Polorizing a tractor after replacing battery???

MSS3020 · Apr 30, 2018

Neighbor replaced his two batteries in his 4010 diesel. Told me he had to polorize it?? something about shorting accross the regulator.. In all my years I have never done this after replacing battery... Should I??

I believe the the term he used was polorizing.. help me out..

Steve@Advance · Apr 30, 2018

That only applies to generators.

It's only necessary if the generator has been replaced, the battery was connected backward, or it has sat for years without any charge.

Never attempt with an alternator!

John T · Apr 30, 2018

"In all my years I have never done this after replacing battery... Should I??"

Like Steve told you its "usually" NOT necessary but it doesn't hurt to be on the safe side, especially if the genny has been repaired or replaced or perhaps sat unused for an extended time period. In cases where you change polarity of course it MUST be done then. On many Genny and Voltage Regulator set ups its accomplished by using a jumper wire to momentarily flash jump from the BAT terminal on the VR over to the GEN/ARM terminal (or direct to the ARM post on the Genny) and you should get a small spark. Theres little chance you needed it over the years simply because you replaced the battery, not to worry mate !!! It imparts a degree of magnetism into the soft iron field poles in the correct North South magnetic polarity so it charges in the correct + and - electric polarity.

John T

DR. EVIL · Apr 30, 2018

You have to polarize voltage regulators too, same as a generator.

Dad had a little accident with his 4010 diesel putting on the cultivator bracket for the stay rods up by the thermostats, touched two connectors of the voltage regulator with a wrench and the sparks flew. As did the Dollars for new voltage regulator and generator rebuild.

rvirgil_KS · Apr 30, 2018

You polarize the generator, NOT the regulator. The confusion is because most polarizing instructions say to jumper from BAT to ARM or GEN on regulator. These are merely convenient connecting points to jump from hot battery post to generator armature.

Polarization specifically affects the iron pole pieces in the center of the generator field coils.

Steve@Advance · Apr 30, 2018

I was in a hurry when I posted, but I want to add, there are 2 types of systems, internally grounded field and externally grounded field generators.

They use different procedures for polarization. Do it wrong and it can arc the regulator points.

Best thing with a generator, if it works, leave it be! LOL

John T · Apr 30, 2018

Good thought Steve, I'm so used to dealing with Class A systems I also forgot about Class B OOPS lol

John T

David G · Apr 30, 2018

Bottom line, if it charges OK then there is no need to.

JMOR · Apr 30, 2018

Speaking of the A's and B's.....just use BATT to ARM on both types and all will be just fine. You ask, then why do 'they' always promote two different procedures? Those people are long dead, so we probably will never know, but just guess from here to eternity. My guess it that 'they' were concerned that folks would simply just keep on shorting the two terminals (on the left) together on a B just like they did on an A and that would not be BATT to ARM and thus not work. BAtt to ARM works on both.

Bob · Apr 30, 2018

(quoted from post at 14:57:27 04/30/18) Neighbor replaced his two batteries in his 4010 diesel. Told me he had to polorize it?? something about shorting accross the regulator.. In all my years I have never done this after replacing battery... Should I??

I believe the the term he used was polorizing.. help me out..

ASSUMING the charging system has been working properly, at each and every engine shutdown, the cutout relay disconnects the generator from the battery.

There's no longer any connection between the generator output and the battery.

So it makes no difference, whatever, if you change out the batteries at this point, because they are not connected to the generator, anyhow.

As long as the battery(s) is reinstalled/replaced with the same polarity as before, the generator isn't affected.

On the other hand, if the battery(s) is reconnected with the opposite polarity nothing happens until engine startup, when the generator begins to charge and the cutout is pulled "closed" connecting the generator and battery(s) together "fighting" each other.

The battery(s) will win, and expensive smoke will be lost from the generator and/or the regulator.

canzoneri1 · May 11, 2018

I could use some additional help on my charging problems, which have been ongoing for a while. I believe I have a Ford 8N, but I'm not so sure because it has a round cutout, which I thought was a 9N feature. This old tractor may have had an 8N motor transplant, as it is stamped 8N on the engine block.. I have recently had the generator rebuilt, and when the tractor is operating the ammeter is always at -10, and the battery is drained after the work day and has to be re-charged.
How do I polarize the genny? I had been running the battery as a positive ground, but switched back to negative ground.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Joe

(quoted from post at 20:13:20 04/30/18)

(quoted from post at 14:57:27 04/30/18) Neighbor replaced his two batteries in his 4010 diesel. Told me he had to polorize it?? something about shorting accross the regulator.. In all my years I have never done this after replacing battery... Should I??

I believe the the term he used was polorizing.. help me out..

Click to expand...

ASSUMING the charging system has been working properly, at each and every engine shutdown, the cutout relay disconnects the generator from the battery.

There's no longer any connection between the generator output and the battery.

So it makes no difference, whatever, if you change out the batteries at this point, because they are not connected to the generator, anyhow.

As long as the battery(s) is reinstalled/replaced with the same polarity as before, the generator isn't affected.

On the other hand, if the battery(s) is reconnected with the opposite polarity nothing happens until engine startup, when the generator begins to charge and the cutout is pulled "closed" connecting the generator and battery(s) together "fighting" each other.

The battery(s) will win, and expensive smoke will be lost from the generator and/or the regulator.

canzoneri1 · May 11, 2018

As additional information to my last post of this morning, I have been regularly polarizing the round cutout with a pair of pliers (thanks to Dell for long-time valued info) but it doesn't seem to resolve my charging problem.

Joel

Polorizing a tractor after replacing battery???

MSS3020

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Steve@Advance

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John T

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DR. EVIL

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rvirgil_KS

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Steve@Advance

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John T

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David G

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JMOR

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Bob

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canzoneri1

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canzoneri1

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