420 Points

[Lavoy]

I will have to plead ignorance on that one as far as voltage drop, but it would help to explain the voltage drop. Simple matter to test the theory. Measure voltage at the coil while cranking, and voltage at the battery while cranking.
Lavoy

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

Yes, it's a two-relay regulator - voltage only, not voltage *and* current regulation (which needs a third coil).

The one relay is a cut-out relay that drops the field connection on the generator when the ignition is switched off (or we'd drain the battery via the field coil).

The second is a voltage-level relay. It connects the battery to the field coil on the generator until the voltage rises above whatever point is selected with the resistor value in series with that coil (the wire-wound thing under the base of the regulator housing), then it opens the contact, removing power from the field coil.

As the load on the battery drops the voltage, the regulation coil relaxes, closes the contact, and puts power back onto the generator field coil. This, again, puts current into the battery until the level rises back up and the regulation coil pulls in and opens the contacts again. And, again and again and again - until you shut the machine off.

This occurs pretty fast, many times a second. I've never hung an oscilloscope onto an old Deere 6v system, or I could tell you exactly what rate it does occur, in cycles per second. It has to be several dozen cycles per second, though, because I can hear the buzzing of the relay as it works if I stick my ear (or stethoscope) up against the regulator housing when it's working.

Heck, that's how I know one is working somewhere near properly!

Anyway, it's faster than the response of the mechanical amp meter can move, so you don't see it as a series of current pulses (which it is) but as a steady, average, current reading.

I can see where this might bother some electronics, but I'd also think that the designers of an electronic ignition module for old 6v systems would know that the danged things use a mechanical voltage regulator and they act like this. And, I'd think that they stuck a diode in series with the power input and then incorporated a capacitor beyond the diode to smooth those pulses out.

I know I would!

later!

Stan

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

Hey, you know, a silicon diode in series with a power source will give you a 7/10 of a volt drop. Maybe this is what is being referred to?

later!

Stan

[lherseth]

Points on a crawler should last forever, look how much more one would drive a car and they lasted for years. You probably have weak spark from another issue besides the points, if your points always need filing you might need a new codensor,the condensor keeps the points from burning when they open.

[Willyr]

Too late on the advice, money already spent. Thanx

[JD440ICD2006]

The kits with new points and condensor are only about $10.00 so I normally just replace both at the same also.
Make sure you have good clean connections for the condensor.