149 Charging Issues

Rev.Matthew · #1 04-22-2014, 08:20 AM

Hello everyone, this is my first post--but have used this site a LOT over the winter to help me and my son (he's 13) as we're rebuilding a hot mess of a 149. Here's the issue: it won't charge the battery. Here are the details: Bought a new battery, replaced the spark plug, checked all of the connections, etc. The old starter motor was having a difficult time turning over and the tractor would only run for about 10 minutes and then die slowly. I'd jump it and it would run, again, for a couple of minutes and then die. It got to the point where it wouldn't even start--turn the key and nothing. No clicking, nothing. Replaced the starter/generator last week, hooked everything up and the same thing happens. The multimeter reading with the tractor off says the battery has about 10.8v. When I turn the key the reading dips to about 1.4v (the starter doesn't turn or click) turn it back off and the reading goes back to about 10v. When I jump the tractor it's at about 13.8v--take the cables off and about 2 minutes later we're back to dead battery. I've inspected the wiring it all looks fine. I haven't messed with the VR or coil. I'm stumped. We're fixing this tractor so that my son can start a business cutting grass for the neighbors. Grass is growin' clients are callin' we're not mowin'. Thanks in advance for the help fellas!

Alvy · #2 04-22-2014, 08:41 AM

Welcome to OCC. You say that when you jump the tractor you have 13.8 volts but is that with the jump box connected? What is your voltage reading on the battery with the tractor running by itself? Charging should yield over 13 volts.

If not go here and follow procedure

http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18

Rev.Matthew · #3 04-22-2014, 09:21 AM

Hey Alvy...the 13.8 is with the jump box connected. The reading while the tractor is running on its own--for the minute or so it runs...goes down steadily from 13.8v down to 1.4 and then the tractor dies.

Rev.Matthew · #4 04-22-2014, 09:47 AM

Alvy--thanks so much for the link and the fast response to my post. I wrote back and clicked on the link before I said, "thanks." Sorry about that! I've got today to figure this thing out and get it up and running. Thanks again for the fast reply and the link. I'll go through all of that and let you know what I find out. Got a laugh about the colors of the wires though--all of mine seem to be a washed out dusty white color. LMAO.

Sam Mac · #5 04-22-2014, 09:55 AM

Here is some more info for you to check out.

http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=4644

http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2

http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22

Rev.Matthew · #6 04-22-2014, 11:04 AM

OK, so I checked the link that you sent, Alvy--thanks again for that. I've confirmed that things are grounded properly and tested for good continuity (three times per wire, on the three settings for Ohms on the multimeter)...and both wires show bad continuity--or a reading of 1 with the multimeter set on ohms. This doesn't make sense--how could both wires be bad and the tractor still start and even run for a while if both wires going from the S/G to the VR (Bat and Gen terminals--and F and A terminals) are showing poor continuity? Sorry to be dense...this is my first rebuild and my 9th grade science class on electricity is a dim memory. As a fix, can I hook back up the leads from the S/G and the VR and just run an additional two 14 gauge wires from the S/G to the VR and hook those two extra wires in? Or, would that screw up the whole system? Thanks for any help.

Rev.Matthew · #7 04-22-2014, 11:14 AM

Thanks so much, Sam...I'll check these out now. I've got a 3-post VR (Bat, Gen, and F)...but the wire that was attached to the Bat post "seems" to be yellow (as best I can make it out), not grey as in the diagram. Would that make any difference? Thanks again for the links.

Rev.Matthew · #8 04-22-2014, 11:39 AM

OK--gaining on it...thanks to the diagrams from Sam for the VR and wiring, I've tested both wires and have good continuity for both. Not sure what I was doing wrong, but have eliminated a break in the wiring which is good. Now to test the VR and S/G. Am thinking it must be the VR because the S/G is brand new as of last week...but will test using the link from Alvy. Thanks again.

ACecil · #9 04-22-2014, 02:12 PM

Welcome to OCC! Good luck with your 149.

Rev.Matthew · #10 04-23-2014, 04:15 PM

Thanks everyone...I managed to find a brand new voltage regulator yesterday, installed it and it worked great. I was able to mow for about 15 minutes and everything seemed like it was going fine. Then the engine started to idle very rough and eventually died. When I looked at the MM the reading was at 10.8v. I jumped the tractor again (13.8v on the MM while jumping) and it ran for another couple of minutes. Now won't start. No clicking, nothing. 10v on the MM. Any thoughts? Any help would be great and thanks in advance.