New Cub LowBoy 154 owner

[Brynki]

Update: I got all of my parts in, as noted above. It was sickeningly hot and I was frustrated. I, eventually, figured out the problem with the solenoid but it did not fix the problem. So, I replaced the voltage regulator. Still no joy. The next day, I bought a new multimeter because my little cheapy one I'd had for years seemed to be having some issues. I'll replace the battery in it another time and use it for a back up. When I got home, I tried cranking it over and was getting 12V to the generator. So, I started assuming it was probably this genie. In removing the old wires from the generator, I found what I thought might be my REAL problem. The stud sticking out of the generator where the hot wire attaches was wobbly. Still, in the off chance, I decided to go ahead and replace the wiring harness since I'd already bought it and get things squared away. I was so happy to have a nice, clean (subjective) area to work in under the dash. I laid out the new wiring harness and started hooking everything into it that I had removed and or purchased: the new key switch, my old light switch, etc. The previous owner had put in a more modern fuse holder so I married those two together. Today, I got everything wired into place and situated. I went over everything about 3 times to make sure I had everything wired properly. I didn't want a repeat of the time I tried to do some wiring on my VW and burned up a section of the wiring harness. I hooked up the battery, turned the key and... nothing.

A NOTE ON THE WIRING HARNESS FROM HAMILTONBOBS: First off, I believe that this is a wiring harness for a later model tractor than mine own. Either that or someone had removed the PTO safety switch from my tractor. I know that the clutch safety switch was not being used on my tractor. I don't even know if it is operational. I may try it once I get her back up and running. For now, though, I jumpered the wires to the clutch switch. Still nothing.

So, I jumpered the wires to the PTO switch. The solenoid clicked. So, I'm right back to square one but I'm happy enough with that. I'm going to watch some videos on rebuilding generators and pull the one off my tractor. I want to open it and see if the stud problem is an easy fix that might fix my tractor or see if I need to order a rebuild kit or new generator.

[getitrunning]

ii feel your frustration. I got the steering wheel and dash exposed on mine. all the wires crumble to dust when touched. it seems the wiring in these might be simple for an electrical engineer. I hope soon to have at it with rewiring mine. after figuring cost of quality connectors, plugs and tools to put connectors in the plugs to duplicate wiring harnessI found it less expensive to buy Hamilton bob harness. the good news for my machine is when power put directly to outside terminal on starer/generator motor turned over and seems to have good compression. ive come to realize that revitalizing the tractor I have will be a long term project just in tracing each wire down and rerouting new wires correctly. not having a good indoor shop I'll wait till cooler weather will put a stop to every kind of biting insect known to man from tearing me up.

[Brynki]

ii feel your frustration. I got the steering wheel and dash exposed on mine. all the wires crumble to dust when touched. it seems the wiring in these might be simple for an electrical engineer. I hope soon to have at it with rewiring mine. after figuring cost of quality connectors, plugs and tools to put connectors in the plugs to duplicate wiring harnessI found it less expensive to buy Hamilton bob harness. the good news for my machine is when power put directly to outside terminal on starer/generator motor turned over and seems to have good compression. ive come to realize that revitalizing the tractor I have will be a long term project just in tracing each wire down and rerouting new wires correctly. not having a good indoor shop I'll wait till cooler weather will put a stop to every kind of biting insect known to man from tearing me up.

LOL! Well, part of the frustration is relieved when you get a win. I did not get one this afternoon. It was in the mid-90s today and I didn't feel like working on things until it cooled off so I know that pain! I, also, know the pain of not having a covered area to work from because my garage is filled with crap. I'm getting a storage container dropped at the house in a couple of weeks to pull everything back out, finish my drywall job I started LAST year, and then start getting my garage squared away so I can get my projects under cover: 2003 BMW R1150GS Adventure that needs a new wiring harness and I might do some big changes to that, a couple of Gravely tractors (one a walk behind and the other a riding), a Craftsman that I want to get running and get rid of, and a Honda self-propelled mower for up close to the house that has two broken studs on the exhaust.

Anyway, I knew that I had power to the genie when I hit the switch so I'm figuring that I got everything wired correctly in the harness I got from HamiltonBob's. I overthought it all. I printed out the wiring diagrams from the repair manuals, had the wiring diagram they sent in the kit, and even wrote down how everything went together and pulled out the label maker to make sure I had everything squared away. By the time I got all that done, it was kind of stuck in my brainpan and it pretty much flew together. Then I second guessed me myself 3 times, going over everything. As mentioned above, I didn't second guess things on my old 69 VW Campmobile back in the day when changing out the points, crossed some wires and fried a section of harness. So, yeah, get the harness they have, the under dash kit and the rest of it and it just goes right together.

Unlike yours, mine did not turn over with power to it. So, tonight, I pulled it out, pulled it apart and there were LOTS of problems. I've noticed that my tractor just didn't seem to have a lot of power. I think I know why, now. One of the brushes was shot, broken in half. The other one, the wire going into it was coming apart. And then, the main problem was the + terminal stud sticking out of the case. The wires were broken off where it was soldered to the head of the stud inside. So, even if I COULD rebuild it, I don't think I'm going to. I may rebuild it later to have a back up which, of course, I will then never need. We found one in Miami that was a little cheaper than HamiltonBob had on his site and we ordered it. It'll arrive next weekend while I'm out of town, I'll install it when I get home and get my damned mowing done.

[getitrunning]

when it comes to generators, alternators and starters, ive got a small collection put together over the years but the saving grace is this old-timer about 15 miles away that has been in the business all his life and has all the tools, parts and know how along with thousands of old stock of every shape and size on his shelves and he only charges for and changes what is really necessary when making an old thing like new again

[Gary Dotson]

We have an old timer like that! About 20 miles away. My problem with him is that he likes me, known me about all my life and I have a heck of a time getting away from his shop. He’s in his mid 80’s and has no plan to retire.

[Brynki]

Further trails and tribulations...
So, I got the new generator in, finally. I got one from ebay from OEGParts. The first one disappeared in transit and the company was quick to refund our money. So, we ordered a second one. It arrived 2 days earlier than anticipated. So, the seller was pretty good.

It says it is made as a replacement but I'm having a bit of trouble with it. First off, trying to install it, the holes are too small for the bolts on the tractor. So, I reamed out the holes easily enough. Secondly, when I torque down the nut on the pulley, the pulley won't turn. Turns out, the top of the old generator was flat and the new one is recessed. So, I have to find a spacer/bushing/bearing to fit into the recessed space that will hold the pulley off the body of the generator so it will turn. The third, and final (hopefully) problem is that the "-" terminal on the body of the generator is huge and take something like a 1/4-20 screw.

Other than that, like most things today, this one seems a lot more cheaply made than the one I'm replacing. Still, I'm hoping that this will allow me to get my tractor back up and running. I was half tempted to take the internals out of the new one and put them into the old one. I may play around with that this winter when I do my big overhaul or just order one of the full rebuild kits that costs about as much as a new generator. For now, though, I'm just hoping to be able to get this wee beastie back up and running before my yard gets any further out of hand.

[Eugene]

I was half tempted to take the internals out of the new one and put them into the old one.

Have done that.

Parts are still available for the Delco starter generator. Do you have a nearby shop that repairs starters, generators?

[Gary Dotson]

Your old s/g should have a pulley spacer that you need to transfer over to the new one. It might look like it’s part of the armature shaft but it’s not.