Tractor Repair: electrical problem, spring tension, electromagnetic coil

Question
I have a 1974 Ford 2000 tractor,gas burner. It has a new battery, generator,and voltage regulator. It still shows that it isn't charging. When you take the cover off the voltage regulator none of the contacts are making. You can manually push the contacts together and it will show to charge until you shut off the engine. Then when you crank it back it show not charging again. What could be the problem? Thanks

Answer
Hello,

  A generator sometimes has to be polarized in order to make it work, but if it charges when you push on the contacts of the regulator, then I don't think that is the problem.  By pushing the contacts manually, it should already be polarized.  Sometimes the regulator has to be adjusted to make it work properly.  Many times I have had to bend the tab that the spring is hooked onto to increase or decrease the spring tension on the contacts.  It could be that there is too much tension on the spring so that the electromagnetic coil can't pull it by itself.  Try reducing the tension until it can pull the contacts closed without you pushing on it.  If the contacts stay closed after the engine is shut off, then you may have reduced the tension too much and you may have to increase it a little.  If the system is not wired correctly, or if the regulator does not have a good ground, it can cause this symptom also.

                        Good luck,

                              Arnie