Locating charging fault?

[johnbuckley]

Recent 29 Tudor shows no charge ( ammeter works as lights show a discharge). Fault is presumably generator not functioning OR cut out not functioning - anyone got a fool proof methodology to track ,trace and resolve the situation?

[Mike V. Florida]

With the belt real loose (or off) jump across the cutout terminals and see if the generator motors slowly in the same direction it normally runs.

Also connect a battery charger to the output side of the cutout and a good ground. You should now be charging the battery and the ammeter should a charge.

[Tom Wesenberg]

To eliminate a bad cutout, simply jump across the two cutout terminals while the engine is running. If you now show a charge, the cutout needs to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced.

Do NOT run a generator without it being connected to the battery, or it will put out up to 40 volts and burn itself out. If you must run it, then connect the output post to ground to keep the output voltage at zero. Examples of the generator not being connected to the battery are a bad ammeter, bad cutout, loose or corroded connections in the charging circuit, and anything else that can leave the circuit open.

When I was at French Lick, I saw the Theiman tractor driven into the swap area inside the building. I walked over to it and noticed the generator wasn't wired to anything. I asked how long he had driven it this way, and he said about 30 minutes. The generator was too hot to touch, and I wonder if it survived?

[johnbuckley]

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Thanks Mike and Tom, you expert advice much appreciated as always, John