3 solonoid switch wiring

Mark McFadden

There is something wrong with the wiring diagram that won't alow charge to the battery. I know the coil wire is wrong too, I changed that connection to the original solenoid. Could someone please tell me what I could do so I get a charge to the battery. All the other components (starter/generator, voltage regulator) are working fine.

Attached Images

wiring original.jpg (127.6 KB, 0 views)

BGW

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Lochlin

Yeah, you're all goofed up there. What year cart do you have? It looks like soemone replaced your stock F/R switch with a standard on / off switch and two addiitional solenoinds for F/R.

DF on the voltage regulator is right as it's going to DF on the generator. D+ on the voltage regulator is wrong. You have it going to a large terminal you your solenoid so11-10. It should be going to the small + terminal on that solenoid.

Here is where things get tricky. D- on the voltage regulator should split and go to A1 and A2 on the generator while passing through a couple of diodes after the split. See if that split and diodes are there somewhere. If not, wire D- directly to A1 or A2, which ever one is showing you a charge while running in forward.

Lochlin

Here is a link to a bunch of Columbia service manuals. You'll find wirig diagrams there.

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/columbia-parcars/

Mark McFadden

1985 3 wheel cart
This is a replacement switch I bought.
I still have the original wire with the diodes, and have tried that too.
I'm not an expert in this but it looks to me with this set up it is switching the positive, and the original set up switches the negative.

Mark McFadden

The cart cranks, runs just fine, FWD and REV, just no charge to the battery.
I know all the other components are fine because I swapped them out with my other cart.
I have 3 Columbia's

Lochlin

Ok. I have two '85s so we are good there. Attached is the service manual for that specific year (in two parts) and supplemental manual that applies as well. The wiring diagram that applies to your year is on page 56 of the 2nd manual part BUT the diagram on page 55 is the one you want because you appear to have the earlier voltage regulator which is fine.

Attached Files

	GC1.pdf (9.96 MB, 0 views)
	GC2.pdf (17.78 MB, 0 views)
	86 - 88 Supplement.pdf (523.4 KB, 0 views)

Lochlin

You'll see in the wiring diagram that the original that there should be only one solenoid in that cart. The original F/R switches had built within them the on / off functionality as well as all of the functionality of your two extra solenoids. What happened was, those original F/R switches were expensive at a time ($200) so a lot of people converted away from and went with the one switch / two solenoid system that you have. The original switches have since come down in price ($90 or so).

Still, none of that should affect your charging at all as none of the charging circuit should be connected to the F/R circuit regardless of whether or not you changing directions on + or -. If you are wired according to the diagram (and right now you aren't) things should work.

Now, those diodes are only making sure you aren't shorting between in F and R. In theory, you should be able to do run that line from D- on the VR to just one of the charge posts on the S/G (A1 or A2, whichever one is charging in F) and that should work as well.

Mark McFadden

I'll try it this weekend.
That was my thinking too, charging and cranking are separate operations.

Mark McFadden

New to this forum.I see Locklin you live in Pittsburgh.
I live in Crafton and have a camp in Slippery Rock.
Small world

Lochlin

Yes, sir. I just noticed that connection as well. I live in Upper St. Clair. My camp is at Pymatuning Lake. Mind you, I am suit and tie guy at work and not at all a career grease monkey. Oddly, I developed a thing for vintage carts and starting tinkering with them several years ago somewhat on a whim. My father in law has an old Harley cart that hadn't run in years. I decided to tinker with it and, a full rebuild later, he's still running it around. From there, I just developed a passion for it for old carts. I now have 7 vintage carts and it's probably inevitable that I get another cart or two before it's all said and done.

I'm certainly no expert but, thinking of my knowledge (or lack thereof) when I first started messing with these things to where I am now, it's pretty amazing.