Thanks for the pictures.
The generator has the original style cutout, or Relay, IH called it, on top of it. The relay was used up to Cub serial number 115403. It is supposed to have a cover, to keep dirt and water out of it.
Since the 4 position charge and light switch is gone, there isn't any way to control the output of the gen. Whoever changed it in the past should have left the original 4 position switch there, where the 3 position switch is.
The Relay isn't a voltage regulator, it was before Cubs had voltage regulators, you have to choose the charge rate yourself, using the 4 position switch.
The voltage regulator came out during 1950, at serial number 115403.
The 1949 Cub owner's manual tells how to use the 4 position switch, it has L H D B positions. L is low charge, H is high charge, D is dim front lights, B is bright front lights.
Your Cub has been partly changed to the newer Cubs, with Battery Ignition, and a 3 position switch, but it still has some of the 1949 equipment, the gen with a relay on top of it.
I can't read the gen model number in your picture on the plate it has. The gen used with a relay is usually 1101355. The model number is on the left side of the plate. Please look and see if it has that number. We need to be sure it has a 6 volt gen, if it has been using a 6 volt battery.
I think my ammeter is more complicated than the diagram
I'm not sure what you mean. In your picture it looks like the wire to power the light switch is connected to the ammeter, instead of to the hot side of the ignition switch.
There is also no fuse for the lights. The diagram shows the fuse.
The fuse for the lights is on the back of the 4 position switch, like the diagram shows.
The 3 position switch uses a light fuse in a fuse holder, at the bottom hole in the dash, that's part of the newer system.
You will have to look at each wire, one at a time, and see if they go to where the diagram shows they should go.
You didn't say if the Cub has been using 6 or 12 volts.
You could update the charging system, and put a voltage regulator on it. Some companies make a voltage regulator that goes on top of the gen, IH didn't put the voltage regulator there, but there are or were some sold that went there.
You would need to change some of the wiring, and make it like the newer wiring diagram is.
The relay has 3 posts for wires, the voltage regulator has 4 posts for wires.
It isn't hard to figure out the wiring for a Cub.
