Voltage Regulator Issue

[Al C. 1,429]

My 1967 Wheel Horse T1067 developed an electrical problem last week.  The generator light started coming on at full throttle.  I did some testing.  The generator was putting out plenty of volts.  I opened up the regulator and noticed that one of the contacts was sparking when the generator light was on (see pictures and arrows).  So I sanded the contacts lightly and adjusted the contact head so that the points made full contact at full throttle.  The generator light now seems to be functioning normally.  I have no idea why what I did seems to have fixed the problem, or why the problem started in the first place.  Can anyone help me with an explanation?  Have I potentially caused another problem down the road with my solution?  Thanks!

 

Edited September 22 by Al C.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,776]

This old Kohler service manual has a good section on the starter/generator.

 

[JimSraj 558]

I can’t help you with your question but I do want to compliment you on the way you have maintained that tractor over its lifetime. It’s a beauty!

[adsm08 3,710]

The regulator is just a series of electro-magnets and contact points. As the voltages change so do the strengths of the magnetic fields. This sets the voltage. It also causes the contacts to "float" ever fully in contact, or fully apart. This allows arcing. Arcing causes carbon build up. Carbon is not very conductive and will cause issues. Cleaning the contact points allowed for better continuity, and thus better operation.

 

Depending on the grit of the sand paper used you may have removed some protective coating, but it may have also been burned off if there was enough carbon build up to cause issues.

 

I'd run it and see if any new issues crop up before replacing it. 

[Handy Don 14,869]

 

You went to the right place and did the right thing as the first step!

 

The WH “generator” light illuminates when the engine is running and voltage being put out by the charging system is less than what is already in the battery.

 

The WH regulator really does two jobs:

- connects the generator to the battery only once it is putting out more than 12v (electromagnet #1’s contacts) and

- regulates the voltage that is charging the battery (“floating” electromagnet #2’s contacts). 

 

it’d be a good idea, if you can, to confirm that the charging voltage is now in an acceptable range. After the engine has been running for a few minutes, set the speed to about half-throttle and use a voltmeter to check across the battery terminals. Ideally, it should be between 13.5 and 14.5 volts.

Edited September 23 by Handy Don

[ri702bill 10,245]

The #1 set of contacts have one more important job...... They must be open when the tractor is off to prevent completing a circuit that will drain the battery... Sometimes they "weld" themselves together allowing the battery to drain.

[702854boy 323]

8 hours ago, ri702bill said:

Sometimes they "weld" themselves together allowing the battery to drain.

Do know what would cause this as on my tractor the couple of times I started my tractor today and drove it around after rewiring and stuff the contacts that turn the starter on were stuck closed after the engine being hot? And do you know how to resolve the problem?

Edited September 24 by 702854boy

[Handy Don 14,869]

This thead has been about the contacts in the regulator on a starter/generator engine.

Is your question about that or about a starter solenoid?

 

Generally, the regulator is very tightly sealed from outside dust, moisture, etc. Having the “#1” electromagnet’s contacts weld shut is pretty rare and the likeliest cause, IMHO, would be that the spring that opens them, or some other part of the mechanism, has failed. Also possible is that someone was in there and introduced some foreign substance to the contacts that heated, burned, and caused them to stick. 

[702854boy 323]

7 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Is your question about that

Yes

[ri702bill 10,245]

7 hours ago, Handy Don said:

This thead has been about the contacts in the regulator on a starter/generator engine.

Is your question about that or about a starter solenoid?

 

Generally, the regulator is very tightly sealed from outside dust, moisture, etc. Having the “#1” electromagnet’s contacts weld shut is pretty rare and the likeliest cause, IMHO, would be that the spring that opens them, or some other part of the mechanism, has failed. Also possible is that someone was in there and introduced some foreign substance to the contacts that heated, burned, and caused them to stick. 

Don pretty much covered it, but I have attached a couple of OLD Delco Remy documents with more specific info. Makes for good reading - even with the super corny illustrations.

Note that some maintainence MUST be done with the battery disconnected.....

 

Delco Remy Regulator Manual 1R-116.pdf delco_remy_regulator_service 1R-111.pdf

[702854boy 323]

20 hours ago, Handy Don said:

IMHO, would be that the spring that opens them, or some other part of the mechanism, has failed.

I did a little bit of messing around and all I had to do was loosen the screw that is under the plate thingy for that electro magnet as it was too close and was allowing the contacts to stick when hot but not when cold. Knock on wood, everything works now

[Al C. 1,429]

Thanks everyone for pitching in.  It leads me to believe I’m on the right track.  I’m going to run with my fix for a while and see what happens.  I’ve noticed that the voltage reading off the alternator is a little low after the adjustment I made to the regulator contact gap.  We’ll see what happens.  In the meantime, I went ahead and ordered the replacement part.  Better safe than sorry.  Can never hurt to have a spare in inventory.  Thanks!