6640 intermittent electrical problem

[Jackfr]

Now that I have the voltmeter and can see what the charging systemes doing the dim idiot light doesn't bother me at all. What I haven't have happen again is the flashing bright idiot light. It will be interesting to see what that does to the voltage. Rick is there anything else besides the pto module (which I jumped out last summer) which could be effected by the Alternator and idiot light acting this way?

 

[RickB]

Just the tachometer and hour meter. Unless you have a cable driven tach. I'm thinking the SL's have the electronic version. Everything else runs off common battery voltage.

 

[Jackfr]

It's an electronic one. What should I look for with the tach/hr meter. Will it just stop working or work erratically? I'll be running it quite a bit over the next couple of days so I'll let you know what happens.

 

[Jackfr]

RickB after 4 -5 days everything seems fine except for the dim idiot light, so I guess I'll just ignore it and rely on the volt meter. Do you know if the tack will just stop working or give me bad rpm readings if I have a problem with voltage there?

 

[RickB]

Usually you either have a tach, or you don't, relative to the signal from the alternator. An inaccurate tach usually is a result of a problem in the tach itself.

 

[Jackfr]

Thanks for your help Rick

 

[Jackfr]

It's been about 2 weeks since my last post on this problem and the charging system is still producing approx 14.0-14.2 volts per the volt meter as it should, but the dim red battery idiot light is still on. The bright red flashing idiot light is back also. When I first start the tractor in the morning on cold days the battery idiot light will flash brightly almost like its attached to the directional flasher. If I shut down and immediately restart the tractor it goes to just the dim battery idiot light. There is never any change in the voltmeter or tacometer when its flashing or dim just a steady approx. 14.0-14.2 volts. RickB or anyone else have any ideas? I know it will run ok like this but it sort of bugs me not knowing what is causing this. I Problably should use Rick's suggestion and put a black piece of electrical tape over the idiot light forget its there and just use the voltmeter or is the bulb removable if I take the dash back apart?

Jack

 

[Gator6x4]

Have you tried saturating the ignition switch with WD40? The switch could have collected some moisture in it when washing the unit.

 

[RickB]

The bulb is removable, but the tractor probably won't charge without excitation current from the key switch via the bulb (if the bulb were removed or is blown). A key switch problem is not likely, as it would take a short to ground for a key switch problem to cause the charge indicator to light. And it probably would not light in a key on/engine off scenario. Short circuits usually result in blown fuses, smoke and burnt wires in some combination.

 

[dqdave1]

could this be a bad diode in alternator?