Cub not charging

[Chris Jones]

From the amp meter my fathers cub is not charging. I think it's a '62. It has electric start, battery ignition (as opposed to mag) and front an rear lights. The front lights have never worked but he never cared and still doesn't so I've never bothered to find out why. When I pull the ignition out the amp meter goes to slight discharge which I suspect is normal as current should be going to the coil. When running I tried turning the charge/light switch but it has no impact on the amp meter except increased discharge when the rear light comes on. Any advise on quick steps to identify the problem w/o having to remove the hood? Thanks.

[Eugene]

Alternator or generator?

[Chris Jones]

Generator, I didn't know cubs ever had alternators.

[Eugene]

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=85294

2nd post in above topic is a diagnostic flow chart for generator powered electrical systems.

Without knowing the problem source, removing the hood would facilitate the diagnostic process and make repairs easier.

[Chris Jones]

Thank you, I'll give it a try next time I'm over his house--probably this weekend. I emailed him and asked if he had a 3 or 4 position light switch and if his "voltage regulator" had 3 or 2 tabs on it for wires so I'd know if it was truly a voltage regulator or just a cut out. I'm pretty certain it's a voltage regulator but I also thought his switch was a 4 position switch which is contradictory, so hopefully he can check and tell me.

[Scrivet]

......... I'm pretty certain it's a voltage regulator but I also thought his switch was a 4 position switch which is contradictory, so hopefully he can check and tell me.

Depends on which four position switch it is. There's a L H D B switch ( low high dim bright ) and an O D B R switch ( off dim bright rear ). TM decal page says LHDB was up to mid 1950, there was an ODB ( off dim bright ) from mid 1950 to late 1958, and ODBR was from late 1958 on. Thanks TM!