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55allis 
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 Topic: Wd45 charging system
Posted: 04 Sep 2024 at 11:39pm |
Greetings to all! So I picked up this 1957 wd45 that supposedly is still factory 6 volt system but all I have is 12volt battery’s around. So I thought if I don’t run it too long (just enough to drive it on a trailer and off, into the shop) it shouldn’t hurt anything ( and even if it did I’m going to put it to 12volt anyway). So on with the problem, should I say, just for the giggles I put my multimeter on the battery and tested at 12.65volt not running and running it tested at 14.01 volts with 15 amp charging. Now all the light bulbs was 6volt…. Is this a ticking time bomb or is it safe to run? 
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1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45
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WF owner
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Location: Bombay NY
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Posted: 05 Sep 2024 at 4:17am |
It sounds like someone already converted the generator to 12 volts.
You need to check your coil. If it's not already, change it to a 12 volt - 3 ohm coil.
Your 6 volt bulbs will probably look light flash bulbs if you turn them on with 12 volts.
I, personally, change my tractors over from ammeters to volt meters. I find it is a safer and more effective way of monitoring the battery.
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WF owner
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Posted: 05 Sep 2024 at 4:24am |
By the way, nice find! It's hard to find a WD45 with power steering and nice paint. Is it a Nelson muffler?
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55allis
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Posted: 05 Sep 2024 at 8:52am |
 WF owner wrote:
By the way, nice find! It's hard to find a WD45 with power steering and nice paint.Is it a Nelson muffler? |
Yes it is a Nelson. It was repainted in the 1970s and a new old stock muffler was put on it. It is factory power steering. Thanks for clearing the charging system up for me, I was getting really confused and needed a second opinion.
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1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 05 Sep 2024 at 9:36am |
A 6 volt generator will put out 14 v if connected to a 12 v battery... But it can only put out a few amps. You can get a trickle charge. Dont expect 30 amp output.... 15 amps is WAY TOO MUCH.. I hope the battery was very low and the system backed off to 3-4 amps after 5 minutes ??? ..... possibly this is because you are using the CUTOUT and HEAD LIGHT RESISTOR instead of a voltage regulator ???
6v systems are normally POSITIVE GROUND.. The 12 v systems are normally NEGATIVE GROUND... The battery dont care, the starter dont care, the distirbutor coil needs to be 12v and the wires should be reversed ( you can run it till the 6v coil craps out.. could be 30 mintues, could be 30 days)... Dont turn on the lights, they will burn out on 12v for a short period.
If your going to use the 12v battery, it would be a good idea to have a VOLTAGE REGULATOR instead of the CUTOUT RELAY. .... if it continues to run 15 amps, i would pull the "A" wire off the generator and just run the tractor off the battery without charge.. ( should be OK for several hours of running).
Better yet, if your going to 12v system.. install a Delco type MINI alternator.
Edited by steve(ill) - 05 Sep 2024 at 9:44am
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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Steve in NJ
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Posted: 05 Sep 2024 at 9:53am |
i offer a 12V conversion kit for WD/WD45 if interested. Comes with wiring, switches, Voltmeter, attaching hardware, step by step intructions. Also offer an optional frame rail Alternator bracket that's a bolt on. All of my Tractor systems are shrink tube connectors, and the wire is a Polyethelene crosslinked Marine wire.
Steve@B&B bb-customcircuits.com
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39'RC, 43'WC, 48'B, 49'G, 50'WF, 65 Big 10, 67'B-110, 75'716H, 2-620's, & a Motorhead wife
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Les Kerf
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Posted: 05 Sep 2024 at 1:15pm |
55allis wrote:
... just for the giggles I put my multimeter on the battery and tested at 12.65volt not running and running it tested at 14.01 volts with 15 amp charging... |
Since the WD45 charging system is a "dumb" type which uses a simple resistor feedback, all it knows is that you merely doubled the input to the field, which will effectively double the output, as you observed.
An actual regulator will not be quite as forgiving.
You shouldn't have any problems from just moving the tractor a short distance.
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55allis
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Posted: 05 Sep 2024 at 9:26pm |
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I think I will try putting a new 12volt regulator on the generator…
Trying to keep it cheap as possible…
I’m going to have to put a new water pump on it because it leaks all over, it all most seems like it has oil in the antifreeze so I’m really hoping I’m not going to have to pull the head and it’s just the really old antifreeze.
Thanks for the explanation of how that system works, it makes a lot more sense now!!!
