Ford 641 Charging Issue

   / Ford 641 Charging Issue #1  

MoBill

New member
Joined
Aug 29, 2018
Messages
18
Tractor
Ford 641
I have a 1958 Ford 641 with a charging problem. It still has the original 6 volt positive ground system and is still using a generator. I had a charging problem a while back that required me to jump the regulator to get the red dash light to go out and the generator to charge.

Mysteriously, the tractor started acting normally after a while. I could start it up, rev the throttle a little, 1600 RPM or so, and the light would go out as it's supposed to. The other day, I started it and as usual, revved it a bit and the light went out and appeared normal. After mowing for a little while, I noticed the red dash light back on. I disengaged the PTO and mower, put it in neutral and revved it like I usually do. The light flickered but stayed on until I revved it to 2500. The light went out and I went back to mowing. The same thing happened again a little later.

How can I test to find the problem? I believe the generator works OK and I suspect the regulator again, but I don't like just throwing parts at it until it's solved.
 
   / Ford 641 Charging Issue #2  
have you cleaned the regulator?

pull the cover and using a fine emery cloth clean the contacts. Blow it out with air. After reinstalling make sure its got a really good ground contact. Polarize it again and see if it works better.
 
   / Ford 641 Charging Issue
  • Thread Starter
#3  
have you cleaned the regulator?

pull the cover and using a fine emery cloth clean the contacts. Blow it out with air. After reinstalling make sure its got a really good ground contact. Polarize it again and see if it works better.
I haven't tried that. I'll give it a try and see what happens. Thanks!
 
   / Ford 641 Charging Issue #4  
have you cleaned the regulator?

pull the cover and using a fine emery cloth clean the contacts. Blow it out with air. After reinstalling make sure its got a really good ground contact. Polarize it again and see if it works better.
Please tell us how to polarize a regulator. Thanks!
 
   / Ford 641 Charging Issue #5  
this makes it easy

also available in any old chilton or motors manual
 
   / Ford 641 Charging Issue #6  
That video shows a method to polarize a generator. You can't polarize a regulator.
 
   / Ford 641 Charging Issue #7  
didnt say to polarize the regulator only. fact is you can polarize the generator at the regulator. Easiest to do after reinstalling the regulator.
 

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