voltage regulator

[dagenham]

Has anyone ever "rebuilt" their voltage regulator???
I think mine quite working on my 127 but I'm not sure yet.
I cant imagine there is much in there to go wrong.

[CADplans]

I believe the regulator is kind of a safety valve between the starter-generator and the battery.

If the rebuild is not quite right, you could loose the starter-generator, or battery, or both.

How much money do you have, to risk, if the rebuild of the regulator is not quite right?

[J-Mech]

...... I don't think they can be rebuilt. You can't get parts for them anyways. If I wrong, please correct me. Yeah, they look simple..... But, their a little more complicated than you think.

[save_old_iron]

there is little to go wrong mechanically, but electrically, 99% of the time its the aging and decay of the tungsten coated relay contacts that promote most of the failures.

externally, the unprotected flexible braided ground wire spanning the mounting bracket to the regulator body will eventually corrode away and the rubber mounts can deteriorate to the point the engine vibration can affect the operation of the relays or strain and further degrade the ground strap.

external to the regulator unit, wiring faults account for most of the failures

if you do not put the sealing gasket back on the cover of the unit, hydrocarbon vapors will get inside the regulator housing quicker and accelerate the corrosion of the relay contacts

if you could find the little relay contact buttons for sale, and press fit new contacts into the relay arms, you could renew and adjust the regulators back to near new performance

if anyone is interested, I can post a detailed but easy to understand explanation of how they work.

[R Bedell]

In my view, unless you have highly accurate test equipment (DVM and DC Ammeter), know how to use them, and have the OEM specifications, have the precision power source and loads, any attempt to rebuild is a SWAG.

[save_old_iron]

agreed

basic functions such as stuck contacts can sometimes restore operation just by a simple cleaning of the relay contacts. The ones I have "restored" generally fall within a range the manufacturer considers acceptable If I clean the relay contacts and see the ammeter surge to +10 and taper off to 3 or 4 after a minute or two - I feel the reg is doing its job. I really don't worry if I can squeeze exactly 15 amps thru the reg, just so i can restart the tractor after I shut it off.

If I can measure between 13.5 and 14.5 on the battery during recharge, I don't try to tweek it any further. I just enjoy the 6 months or more life I just breathed back into the reg and start a search for a replacement.

If I didn't have to buy a minimum order of 25,000 relay contacts from overseas suppliers, I would do the contact replacements.

[Yosemite Sam]

Originally Posted by save_old_iron

if anyone is interested, I can post a detailed but easy to understand explanation of how they work.

Yes, if you would, I'd love to read it.

[save_old_iron]

I started to put a tutorial together a few weeks back for some frequent questions on another forum. A multi pronged appliance revolution at home and daughter's wedding kept me from completing it in a timely fashion. I'll have to get back into it after I slam the lid shut on refilling the resin beads in my water softener and ending a battle with carpenter bee's in the barn. Not sure if I will win or they will win but I sense something drastic about to happen.

[CADplans]

Originally Posted by save_old_iron

I started to put a tutorial together a few weeks back for some frequent questions on another forum. A multi pronged appliance revolution at home and daughter's wedding kept me from completing it in a timely fashion. I'll have to get back into it after I slam the lid shut on refilling the resin beads in my water softener and ending a battle with carpenter bee's in the barn. Not sure if I will win or they will win but I sense something drastic about to happen.

Use this on the carpenter bees,

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...=&cm_vc=-10005

Then you can get back to the writeup!!

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by save_old_iron

ending a battle with carpenter bee's in the barn. Not sure if I will win or they will win but I sense something drastic about to happen.

I have the same problem. They die fast when you lace them with brake clean. May try the stuff CAD recomends.