charging problem

My problem is I am not getting any amperage to show on the tractor amp gage. It does show a slight discharge when I turn on the switch, which tells me that it should be in working order.

thanks for any advice you guys may have.

Problem then is the ammeter hand is somehow sticking and won't go to the + side of center. Verify by taking a small magnet and bringing it close to the face of the ammeter. Depending on how you orient the magnet it will cause the hand to deflect one way or the other from center. If you cannot cause the hand to move to the + side, replace the ammeter!

Might turn on your headlights or put something across the battery to discharge it (some) and then see if you get a charge indication on startup.

Using an Alternator says 12v system on your tractor which says current is half what it would be on a 6v system. Your ammeter may be 80 amp (like used on 6v systems) and if so you will have a hard time seeing anything; even what John said. A 30 ampere gauge will give you a better chance.

Since it is a mechanical device and your tractor is 30+ yrs old, water could have gotten into the mechanism and rusted out the works.

14v at the battery with a good ground to complete the circuit says that your charging ckt is doing it's job; at least attempting it.

I have seen batteries that were dead/dying that had high internal resistance such that you could not charge them at a very high current....like a couple of amperes max. Even on a 30 amp gauge you would have a hard time seeing anything.

With the switch on, and nothing being fed but your ignition, you should have a max of only 4-5 amperes which on a 30 amp gauge would show (if your points happened to be closed) but wouldn't see on an 80 amp gauge. Pushing the start button would only be a few more amps to energize the starting solenoid; still not much to see.

A pair of 35w headlights and rear light (if you had them) would be visable with the engine (alternator output) off.

My 2c

Mark

A tractor uses very little power. You have no radio or power windows to draw amps so the alternator does not need to replace them. In fact after it has recharged the battery from power lost during cranking the alternator is on easy street from then on.

The fact that it shows a discharge some times makes me think the gauge is working.

If you want a better way to see what is going on with the battery replace the amp gauge with a volt gauge. If you need help wiring it let us know.

Gerald J. (Electrical Engineer by trade).

With an ammeter, hook up a charger and you know right away how discharged it is.....unless it is high impedanced and essentially dead.

My 2c

Mark

Mark