear the same at first glance. However, the contact arrangement is just the opposite, the field units' contacts are actually "closed".

If this a Class A GEN:
NEVER Connect the Field Terminal of the VR to anything but the field terminal of the GEN (its the VR relay Ground connection)

Class A & B GEN
You Polarize the Field poles by Momentarily Connecting the VR BAT term to the VR Armature Term. This provides voltage to the hot side of the Field coils & thus current flow via the VR Field Term. JMHO

Based upon yer brief description, YOU MISS-WIRED the genny barrel studs. (and its eazy to do)

Yer genny barrel studs are actually labeled FIELD (this is an INSULATED post) and GND. (look closely) You have 2-skinny wires connected to the genny barrel from yer 4-terminal squarecan voltage regulator.

The skinny BLACK with RED tracer is GROUND at both ends of the harness (genny barrel and squarecan VR attaching screw)

The skinny BLACK with WHITE tracer is the INSULATED FIELD stud to squarecan "F" terminal.

Iff'n you incorrectly grounded yer field and fielded yer ground as I suspect, then yeah, SPARKIES!!!

It should be intuitively obvious, UN-CROSS yer genny barrel wiring and 'vola' yer correctly wired. Even though the colors are incorrect, electrons don't know the difference, isn't that amazing???

You'll be real lucky you iff'n you didn't MELT yer genny barrel wire insulation.

Surprizingly enuff, yer genny didn't gitt hurt by being miss-wired. Wiring harness and squarecan voltage regulator, different story.

Consider it a $15 lesson in how to wire yer simple tractor electrics..... ... respectfully, Dell

New modern squarecan V/R are much more stout and don't need shockmount. Not only that, but modern replacement V/R's don't fit the old V/R attachment nutplates. Replacement V/R's need a flatplate adapter that usually comes with NEW V/R.

To get a V/R with flatplate adapter, order 8N10505B. The 8N10505C comes without adapter..... ..HTH, Dell

This is an "A" type system, right?

How is reversing the GND and FLD at the generator going to cause a dead short BEFORE he's ever started it, when he first connects up the battery???

If he WERE to start it, it would charge like HELL, 'cause it's "full-fielded", but there will be NO short before startup.

If he's told us the story exactly as it happened, up to this point, something else is wrong... other mis-wiring, or a shorted VR.

A conventional regulator for a generator does not stick in one "polarity state" or the "other", but could be defective, or maybe someone else tried it, started the tractor, and welded the points shut, then returned it, and you got stuck with a ruined regulator?

NOTE... A voltage regulator doesn't require "flashing" or "polarizing", but the generator MAY, to restore the residual magnetism in it's field polepieces.

If it was working for the generator guy, and he knew it was to be polarized (+) ground, and it hasn't been apart or banged around since he "ran" it, it shouldn't even need polarizing, although it NEVER hurts to do that.