Polarizing a generator

[plowhog]

I am trying to fire up an old gas powered tractor. I know it ran about 6 months ago because I started it. Then I removed the battery to charge it and now it behaves oddly. The dash gauges flash, and it won't turn the starter.

Reading the manual, it says to use a screwdriver to jump two of the terminals on the generator if you have disconnected and reconnected the battery. And it cautions to never touch the third terminal on the generator or bad things will happen. Of course those terminals are in an area nearly impossible to reach, and one of the leads going to one of the terminals was snipped off by someone in the past. I can't get close enough to even see the markings on the terminals to figure out which are the two I should jump vs. the one I should avoid.

The manual says this process is needed to properly polarize the generator. I've never heard of that. Does this sound right?

 

[Gem99ultra]

yep - that's exactly right, as most old-timers will verify. Thank goodness for alternators.

 

[TractorGuy]

These may sound like stupid questions. You didn't accidentally connect the battery backwards did you? Is it a positive ground system?

 

[Garandman]

If a mechanic’s mirror won’t do it, the flexible-tube video cameras are pretty cheap and there are add-ones for smart phones.

 

[plowhog]

This tractor has been poorly maintained. Baling wire, chewing gum, and hydraulic leaks a plenty.

The RED battery lead is connected to the minus terminal on the battery and it goes to ground. BLACK connects to the positive terminal and it goes to the starter solenoid. Agghh. I checked the manual and it is a negative ground system. So I believe it is wired correctly although the wrong colors are in place.

 

[RickB]

Too bad you managed to tell us everything except the brand and model of the tractor. There are two different charging systems Each with specific methods of polarizing the generator.

 

[plowhog]

International 3414.

 

[rScotty]

International 3414.

Do you have any wiring diagrams for that 3414? I'm pretty familiar with generators - but not with how any specific models are wired.
Do yours have a voltage regulator? Can you test that?
rScotty

 

[RickB]

With the battery connected with negative ground, take a jumper wire and briefly connect bat. To gen. at the regulator or take a longer wire and flash the positive battery post and ARM terminal on the generator.

 

[plowhog]

Thank you all. I do have a factory manual and I believe it has a usable wiring diagram. But I'm away from the property right now. I'll try to get and post it here when I can.

Off topic, I had momma bear and her cub on our front porch last night, then one of them knocked over my outside high voltage pull box, the one of them opened the sliding barn doors. Think there were only two based on remote viewing of cameras, but might learn more with local viewing of footage. Aggh. Teaching the cub how to be a nuisance bear isn't going to end well.