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1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 05 Sep 2024 at 9:47pm |
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I have a B that had a 6 v generator on it.. 20 years ago i put a 12v battery and a voltage regulator on it.. Works great ! You can scrap the head light resistor and the cutout after that.... Do yourself a favor and get a NEW 12v coil with internal 3 ohm resistance.. Dont use the OLD 6v with an ADD ON resistor... The old 6v is bound to fail sometime soon.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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55allis
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Posted: 05 Sep 2024 at 10:35pm |
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Will the cut out switch work just as a light switch?
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1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 06 Sep 2024 at 7:21am |
The CUT OUT is a small box on the generator with the "A" wire on one side and the other going to the ammeter ( battery)... its just CUTS the power when motor is off.... it will be eliminated when you install the REGULATOR.
The LIGHT SWITCH has a resistor on it. It is connected to the "F" wire from the generator and is the GROUND for the charge system... YES, you just leave the "F" wire off the resistor and thel LIGHT SWITCH will still function for the lights... but have no effect on the CHARGE system.. ... the two wires "A" and "F" from the generator will go to the NEW voltage regulator.
If you buy a 4 wire regulator ( with the "L" terminal), it will look like this... If you get a 3 wire regulator ( no L terminal), then the L wire goes to the B terminal... it is really just a second POWER wire. ( i just noticed, the ignition coil is marked WRONG... power is to the + terminal and the - goes to the point..)
Edited by steve(ill) - 06 Sep 2024 at 7:35am
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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55allis
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Posted: 06 Sep 2024 at 8:49am |
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Thanks Steve for correcting me…
This is the first 6 volt system I’ve worked on, the other tractors had already been converted to 12 volt.
Do you have a recommended ignition coil?
I seen flame thrower’s and cheap ones…
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1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 06 Sep 2024 at 8:57am |
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I dont have a real preference.... just the case should be printed with "12volt internal 3 ohm resistance"... there are quite a few for $20- 25. If your buying at NAPA or Auto Zone you might get a warrenty.. If your buying on AMAZON, i look for someone that has sold a couple hundred and has good reviews.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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Les Kerf
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Posted: 06 Sep 2024 at 9:14am |
55allis wrote:
I think I will try putting a new 12volt regulator on the generator…
Trying to keep it cheap as possible… |
The important detail to consider is the AMPERAGE rating of the new regulator.
The windings/wire diameter inside your generator are designed for a limited amount of current; increasing the voltage is not a problem, in fact, you could easily increase to a 24 Volt with no issues, as long as the amperage output remains at the original level.
You can also run the generator system with either polarity, just be sure to use the appropriate coil connections.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 06 Sep 2024 at 9:45am |
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yes... i normally looke for a regulator that says " for tractors rated at 7-9 amps" ... or something like that. You dont want a 25- 30 amp regulator setting.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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WF owner
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Posted: 06 Sep 2024 at 12:47pm |
steve(ill) wrote:
I dont have a real preference.... just the case should be printed with "12volt internal 3 ohm resistance"... there are quite a few for $20- 25. If your buying at NAPA or Auto Zone you might get a warrenty.. If your buying on AMAZON, i look for someone that has sold a couple hundred and has good reviews. |
Since I have too many tractors, I keep a couple coils on the parts shelf. I buy these from Rock Auto.
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Phil48ACWC
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Posted: 07 Sep 2024 at 9:03am |
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12 V is definitely the way to go.
Edited by Phil48ACWC - 07 Sep 2024 at 9:09am
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55allis
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Posted: 07 Sep 2024 at 9:33am |
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Will a regulator from a wd45 diesel work?
I have to order from Dj tractor but they don’t list how many amps it is…
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1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 07 Sep 2024 at 2:11pm |
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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55allis
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Posted: 08 Sep 2024 at 5:32pm |
So what is the lights terminal? Do you plug that in to the light switch? Sorry if that’s a dumb question but I’ve never wired a regulator..
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1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45
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WF owner
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Posted: 08 Sep 2024 at 6:37pm |
You can pick up power anywhere for the light switch. I, personally, like to pick it up from the ignition switch, so the lights go off with the switch, so I don't forget the lights on and kill the battery.
The downside is that you can't run the lights with the switch off.
To answer your question, the lights are not wired directly into the regulator.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 08 Sep 2024 at 6:41pm |
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L terminal is just another BATTERY terminal.. You dont need it... Just wire the LIGHTS to the battery or ignition switch as WF said .... "L" allows you to pull power from the battery without going THRU the regulator...
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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55allis
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Posted: 08 Sep 2024 at 9:51pm |
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That makes more sense… lol
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1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45
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