To have something on record, I wrote up a report to attach to the dual 15 volt regulator that was worked on yesterday.  This way if someone else decides to attempt a repair, they will know what has already been done.

The tractor, a Yanmar YM330D, used for mowing the grass would not start.  After charging the battery, it was started and we found that the alternator was not working.  Mike and I wondered where the regulator for it was located and Jim told us it was inside the dashboard.  Upon opening it, a rat’s nest was found and three wires to the regulator had be chewed apart, with some of the wire missing.  After reconnecting the wires, the alternator began working again.

The wiring to the tractor’s regulator, after the repair.

The remains of a fuse holder that had been shorting to ground — I put heat shrink tubing on some bare wires to prevent further shorting. After purchasing a new fuse block, it should be easy to get all the lights working again.

Thinking that it was an electrical problem, Mike mentioned that it would be nice to have the tachometer and hour meter working again,.  After checking, it was discovered that the tach/hour meter is all mechanical, except for a light for night use.  Disconnecting the tach cable, the square end that fits into the tach was found to be rounded.  Jim repaired the tip with silver solder.  When the tractor was started, the tach worked — for a couple of seconds!  The square tip on the cable appears to need lengthening.

When something like this happens, I am one to look for solutions and found that Dorman makes a square end that can be crimped onto a cable to ‘renew’ the end.  It would take some modification to make it work, but might be worth consideration.  Dorman HELP products are available at auto parts stores and the Napa stores on Guam are on Dorman’s list of distributors.

Jim and Joel completed the first connection from an antenna switch to the overhead lines, which will eventually be connected to an antenna.

First connection from an antenna switch to an overhead line.

I thought there was a better photo with Jim and Joel, but found that the photos were foggy!  I then realized that the lens had fogged over, due to having just brought the camera out of the air conditioned building into the high temperature, high humidity environment.

Interesting effect of a fogged camera lens.

Late this evening, we learned that our trip to Swaziland for the 40th anniversary celebrations has been officially approved.  There are still a couple of details to be worked out before purchasing the tickets, which needs to be done while the prices are still reasonable.