Cub 100 Delco-Remy Voltage Regulator Bench Test

cnewell · #1 09-04-2018, 07:55 AM

Electrical is not my strong suit. Is there a simple procedure to bench test a Delco Remy Voltage Regulator from a Cub 100 on the bench, completely disconnected or does it need to be all wire up on the tractor with a battery to check it properly?

Also, if it’s bad has anyone had decent performance from a NOS Cub Cadet regulator (IH-545130 R93) vs the original Delco-Remy part? I’m assuming you get what you pay for with the cheaper aftermarket stuff.

Thanks!

cooperino · #2 09-04-2018, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnewell

Electrical is not my strong suit. Is there a simple procedure to bench test a Delco Remy Voltage Regulator from a Cub 100 on the bench, completely disconnected or does it need to be all wire up on the tractor with a battery to check it properly?

Also, if it’s bad has anyone had decent performance from a NOS Cub Cadet regulator (IH-545130 R93) vs the original Delco-Remy part? I’m assuming you get what you pay for with the cheaper aftermarket stuff.

Thanks!

When it is connected normally to tractor there is an easy test to check weather your gen/starter is bad or of the VR is bad. I am assuming your battery is not charging.

If you provide ground to the F terminal on the SG and it puts out charge to battery the VR is likely bad. Do not ground this longer than a a few seconds. Have a volt meter attached to the battery while doing this to see the voltage increase or look at you charge meter on dash board. You will hear a load on the engine also if the SG starts charging

Before doing this check to see if wiring looks good. Clean and tight connections. etc.

ol'George · #3 09-04-2018, 11:04 AM

Also check that the regulator is grounded well or it will not work.
Most that are rubber vibration mounted, have a braided ground strap that sometimes breaks.
And as far as how long you can ground the field terminal as a check, is not that time sensitive.
A few minutes will not hurt anything has been my findings working on them, back in the 50's & early 60's when they were installed on most everything.
Also give the wire wound resistor a good look on the bottom side, as they sometimes get broken, usually from physical abuse.

twoton · #4 09-04-2018, 02:24 PM

Ol'George, I may be mistaken, but I think I recall you saying that you have remote wired a VR using an extension cord so you can work on it on a bench away from the running tractor??

cooperino · #5 09-04-2018, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twoton

Ol'George, I may be mistaken, but I think I recall you saying that you have remote wired a VR using an extension cord so you can work on it on a bench away from the running tractor??

No reason you couldn't do that.. Jest need 4 wires but thats not really testing independently from the tractor. I think the OP wanted to bench test without the SG in line. You could test the coils and so on as long as you knew what the specs are. There was a discussion here not long ago about the resistor on the back and I don't think anyone knew the spec on the resistor.

ol'George · #6 09-04-2018, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twoton

Ol'George, I may be mistaken, but I think I recall you saying that you have remote wired a VR using an extension cord so you can work on it on a bench away from the running tractor??

Well I don't think it was me that said that, but I can't remember sometimes if I'm scratchin' me watch er winding me ass.
Ya it could be done but me thinks it would be just as easy to hook it up on the tractor.
That said:
They used to caution us that adjusting then on a vehicle was a no-no as Delco set them @ the factory in a controlled temperature room with precise equipment, but we still "tweaked" them and most time it worked fine.

cnewell · #7 09-04-2018, 09:23 PM

Thanks All! I’ll try to use these methods once I get everything hooked back up. Any recommendations on source for a new one if it does test bad? Should I stay away from the cheaper aftermarket stuff?

cooperino · #8 09-04-2018, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnewell

Thanks All! I’ll try to use these methods once I get everything hooked back up. Any recommendations on source for a new one if it does test bad? Should I stay away from the cheaper aftermarket stuff?

Nothin wrong with after market. I have had good luck with this one

https://www.dbelectrical.com/product...545130r92.html

ol'George · #9 09-05-2018, 08:08 AM

Be advised some aftermarket regulators, while having 3 or 4 terminals are not as they appear.
#1,
Be sure that the terminals are marked, and you read what they are marked as,
----------not where they are located.
Again, read the markings on the regulator and match them with the wire terminals on your tractor, not where they necessarily were located on the previous regulator.
Batt to batt, field to field, armature to armature.
Also be advised, some armatures are marked "G" or Gen. (generator) it is not a ground.

If your luck is really really good, and you happen to hook them up wrong.
nothing bad will happen, it will just not work, or not stop turning over or other "oh shit stuff"

If your luck is not good, ----have you won the lottery lately?
the magic smoke will escape from the system, and everyone knows,
no magic smoke, no workie, no refund on electrical components

twoton · #10 09-05-2018, 05:48 PM

cnewell , this is the VR thread I was thinking of;

https://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/...017#post180017

And you're right ol'George,

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol'George

Well I don't think it was me that said that, but.....

It wasn't you. You have a better memory than I do!

It was Mark;

https://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/...536#post317536

Good info in both those threads.