Cut out or regulator

Need a little input here. Newbie working through my grandfather's 1949 C after a few years of being out of the family and a lot of neglect. This summer it's fuel, electric, and any running issues I might encounter. I've already made the decision to stick with a 6 volt system and have invested in a starter rebuild and a battery. (Starts good so far and runs good for a spell.) Now I'm on the generator and need to know what you guys think about replacing the cut out with a new unit or changing it to a regulator. I'm not looking for a show peice or a 100 point restoration, and I'm not against modifications either. My aim is to keep it mechanically close to the stock machine to simplify things in the future. But, if it makes sense to change something, I'm good with that. So, how about it? What's the benefit with switching or am I good sticking with a cut out? Always glad to here from you all. Thanks for any response.

Voltage regulator is more reliable, but I don't think it makes much difference. Not sure when the VR became standard. My 1950 C has a voltage regulator, my 48 C a cutout. When I refurbish the 48, I will probably leave the cutout on the generator.

It might have either cutout of regulator on it. Does it have lights from long ago, or original? If it did, it would have a light switch with 34 positions LHDB (4 click spots) with one of the wires going to the generator field terminal. If it has a 3 position switch for the lights it likely has a regulator on it already.
The regulator and cutout look very much the same.
A tractor originally with or without lights would have a cutout relay with a field terminal on it as well if with 4 pos switch the F terminal would be left unused. If no lights it would have the F terminal hooked up to the gen F terminal. This is a fixed resistor that charged the battery enough to provide reliable starting, but no more. It was not a regulator, just a fixed resistance to ground.
If you take the top off of the regulator device (or cutout) a cutout will have one relay coil and set of contacts in it. If it is a Voltage regulator it will have two relays and sets of contacts.
If it is a cutout, it is best to change to a VR.
If you do that, the wire going to the light switch from the Generator F terminal will be not used at all. The F terminal on the VR will connect to (and only to) the F terminal on the GEN.
The diagrams I have linked to will help. Jim
John T

Bob M

I would replace the cutout with a regulator. You will not have to worry about under or over charging the battery and your battery will last longer. You can get a regulator that looks the same as the cutout. You'll have to modify the wiring some, but it's pretty minor. On the other hand, it the cutout works, you may want to just keep it.