Voltage Regulator on 2 brush generator

Good afternoon. I am trying to fix the charging circuit on my new-to-me IH 340 Utility. The previous owner had just been running the 12v coil directly from a 12v battery and re-charging when dead. This killed the battery's life--it will now only let me operate for 5 minutes or so.

The tractor is equipped with a DR 6V generator 2-brush model 1100046. My searches show that this is not the original generator for the tractor, but that it likely came from a Deere or an AC. After some work, I have bench-tested the generator and it works, but the regulator was missing its cover and is completed rusted out--junk.

My question: Can I get a generic 6V 2-brush regulator and just use it? Or do I need to be particular and make sure I get one that is specific for the 1100046. This seems like a rare generator.

Also, I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on using a 12V regulator in its place, as discussed at the link provided. Has anyone done this on a tractor?

I bought the tractor for its backhoe and am not looking for a parade restore. Just trying to get good work out of it. I have a spare 6V coil, etc and will convert that over if I stick with 6V. No lights on the tractor to worry about.

Thanks in advance, Dave
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I would convert to a Hitachi 14231 small format alternator. Connect the S terminal to the output terminal with a 6 inch wire. Connect the L terminal to a incandescent marker lamp bulb (idiot light) so the current to and from the L terminal flows through it, and connects to the ignition coil resistor on the key side, If no resistor, make sure the coil is for full 12v. Resistance across the small terminals (disconnected on one side) of about 3 ohms, not 1.5 ohms which needs a resistor on 12v. Jim

I agree with Jim, put an alternator on it, convert it to 12v negative ground, and be done with it.

Six volt is nice if you are looking for restoration, or are very familiar with the intricacy of keeping a 6 volt system working, and are willing to put up with the problems. One of the biggest problems is all the regulators are generic fit alls made in China. Common to be bad out of the box or give a very short life.

If you convert it, just be careful with the starter. Keep the engine well tuned so it starts easily, no marathon cranking. And be very deliberate about the starting. Listen for the starter and engine to have completely stopped before retrying the starter on a failed start. Try to keep the number of starts down to a minimum so not to wear out the starter and flywheel gear. It's the initial slam of the drive that does the damage. Some handle it well, some don't. Depends on the design of the starter.

A 340 would have been 12 volt originally so you want to keep it at 12V not 6. You can either source a 12V generator and regulator as per OEM or if you can build the brackets you can convert to an alternator such as a Delco 10SI, 3 wire or one wirenor the other one suggested earlier.

I have my 300U on a 12 volt generator and 12 volt regulator. I was trying to keep it looking original- real original was 6 volts. A lot of regulators aren't very good quality these days. 12 volt generators seem to be pretty expensive from what I've seen. The cheapest and most reliable way to go 12 volts is with an alternator.

Thanks to everyone who has replied. The suggestions are all things I have considered--Delco 10SI can be had for $56, free shipping. I can get a 6V regulator for $30. So the extra $26 gets me a lot more reliability, no question about that. I may very well go that route.

My records show the 340 (gas) was 6V, and I wondered what was involved in keeping it that way. I was just curious if anyone had experimented with different regulators on the original generator. Dave

I have had two in the shop and both were 12V and I would bet good money they had not been messed with. Maybe they changed in mid production? Guess an IHC expert is needed here. The starter tag will state 6 or 12V if it hasn't been to a rebuilder.

Our 340u was a 6v system, and it actually never gave any problems. It was a good starting tractor in cold weather, too! Dad owned it for almost 30 yrs. Mark.

We had an IH 340 utility that was original 6 volt, I left it that way, worked fine the 6 years we had it. I had an alternator ready to go on it, but never needed it.

Butch(OH), My Wilson parts book says 340 was 6V for for a couple of years and then 12 volt starting about 1960. Seems to me I read that on some models 12 volt was an option before they fully switched to 12 volt. I don't know if that is true or not.

Very well could have been that way. Mine has the wrong generator on it anyway (or so I think), so who knows what modifications were made either at the plant or along the way.

This website sells 6V, four-terminal regulators for AC, JD, and IH. They are all the same price and have the same part number, so it seems that there was not enough difference between generators to justify making a different regulator for each one.

The tractor has a coil, so I'll probably got the alternator route as I have not had good luck with 6V distributor systems. But I am tempted to try the experiment with the 6V generator and 12V regulator just to see if it works.

Thanks to everyone that responded. Dave