Electrical Issue and the resolution

[woodlandfarms]

Here is a new one.

The wife calls me, all in a tiz. Tractor died while mowing, Sounds like it is out of gas (diesel) but the gauge reads quarter full.

I get home, it is dark. Run the jerry can down the hill and put 5 gallons in. Crank a few times. starts up. Up the hill I go and the gauge reads half full. Today I run around on the machine in the rain and the temp is reading way hot. But the voltage is reading way low... like 12 volts. Up goes the hood, out comes the voltage meter. 14.4v. Now I think what could this be. Gauges are getting juice, but something is creating an odd reading between the gauges and the source. Back the tractor up and the gauges pop up to normal (temp goes down, gas goes down, oil goes down, voltage goes up. Pull the covers off the steering and start wiggling wires. Nothing. OK, gauges are good going to take off. Drop the hood, climb on. Gauges back to too high temps and pressure and to low voltage. What the heck... So I "tap" the gauge and bang, things go back to normal. Pull covers again and notice the clamping nuts that hold the gauge to the metal are only finger tight. So, a poor ground at the gauge caused all the issue.

Carl

 

[dcyrilc]

Here is a new one.

The wife calls me, all in a tiz. Tractor died while mowing, Sounds like it is out of gas (diesel) but the gauge reads quarter full.

I get home, it is dark. Run the jerry can down the hill and put 5 gallons in. Crank a few times. starts up. Up the hill I go and the gauge reads half full. Today I run around on the machine in the rain and the temp is reading way hot. But the voltage is reading way low... like 12 volts. Up goes the hood, out comes the voltage meter. 14.4v. Now I think what could this be. Gauges are getting juice, but something is creating an odd reading between the gauges and the source. Back the tractor up and the gauges pop up to normal (temp goes down, gas goes down, oil goes down, voltage goes up. Pull the covers off the steering and start wiggling wires. Nothing. OK, gauges are good going to take off. Drop the hood, climb on. Gauges back to too high temps and pressure and to low voltage. What the heck... So I "tap" the gauge and bang, things go back to normal. Pull covers again and notice the clamping nuts that hold the gauge to the metal are only finger tight. So, a poor ground at the gauge caused all the issue.

Carl

You gotta have a good ground path.

Rain??? Does this mean that you're back up north?

 

[gunnyad]

A friend just showed me that the 06 f150 holds water below the driver /passenger side kick panels. wires run thru there and under door floor molding.
The gauges in a truck he looked at was going goofy and lots of water was trapped below inner side panels and over the wires,the panels are inside by the lower door hinges.
i had some water but did not corrode my wires. drilled holes to drain. There is a rubber grommet on the underside on the passenger side I opened it up some.
I think the pasenger side is the fuse box and safety gas shut off side to my memory.
your gauge problem reminded me of that.

 

[MossRoad]

Poor grounds are the cause of most of the electrical problems I have dealt with in my life, from gauges to lighting, especially trailers. And lets face it.... the PT is basically a two piece machine, similar to a truck and trailer.

 

[woodlandfarms]

You gotta have a good ground path.

Rain??? Does this mean that you're back up north?

I am indeed. Producing a movie that has taken one year of my life and I owe it one more... 100 mile commute every day... Ugh... But still better than LA.

One of these days Lunch...

Carl

 

[dcyrilc]

I am indeed. Producing a movie that has taken one year of my life and I owe it one more... 100 mile commute every day... Ugh... But still better than LA.

One of these days Lunch...

Carl

When you're ready, name the day and I'll be there.


What type of movie are you working on? Documentary, comedy, drama, etc.

 

[SpringHollow]

Not sure it is doing anything but I ran a big ground cable through the tunnel to connect the two halves.

Ken

 

[woodlandfarms]

You know Ken, I have been thinking about doing the same. Seems like a potential weak link. But then again, I have never had any indication of an issue that ground is not being kept.

As for the movie. Stop Motion family comedy. Guys who did Coraline (Phil Knight of Nike fames son owns the company). Interesting but labor intensive process and the look of the film is beautiful.

Carl

 

[ponytug]

I ran a ground line through the tunnel to the dash as well, and I have had no gauge issues.

Carl- thanks for sharing! It would have been awhile before I got to the loose guage itself.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ernemats]

What did you connect the ground wires to and what gauge wire did you use?

 

[woodlandfarms]

and the one thing I want to make sure everyone go out of this is that partial ground made my guages read weird. GAS was way too high, Temp was way too High, Pressure was way to high and voltage was 4 volts low.

I was thinking of a 6 guage chunk of wire for through the tunnel for the ground. Just have to define a good spot to ground to.

I am using the engin as a ground, but I would like to also run a grounding strap as it does not have one to the front chasis.

Carl

 

[Gravy]

Carl,

If it's just for the gauges, I'd recommend something much lighter and very flexible. Even 6g welding cable is going to suffer from the repeated flexing. The gauges probably don't need anything heavier than 20g. The electrical guys at your day job probably have something laying around that would work well. The trick is in combating corrosion. Dielectric grease will help.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Carl,

If it's just for the gauges, I'd recommend something much lighter and very flexible. Even 6g welding cable is going to suffer from the repeated flexing. The gauges probably don't need anything heavier than 20g. The electrical guys at your day job probably have something laying around that would work well. The trick is in combating corrosion. Dielectric grease will help.

We have tons of scrap cable lying around. One of our electrics (not an electrician, but someone who plugs in lights) dropped a roll of 6/3 on my desk. Looks like i have some 6 gauge that will work fine. Might have to cut the cover off a bit.

 

[Gravy]

We have tons of scrap cable lying around. One of our electrics (not an electrician, but someone who plugs in lights) dropped a roll of 6/3 on my desk. Looks like i have some 6 gauge that will work fine. Might have to cut the cover off a bit.

A roll of 6/3? Copper prices are crazy. Sell it for scrap and retire!

 

[woodlandfarms]

You would be stunned. We are one step away from being a government company they way the operate. It is cheaper for them to throw away than to donate. It completely sucks. I guess it is due to our owners high profile but man, I find my self dumpster diving here all the time and I am a producer...

Carl

 

[dcyrilc]

You would be stunned. We are one step away from being a government company they way the operate. It is cheaper for them to throw away than to donate. It completely sucks. I guess it is due to our owners high profile but man, I find my self dumpster diving here all the time and I am a producer...

Carl

When the time comes, you'll have to let us know what the movie is and when it will be shown. I'll go just so I can point at the screen and say "I know that guy!" :laughing::laughing:

I don't know if you follow country music at all, but several years ago a fellow named Micheal Peterson was on the scene. I used to go to church with him about 15-20 years ago and he did some performing at church. I never realized that he was doing it professionally. I about fell over one day when we were watching the Country Music Awards on TV and he appeared on stage performing between awards.

 

[SpringHollow]

I think mine would handle the ground for the gauges

Ken

 

[woodlandfarms]

Ken, you are able to turn the wheel on that tractor with that cable?

dcyrilic... Paranorman is its current title. Family "claymation". Not the normal kind of movie i do but I wanted the experience of doing animation instead of live action, and I get to live in the PNW for two years. August 11 I think is our release date (of 2012)

 

[MossRoad]

I think mine would handle the ground for the gauges

Ken

YIKES! :laughing:

 

[Gravy]

I think mine would handle the ground for the gauges

Ken

Not to mention doubling as a tow cable for a Cat D-8...