4010 John Deere eating generators

randallnMo · Sep 22, 2011

my 4010 eats generators. I've owned this tractor for about ten years and just yesterday had to take the generator off AGAIN to be repaired. THe repair man told me "yep, generators are a high maintenance item". He asked me to bring him the regulator too so he could check it too...said that could be the problem. I've repaired or rebuilt the generator on this tractor probably 5 times in 10 years. This is a 24 volt system. What is the problem?

pete 23 · Sep 22, 2011

That 24 volt system would need an experienced person to completely check it out as they are a different animal. With a insulated ground type system they use for starter and generator weird things happen. That is why so many have been converted to 12 volt systems. The trouble shooting alone might cost you more than a conversion which most any mechanic is familiar with. I did a few of them. One time I found a grounded fuel gauge that caused starter to do the machine gun thing. I am the kind of guy who always tries to duplicate a problem just to make sure I didn't just fix the problem somewhere else along the line and blame it on last thing I checked. Had to show a couple of the guys in the shop how I did that to make them believers. Another one, I just converted it after customer brought generator in a few different times and then attempted to install a new harness.

tjdub · Sep 22, 2011

> THe repair man told me "yep, generators are a high maintenance item".

I don't know about that. I have a 24V 4020 and a 4010. I've never had to touch a generator in either one. My dad bought the 4010 in the early 80s and the 4020 in the early 90s. Put a lot of hours on them both. I shouldn't have said this though because I'm probably going to have to replace a generator now

David G · Sep 22, 2011

My question would be, is this the same guy that rebuilt it 5 times in 10 years?

mmidlam · Sep 22, 2011

what part on the generator is being repaired/replaced?

randallnMo · Sep 23, 2011

Gosh, sometimes my lightbulbs don't light up as fast as they used to. As a matter of fact, it IS the same guy who has done the repairs each time. I don't know what he does as far as "repairs" go. THe generators will work fine for about1-2 years, then I notice the generator light on the dash starts to "glow" a faint red....becoming increasingly worse over a month or so. I know now that when that light won't go out, it's time to take it off and head for the repairs. He told me that converting the tractor to 12 volt would cost about $700.00.....not worth it in his opinion. Anyone got any suggestions?

JMOR · Sep 23, 2011

(quoted from post at 09:11:03 09/23/11) Gosh, sometimes my lightbulbs don't light up as fast as they used to. As a matter of fact, it IS the same guy who has done the repairs each time. I don't know what he does as far as "repairs" go. THe generators will work fine for about1-2 years, then I notice the generator light on the dash starts to "glow" a faint red....becoming increasingly worse over a month or so. I know now that when that light won't go out, it's time to take it off and head for the repairs. He told me that converting the tractor to 12 volt would cost about $700.00.....not worth it in his opinion. Anyone got any suggestions?

Check the brushes AND brush holders to be sure it is clean from brush carbon around the holders, as both a insulated and the carbon particles can build up and cause a conductive path from brush holders to case. Brushes can't be worn too short for good tension by brush holder springs. New brushes & a couple minutes with compressed air nozzle might have you charging again. P.S. the light being on just means that the VR cut out isn't closing, which it will not do unless generator has an output.

4010 John Deere eating generators

randallnMo

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pete 23

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tjdub

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David G

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mmidlam

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randallnMo

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JMOR

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