Alternator is not charging

[Jones01]

My alternator is not taking a charge. I have to jump the tractor every time I start it. Could it be a bad ignition? The tackometer won't work either.
Would it just be that it needs a new battery? Could it be the alternator? OR could it be the ignition switch not letting it charge?

 

[Looking4new]

Welcome to TBN.
The alternator charges the battery, not the other way around. I would get the alternator checked out first before blaming anything else on the tractor.

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[Tx Jim]

After tractor engine is running check battery voltage with a volt/ohm meter. It's possible besides bad alternator or regulator that the battery is BAD.

 

[Zebrafive]

Does your dash have an indicator light? It might be a picture of a battery. Does it light with the key ON, but engine NOT running? Does it go OUT when the engine is running?

 

[kuboman]

A lot of electronic tachs take the signal from the alternator. If it is not working then the tach will not work either.

 

[joshuabardwell]

First, measure the battery voltage when the tractor is not running. If the battery is dead, it will probably read below 11 volts. Next, jump the tractor so it is running, then measure the battery voltage again. If the alternator is working, the voltage should have gone up. Typical charging voltage for a 12 volt system is 14.0-14.5 volts. If the system voltage never goes to 14 volts or thereabouts when the tractor is running, the alternator isn't charging. If the system voltage is around 14 volts when the tractor is running, then the alternator is probably working and you probably have a bad battery or a bad connection to your battery.

 

[LD1]

Def. need more feedback.

Could be the alternator. Could be the battery. Without a volt meter and some feedback, we cant help much based on what you have said.

It is also possible that neither is bad. But that you have something draining the battery after you shut the tractor off. And the next time you go to use it the batter is dead again.

 

[Xfaxman]

My alternator is not taking a charge. I have to jump the tractor every time I start it. Could it be a bad ignition? The tackometer won't work either.
Would it just be that it needs a new battery? Could it be the alternator? OR could it be the ignition switch not letting it charge?

:welcome: to TractorByNet! :thumbsup:

If you don't have a meter, remove the negative battery cable and clean both ends and the frame or engine block where it connects. while it is off, remove the positive cable, clean it and the battery posts. Put the positive cable back on first, then the negative.

If it still doesn't work after checking the electrolyte level and charging the battery, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhRPLgH6uZg