I am going to start off this instructable with a story on why I am doing this instructable. While attempting another project and instructable on this tractor I ran into a bit of an issue (will be published later). The tractor would no longer start. I did a bunch of trouble shooting and found the culprits to be a battery cut off switch that was added and the starter solenoid. I was advised that I should convert the 24v system to a 12v system as it would be cheaperandeasier in the long run. This particular year of tractor was the last year that John Deere put the 24v system on a 3020 and apparently it can be pretty troublesome with battery drainage caused by the starter etc. I did not heed this suggestion and attempted to fix the issue and keep the tractor original with 24v.

So I ordered a new switch and solenoid, put it in and what do you know the tractor started great. Better than ever actually. Previously when the tractor died I noticed that the starter solenoid was VERY hot, to the point of melting its own plastic. So while the tractor was running I was constantly feeling the solenoid. Nothing was getting hot so I was good to go, or so I thought. I turn off the tractor and hear some popping and fizzing and get that familiar smell of electrical smoke. Ok maybe I have fried an electronic component or two in the past but I know that smell. I search all over the starter area and don't see anything smoking or burning. Then I see smoke rising from the other side, I run over and the generator is absolutely smoking. I immediately cut off the power at the switches and waited for the smoke to stop, the popping did but the smoke didn't. So I grab my fire extinguisher and shoot it directly into the generator. After a minute the smoking subsides.

Alright, time to get another voltage regulator and generator I thought. It's a new to me used tractor, I want to keep it original so lets see what they cost. Holy guacamole batman those things are expensive. I could change over the entire system for what they wanted for just the generator and have all new parts and not have to worry about it. So I began searching for the parts or a kit to switch it over.