'65 standard cub not charging

[ntrenn]

Take the end cap off and measure from the field terminal on the outside to the field connections on the inside. They corrode up.
Take out the armature and measure from one plate to the next on the commutator ring. It should be pretty low ohms.
Carefully file the armature like a machinist (in an arc motion) VERY lightly will take off the accumulated gunk from the armature.

Seriously....10-15 minutes and $50 saved.

If that doesn't work - go with the alternator...

[ScottyD'sdad]

you could go the cheap guy route, and attach a $20.00 trickle charger to the cub, between uses. A charged battery will last several days, between recharges. Ed

[Tezell]

I agree with Boss. Put the alternator on it and then you are finished with it.

That is what I would do.

[Landreo]

tried to measure between the two terminals yes - not the way to do it?
thanks all for your tip
will try and take the clean and sandpaper everything approach - it does look very dirty inside

My first response was going to be no, that is not the way to do it. The more I thought about the wiring, testing the voltage between the two generator terminals should give something. The field terminal would be grounded through the closed points of the regulator voltage section and there should be some voltage, around 12 volts between the two terminals. Since you have none, then either the generator is not working or the wiring/voltage regulator is bad. Here is a link to Birddog's excellent trouble shooting chart and I believe it is also in the HOW To forum.

http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=72512&hilit=birddog
You can try grounding the field on the generator while measuring the voltage from the generator's "A" terminal to the ground.

Generators are fairly robust. If yours is bad then likely just needs a good cleaning of the commutator and brushes.

I would try fixing the generator first, if you go the alternator route, someone posted about a Hitachi alternator from Amazon. Inexpensive, small, 3 wire. That is the alternator I used on a cub recently. Recommend 3 wire over one wire.