8N Ammeter

First thank you all for all of your helpful input on other posts I have added to this board. The collective expertise of the participants is amazing!

I have a "47 8N S/N 2185 front mount 6 volt. My question has to do with a lack of ammeter readings. I recently replaced my old ammeter with a new one. The old one did not seem to read anything and was the old induction type with the wire merely passing through a loop on the rear. I cut that wire and added terminal rings and secured the terminals to the new meter ( after accidentally grounding one side which created a major spark). the wire was hot from the battery without the ignition switch (a two position push/pull switch) being pulled to the on position. There does not seem to be any needle movement when the switch is turned on or when the tractor is running. It would seem to me that when the ignition switch is pulled on there should be some indication of discharge and when the tractor is running there should be a charge indication. The needle does not move at all.

I am not an electrical type so trouble shooting isn"t readily apparent for me. What is the best way to check the generator for output and is it possible that the wrong wire might have run through the original ammeter when I acquired the tractor?

There are not very many wires run on the tractor. It does not have lights ... yet.

Any thoughts/suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Art in Cortez, CO.

Study that diagram.. it will be obvious why yhr ammeter side was hot with no key switch on.

Soundguy

Hook a bulb from meter to ground & see if it moves when bulb lights. Try both terminals, one at a time with bulb from either terminal to chassis ground.

Thanks, that makes sense, is simple and I'll definately give it a try.

Art