One electric fix causes another problem??

[Todd8665]

So my alternator went on my 2210. After considering switching to a alternator with the regulator built in, I went with the stock alternator, and picked up a new solid state regulator.

I removed the old voltage regulator (had to drill out one of the screws cause I cant get stinking steering wheel pulled off..another story) put the new one in. Took off old alternator and installed new one. Started tractor and tested voltage at battery (before start up and after). Woo hoo everything good now. Flipped on my LED work light to see what that would do to draw - came on nice and bright with no detectable effect on volts. Turned on headlights and....nothing...no headlights came on, and no dash lights. Running lights/turn signal worked fine. Checked fuses and they were fine. Shut down tractor and plugged in old regulator. Still nothing.


I have a YM276 manual and went through the pin tests on the voltage regulator per the manual. The new solid state didn't test well, but I'm not convinced that the book and regulator match up. Tested the old regulator and it passed the test. ???

Ideas? Suggestions??

 

[Xfaxman]

Check the voltage on the head light switch and troubleshoot from there.

 

[careyo63]

The new solid state didn't test well, but I'm not convinced that the book and regulator match up. Tested the old regulator and it passed the test. ???

I have both type of Reg. also. The Prev. owner installed and not long after I bought it I had problems with the Chrg. light flashing or coming on. Drove me nuts! Both type reg. tested fine. Alt. was fine. Finally found the Prob. on the Fuse Panel. Loose,Dirty connection on the back to the Fuse Panel. May not be the same but check your connections there.

 

[Todd8665]

Thanks Xfaxman. As i was typing my post I was thinking the same thing...

 

[Todd8665]

Thanks carey63. Ya know I was behind there when I hooked up my LED worklight. I might have knocked something loose...

 

[Todd8665]

Mystery solved; all bad timing. The plug that goes to the switch had one terminal that was corroded. Cleaned it up and we are back in business.

 

[clemsonfor]

My head lights sometime work and sometime not?? when they dont the dash lights dont work either? Sometimes the lights come on but if i cut them off they wont go back on or the dash lights. If i cut the key off and back on the dash lights are back??? I think its either a key switch issue or a light switch issue? I dunno. i have the new updated fuse panel to install when i get to the farm next time and get rid of the old box. This way i can install a LED work light easier as well.

 

[roadhunter]

Good to hear you got it figured out. Projects like that are really frustrating. Great job!

 

[winston1]

My head lights sometime work and sometime not?? when they dont the dash lights dont work either? Sometimes the lights come on but if i cut them off they wont go back on or the dash lights. If i cut the key off and back on the dash lights are back??? I think its either a key switch issue or a light switch issue? I dunno. i have the new updated fuse panel to install when i get to the farm next time and get rid of the old box. This way i can install a LED work light easier as well.

My light switch sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. I have to sometimes open and close it several times but then it works.

 

[clemsonfor]

sometimes it takes a few tries like you winston. But i have noticed if i switch the key on it usually works that first time if it will. Sometimes the dims work but brights make all the lights go out and untill i switch the key on/off nothing will light up. Its so strange. I think the new fuse panel and me cleaning and checking connections should help out. The key switch must be suspect as that seems to be a key??

 

[grayw0lf]

Grounds. Anytime I have electrical gremlins, especially ones that move around, I suspect grounds. It never hurts to add a few grounds here & there.
All 3 of my old Chevy trucks had serious electrical gremlins. I added a few extra grounds to each & 95% of my electrical nightmares went away.

Also suspect grounds if you have cleaned up & sprayed a little paint lately. Its nice to get stuff good & clean, but that's where many gremlins come from.

 

[Todd8665]

Well.... Few weeks have gone by since i installed the new alternator and SS voltage regulator and the alternator/charge light has begun to flicker on. I've noticed if I turn on one of the lights it doesn't come on/happen at all?? Again i suspect a grounding issue. Guess I'll add a few like grayw0lf suggested and see if that helps. Other than that you can see me driving with the headlights on at high noon...

 

[careyo63]

My Bad connection on the Fuse Panel done the same thing. I kept a volt meter bungy chorded to the Battery so I could check the Volts and know if I was charging when it started blinking. 13.75 and it would start flashing. I pretty much new It was a bad connection. Finding it drove me nuts though. It was on the 5amp on the Fuse panel I believe.

 

[445A]

Todd8665 I am a big believer in extra grounds, like greywOlf. One of the most important ground circuits that uses sheet metal, instead of running a separate wire, is the voltage regulator ground. The case of the regulator MUST be grounded, weather mechanical or solid state. I run a wire from one of the mounting screws/bolts directly to the case stud on the alternator. This eliminates any points where resistance can build up due to poor connection. I have seen the light come on at low RPMs and that made me think about pulley diameter. The smaller the alt. pulley the faster it spins. Did the alt. come with a pulley or did you use the old one? I always remove the new one and install the old one to be sure. Curious to hear back from you when you get your problem solved. Knowledge IS power, so spread it around! Good luck. 445A