Ford 3000 Generator to Alternator Conversion

[@ddssboehm]

Nice Job! Great camera placement! easy to understand. So many times people in these videos are carrying their camera or phone around and the pictures are bouncing all around. Yours were great.

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Thank you!

[@pkhoury1212]

Thanks for posting. Been having issues I think are related to my regulator and I'm not fond of generators, anyways, so I'll be doing this same conversion. Anything that simplifies the electrical system is a win win to me.

[@jeffblack2014]

Thanks for the detailed video.. I just replaced the generator over to an alternator and this video really helped!! Thanks again!👍👍

[@pbeanan283]

Thanks for this video! My generator and voltage regulator were giving me issues this weekend and no one had the right parts in stock, so I bought the alternator (without tach drive) from Napa with the plug, made my own brackets and got the tractor back up and running. I'll replace the alternator with a tach drive unit later when I get around to it.

[@AmericanTradesmen]

That’s great! Glad we could help!!

[@zaydencolt4352]

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[@zacharymekhi1224]

@Zayden Colt instablaster =)

[@zaydencolt4352]

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[@zaydencolt4352]

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[@mathewmurphy2790]

Good job guys..correct on the automotive comment rpm are usually higher..👍greetings from 🇮🇪

[@hoobsgarage]

this is so weird i have a ford 640 and a ford 3000 and here you have videos working on both lol. great vids i really enjoy your channel

[@walkerm777]

Great video. I have a similar tractor. But mine came in yellow. Hard to find info on. Great job on the wiring job. Even using the proper splicer. I'm getting ready to do the same thing.

[@warrenkearns3087]

How do you rehook the tack cable to alternator

[@tractorman4461]

Lucas electricals seem to be a weak spot on these old fellows. I just converted a 2000 to Petronix and am in the process of installing a new water pump as well. But sometime over the winter, it going to get an alternator conversion as well. I really ain't worried about the tach drive. I did my '75 4500 backhoe about three years ago and boy am I glad !! But one thing I haven't ever bought a kit. Sure worked slick..I may consider it for the 2000.

[@AmericanTradesmen]

I did that one that way because of customer request to retain the tachometer. Crazy as it sounds I could buy the kit complete with alternator for $10 more from amazon than an alternator alone from the local parts house.

[@tractorman4461]

@@AmericanTradesmen I understand about what the customer wants... It did turn out pretty darn good tough. I like the one wire but I also like using an LED in the #1 circuit as an idiot light on the dash too, and I really like changing from an ammeter to a voltmeter on these old tractors.

[@AmericanTradesmen]

@@tractorman4461 by chance would you have an email address I could contact you at?

[@tractorman4461]

@@AmericanTradesmen heck yeah...go with [e-mail].

[@jeremynolen1980]

I like the way you talk!

[@AmericanTradesmen]

I like the way you talk...Mmmm-hmmmm.

[@jeremynolen1980]

@@AmericanTradesmen lol

[@marcwidener6799]

Did the tach cable fit in the alternator?

[@hubertrobinson8825]

Better than I can do I just don't like electrical I'm not afraid like some would think just hate working with small things like wires in general I find it hard to hold tiny very large hands

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Electrical isn't for everybody, but it takes all kinds of folks to make the world go round...thanks for watching!

[@dropbassnetwork]

according to the instructions I got it says to hook the two B and the D together, not the F?

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Seems like I got this question before but I looked back and didn’t see it...either way my suggestion is to do what your instructions are telling you. They came from the company selling the conversion kit, I’m a “KZbin Certified” shade tree mechanic. What I mean is, I’m human and make mistakes and I more than likely did here. I’m going to check the customers tractor as soon as I get a chance, I do know he’s been using it without an issue since the work was done. That still doesn’t mean I’m right. Thanks for asking and thanks for watching!

[@joshuajackson8112]

Same process for a 69 3400? And will this affect the tachometer? Or Anything else thanks for the help!

[@AmericanTradesmen]

My apologies for a 6 month late response, I just saw your question. Sometimes KZbin notifications aren’t the greatest. Yes, this should be the same on a 3400.

[@fredduncan1610]

Thanks for posting, great instructional video. Will be doing this conversion on my ‘70 4000SU this weekend. I’m sure I will be coming back to rewatch as I am going! Did you ever figure out the D wire use?

[@rickymauldin5894]

I see where u tied the 2 battery wires and the field wire together. Im trying to convert my 3000 now and my instructions say to tie the 2 battery wires and the D wire together. Im confused.

[@jwgolding]

thanks

[@ronbeckybeasley3566]

I did the same thing to my 5000. The problem with this conversion is the tach will not be accurate anymore. The 540 pto is supposed be 1900 RPM. With this conversion the 540 PTO rpms shows 2300 rpms on the tach. Pulley size on the new alternator is different

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Ron & Becky Beasley I wasn’t aware of that...I’ll let the customer know to check and see where his is at. Thanks for the info!

