updating the puny alternator o na nt254

I don't recall any pitfalls when I swapped mine, except that I had to put the lockwasher between the pulley and the fan as a spacer so I could use the OEM pulley, and use a couple of washers on the adjusting arm. I installed a Delco 12Si 72 amp alternator. Only extra thing I had to buy was the pigtail @ $2.50. Oh yeah, and a belt. Bought the segmented belt from Harbor Freight.

bob16925 wrote:

“I  found the short pulley to keep the charge rate up…”

Not sure what what you mean, but good luck.

I think he's referring to changing to a smaller diameter pulley on the alternator to increase alternator rpm.  The 1-wire alternators typically don't begin to develop full charging voltage until the engine hits around 1400 rpm, due to the fact they're designed for gasoline engines in cars.  On tractors they may not put out full voltage until the engine is  around 1400-1600 rpm unless the pulley is changed.  Of course, if you go small enough to make much of a difference then you have belt slip due to low contact patch…

Something must be wrong with mine then because it charges at idle – around 600 r/m. Oh well, I was just curious about the “short” pulley. Never heard of that. Short, for me anyway, usually refers to a distance (horizontal/vertical) measurement.

“Short” when in the same sentence as “alternator” makes me think of “Let the smoke out”

I'm a new guy on the block so here goes. I have a Nortrack 304 My alternator just went and I would like to install a delco. My alternator has three wires, how would I hook up this to my tractor? Another Question there is a regulator Do I delete that? Appreciate any help and thank you in advance.

Delco alternators come in a variety of flavours, meaning they are not all the same. Which one did you have in mind and what are your anticipated electrical loads?

Almost all alternators have three wires, some have more. Some alternators have the voltage regulator built in (integrated), others do not.

Hi Joe, welcome to CTOA.

Are you sure it's the alternator that went bad? Did you have it checked? Did you check and clean all the related electrical connections? It's more common to have the voltage regulators fail. Does the red LED on the voltage regulator light up when you turn the key switch on?

Thanks for the reply Bob. This tractor has an ampmeter and it stopped working. I then checked the wires at the alternator for power, nothing.

Then I read the post about using a Delco alternator with one wire. I had used a Delco this way on a case tractor that still works. My 304 has a regulator with the three wires on the alternator, and I was not sure how to wire it up. I called about a new alt. priced around $200.

I would like to use the original equipment, so I would appreciate any help to see what is not workin

Joe 

Please refer to the questions in my prior post.

Will do more checking and reply, thanks Bob.

Joe

While we’re on the subject of alternators, does anyone have a number for that “short” pulley that bob16925 found?

Well I couldn't wait any longer.

It's Delco #1961291

66mm OD x 17mm bore x 13mm (1/2″) “A” belt.

The stock pulley is over 80mm OD, so this will definitely spin faster.

Note & FYI: This may be an issue if you are keeping the stock belt, which I believe was a B-section belt, and is wider. I'm using the link-belt from Harbor Freight which is an A-belt but it runs fine and true in the engine and water pump pulleys so not an issue for me.