posted October 22, 2006 00:44               

I have a mid-1960s Ford Super Dexta.

Everytime I want to start it, I have to hook the battery to a charger.

This started happening almost a year ago, and I haven't been able to get past the problem.

Since the problem started:

I have changed the battery. New battery worked fine for the first half dozen starts, then died.

I have changed the solenoid. The old one was overheating, wires melting solder... I did not find an original part, but the people at Fisher gave me an old (1970s) Ford truck part, which seems to work. The machine starts when the battery is charged.

I have taken the generator off and pulled it apart to inspect it as per the manual. It seems in good working order. I tried testing the current coming out of it, but fear I don't have the right kind of volt meter, as I get no reading at all.

I have followed the wiring but lose track of where the striped red and white wire goes. The yellow wire ties into the solenoid (I think).

Since the problem started, we have dismantled the display panel (I was fixing another problem), but everything on the panel seems to be in good order. There is one light that used to light up but doesn't anymore (a clue?)...

I wonder what I'm missing. Please advise.

My guesses:

The tractor is positive ground. I've tried reversing the wiring on the solenoid - doesn't seem to help.

The wiring - it's all taped together and I wanted to avoid pulling it all apart, since most of the wiring seems to be working alright.

That little light - it used to come on and then go off. I think it indicates temperature - at least, it used to come on if the tractor started getting hot...maybe I was misreading that. When we put the display back together and it didn't work, I didn't worry - just a little light, right?

Would appreciate your help...

Thanks

posted October 24, 2006 18:50               

A simple volt meter across the battery terminals will tell you if the dynamo is charging. It should read 12.8 volts then rise to 14-15 volts when the engine is reved to about 1200 rpm.

The dynamo itself could be the fault or the control box under the dash panel in front of the gearsticks.

The battery should be positive earth. By reversing the polarity you may have damaged the regulator and the dynamo as a worst case senario.

The two lights on the dash. One is the charge light which goes out if the dynamo is charging, the other is the oil pressure light. Neither are anything to do with temperature but I would suspect that the oil light came on when you overheated the engine.

Have you checked the bulbs in the lights?

You will find a wiring diagram in the archives also some answers to some electrical problems. I would advise you to get some form of multimeter and a circuit diagram before you start changing wires around.

Post again if you run into other problems or if you need further aid with the wiring diagram.

posted October 27, 2006 01:43               

I will try the bulbs and control box, I expect something has become unplugged. I have an electrical diagram but was looking for an easier fix than pulling all those wires apart... you're right - can't see electricity... easier to pull the hard machine apart and get it back together than to fiddle with wiring!

Thanks

posted October 27, 2006 02:51            

If you go to the Sterling British Motoring Society web page they have a great PDF that explains how to test and set up any Lucas generator. http://www.sterlingbritishmotoringsociety.org/resources.htm I have have found it very simple to follow and if you know how to read a multimeter it should be dead easy to find your problem if you follow the instructions. I hope this helps.

posted October 28, 2006 15:53               

I pulled the control box open this morning.

I should have done this part first! (Personal phobia: wiring!)

What a mess. Every wire in there has been patched with tape, spare bits of wire, etc.

Turns out the yellow/red wire from the generator was frayed/disconnected/mouse chewed...

patched it (properly) and started up Dexter!

There's a beautiful charge across the battery, the charging light goes out as it should, and everything is wonderful on the farm this morning - despite the rain.

p.s. Frank - thanks for the new website to add to my tractor resources. 20 years ago, I would have been lost!