alternator output

[jd57]

Hey guys, I put a new battery in my L225. I decided to check the alternator w/ a volt meter. What should it read? Im getting 11.20, I thought it should be around 13V.

 

[Sammy3700]

It should be 13.6-14.2 you are reading current batter voltage. I would say the alternator is not working.

 

[85Hokie]

Hey guys, I put a new battery in my L225. I decided to check the alternator w/ a volt meter. What should it read? Im getting 11.20, I thought it should be around 13V.

When your tractor is off....the battery should read something like 12.4 - 12.6 volts....fully charged.

If tractor is running - it should (must) read higher than that .... 13.5 or slightly higher.

IF you are measuring the battery while the tractor is running look at it over a period of time (5 minutes), it will continually drop slowly.

I agree with Sammy - something is amiss with your charging circuit, bad alternator, very loose belt, bad voltage regulator......

check belt first

 

[jd57]

Thanks fellas, I thought it needed to be up around 13V. I'll check the belt tension but with my luck it wont be an easy fix...Lol!

 

[ShaunBlake]

I thought the 'L' models had dynamos.

What RPMs were you running when you checked it? At idle it won't kick out enough magic stuff to fill up your battery. I'd suggest checking it again at substantially different RPMs to determine if it will produce enough charge, and to see the the regulator clips it under 14v -- I think 13.8 might be the sweet spot.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I thought the 'L' models had dynamos.

Some L's do some L's don't, in this case it don't, The L225's came equipped with alternators.

 

[jd57]

Thanks Shaun, i'll check @ a higher RPM. I only checked it at idle.

 

[ShaunBlake]

Thanks Shaun, i'll check @ a higher RPM. I only checked it at idle.

What's the result? Is your alternator making enough electrons at higher RPMs? I'm hoping you won't have to buy an alternator! (Would rebuilding your alternator be a task you could take on?)

Please keep us informed of your progress!

 

[jd57]

Shaun I haven't checked it @ a higher RPM yet. I'll keep you posted. I have a guy in town that will rebuild it for $40.

 

[ShaunBlake]

Shaun I haven't checked it @ a higher RPM yet. I'll keep you posted. I have a guy in town that will rebuild it for $40.

Wow! At that price, I'd have him rebuild my B6100 dynamo even if I wasn't certain that it needed rebuilding.

 

[Daren Todd]

There may not have been anything wrong with your alternator. On my l1501, which is about the same time period, it won't charge the battery at an idle. If I bump the rpms up to around 1100 rpms it starts charging and putting out good voltage.

One thing to check is power going to it. Your alternator needs twelve volts from the battery, plus your gonna have 12 volts from the key switch going to it on one of the smaller wires in the quick connect that attaches to it. On mine, the exciter side runs through the fuse block, then goes to the alternator. The non charging issue could be as simple as a blown fuse

 

[jd57]

Well fellas I got a chance to check the alternator out put @ WOT..., its 11.80

 

[ShaunBlake]

Well fellas I got a chance to check the alternator out put @ WOT..., its 11.80

I'm sorry to hear that. Around here, there no longer are auto-electric shops that rebuild alternators and starters. I hope in your neck of the woods (no slur intended!), those shops are still in business. I don't know what you have, but parts for my dynamo aren't too hard to find. (Parts for my starter are a different story.)

Have you shopped fleaBay for an alternator? You should do that before talking to any local alternator repair shops.

 

[jd57]

Shaun I've told that theres a fella in town that rebuilds alternators for $40

 

[skeets]

So let me ask this,,,,, What would it take to put in say a GM/Ford/Mopar alternator? Other then hardware, which might be interesting,,

 

[cerlawson]

not all meters read properly. Use another meter that may be more dependable.