[@ronbeckybeasley3566]

American Tradesmen no problem. Great videos

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Ron & Becky Beasley thanks! We really appreciate the feedback and appreciate you watching.

[@macdkev11]

Where do I find the link for this kit ? Thanks

[@DanaKotze]

Hi nice to meet

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Good to meet you as well, thanks for watching!

[@greghiebert7787]

Hi,I'm wanting to convert my Allis Chalmers 5015 3cyl diesel from gen to alt,I am assuming I would follow the same steps as yours correct,thanks

[@jimbuford4147]

New subscriber today and I rang the bell. Like the detail but is there a reason you don't use shrink insulators? Just curious. Also was this a one wire or 3 wire? What is the difference? Thanks

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Hi Jim, thanks for watching and subscribing! I normally use heat shrink on all my wiring, however I did this conversion on a Sunday morning at the customer's home. There were no parts stores open and I had forgotten my heat shrink. Considering the customer is also a good friend I went back later and took care of all the connections. This alternator was a 3 wire, which honestly every GM "one wire" I've ever seen actually has 3 terminals. The main terminal on the back obviously is your power output, spade #1 is for the warning lamp that lets you know the alternator is not charging, spade #2 excites the alternator to assist with charging in low RPM applications such as a farm tractor. Both #1 and #2 are connections on the alternators internal voltage regulator and both are positive (+) connections. To my knowledge, and if I am wrong hopefully someone here will correct me, but the famous GM 1 Wire alternator will always have these three connections. In automotive applications engine RPM's are typically much higher, so the higher RPM setup does not need assistance to excite. With that said, it is entirely possible to hook up only the power output from the alternator and it work just fine in most instances. I hope that helps!

[@chrisbillings2816]

We have a 1967 JD 3020 (Gas) with 2 batteries and a 24 volt starter. The rest of the system is 12 Volt. I'd like to change from generator to an alternator. What kits should I use? Any advice would be helpful. LOVED the video!

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Sorry I just saw your question, for some reason I havent been getting notifications as I should lately, and thanks for watching our content! As to give you an honest answer, I dont know off the top of my head. I've ran some equipment that was 24V, but never owned or had reason to work on any. If your generator is currently working I would be curious as to how much voltage it puts out at its peak. I did run across this as I was looking for some information to answer your question www.instructables.com/id/John-Deere-3020-24v-to-12v-conversion/ Please let me know if this helps.

[@dorsey19711]

Nice job

[@tonyepley3299]

What did you do with the other wire from the generator? And did you find out what D is?

[@bernardmccarthy2193]

HI..MY tractor wire harness burnt i bought a new harness and conversion kit but Alt wont charge ,,So heres my Question...when you tie together B B and F What do you do with the F that was on the Generator (is it just a F wire that is live and not hooked up to nothing .,,Thanks Bernie McCarthy.

[@johnwilkerson3424]

What does it mean if you only have one battery wire at the voltage regulator instead of two?

[@AmericanTradesmen]

I’ll have to look at a wiring schematic to give you a solid answer on that one.

[@aussiefarmer100]

Hi there I am Ken and I live in Australia just change the generator to a alternater on my ford 3000 but didn't have a tachometer cable drive on the alternater, I will run the tractor for a while and see how I go with no tachometer?

[@AmericanTradesmen]

I did find that on the next series tractor (3600) the tach drive is in a different location. Those parts are supposed to be interchangeable with the 3000 and can be sourced from many different suppliers. May be worth looking into, we appreciate you watching!

[@caseyscott7667]

👍🏻 was very helpful

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Casey Scott good deal, glad it helped!

[@mattgautney7708]

Can you make make a video of removing the timing cover and replacing gaskets have major leak coming from what looks like behind water pump on ford 3000 diesal

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Matt I sure will. It may be a couple weeks but I’ll be glad to.

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Are you leaking oil or coolant?

[@mattgautney7708]

Oil thank you sir your videos have helped when the manuals didn't

[@villageb2003]

What did you do with the other thin black wire that was down by the old generator? Not used?

[@villageb2003]

the directions say to combine B,B and D wires. You connected B,B and F why? thanks for your replys.

[@AmericanTradesmen]

That is a ground wire. You can use it if you like, however the alternator is grounded through its brackets. As for your second question, I honestly don’t remember without looking at the provided instructions. Looking back at the wiring diagram in the shop manual my wiring appears correct. The owner has used this tractor regularly since the conversion without any issues. I hope this helps, thanks for watching and thanks for your questions!

[@tonyepley3299]

What kit did you use ? The link wouldn't work

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Here is another link to the same kit, sorry about that amzn.to/3n69TLF

[@AmericanTradesmen]

And thanks for letting us know, I've updated the link in the description. I'm guessing that seller is no longer on Amazon or is sold out currently.

[@tonyepley3299]

Thanks so much!

[@erictyner2162]

Would this be the same on a 4000

[@AmericanTradesmen]

Yes it should be.

[@hunter37334]

The "engineering" of the brackets on this kit is GARBAGE! I doubt they ever installed one .