GC1720 died, won't restart

[Fiziksgeek]

15A is a big change over 10A. Think how many items are on that circuit that are designed for 10A and could not handle 13A as an example.

Also you went from perfect runnimg very recently to recent occasional fuse blows to now steady fuse blows . . my point is . . . the problem is not staying the same . . it is deteriorating.

I don't think it works quite that way. Volts is fixed, amps is based on power draw. The total amperage for the circuit can't be more than 10 amps. If one item on that circuit tried to draw more amps that it's supposed to, the fuse will break, but hat doesn't mean any other item on the circuit received more "amps".

Think about your house. If the cord to the vacuum got nicked and shorted out and tripped your breaker (equivalent to a fuse), it doesn't mean the TV plugged into he same outlet blows up as well.

The concern is the wiring. Too much power going through a skinny wire is not a good thing, especially for prolonged period. If a component was drawing a little more power that it was supposed to, increasing the total power draw to something greater than 10, but less than 15 amps, the tractor might run just fine.....until the wire heats up, melts through its shield and the shield of the wires next to it, well, then you have a bigger problem.

Though I definitely agree, the first 44 hours of operation were flawless, and now something has changed...

 

[ray66v]

I don't exactly know if he meant it to be a permanent solution, or just a troubleshooting technique. If if blows a 15A, then you really do have a problem, vs 10A and something is running on the high side of it rated draw. But I gotta believe that the circuit is not used to capacity, there has to be some margin designed in.

I don't see how it helps much, as far as trouble shooting. We know the circuit is not overloaded, unless you modified it.

But, as I said, it may allow you to get some work done in the meantime.

I guarantee it's going to take a much bigger fuse than 15 amps, to overheat that wire.

If I get time this weekend, I will get a piece of wire that size, and see how many amps it takes to melt it.

 

[Ooklaa]

For all you know their could be a small splice in the wiring harness somehwere that is touching metal frame causing it to spark and blowing the fuse. I would want full access from the dealer when they find the problem.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Well, she's dead. I put about 3.5 hours on the clock yesterday. About half with a 10A fuse, then that popped and I replaced it with a 15 and finished out my work for the day. Went back to this morning to continue. Worked for about an hour, popped the 15A. Replaced it with a 15, and it popped immediately when I tried to start. Tried it a second time, same result. Off to the dealer she goes...

 

[cglaser104]

Well, she's dead. I put about 3.5 hours on the clock yesterday. About half with a 10A fuse, then that popped and I replaced it with a 15 and finished out my work for the day. Went back to this morning to continue. Worked for about an hour, popped the 15A. Replaced it with a 15, and it popped immediately when I tried to start. Tried it a second time, same result. Off to the dealer she goes...

Well....maybe you can get complimentary 50 hour service done?!? Lol

Sorry to hear of your issues, hopefully they're resolved swiftly

 

[ray66v]

Well, she's dead. I put about 3.5 hours on the clock yesterday. About half with a 10A fuse, then that popped and I replaced it with a 15 and finished out my work for the day. Went back to this morning to continue. Worked for about an hour, popped the 15A. Replaced it with a 15, and it popped immediately when I tried to start. Tried it a second time, same result. Off to the dealer she goes...

On the bright side, now whatever is shorted, should be easy to find.

For the record, I was quickly able to blow 20 amp fuses with wire that size, without the wire even having time to warm up.

I would have tried a 30 amp, but, I don't seem to have any of those right now.

 

[AxleHub]

On the bright side, now whatever is shorted, should be easy to find.

For the record, I was quickly able to blow 20 amp fuses with wire that size, without the wire even having time to warm up.

I would have tried a 30 amp, but, I don't seem to have any of those right now.

My question would be . . A starter circuit obviously would have heavier gauge wiring. But on a GC series tractor, do the dash light assembly usr similar weight wire or considerably lighter weight?

Because wire weight is key and because we don't know which item is the cause of the fuse blowing . . I would think you'd have to test the lightest gauge/weight of wire in that circuit to know how a larger fuse "might" effect the situation.

Just a thought.

 

[ray66v]

My question would be . . A starter circuit obviously would have heavier gauge wiring. But on a GC series tractor, do the dash light assembly usr similar weight wire or considerably lighter weight?

Because wire weight is key and because we don't know which item is the cause of the fuse blowing . . I would think you'd have to test the lightest gauge/weight of wire in that circuit to know how a larger fuse "might" effect the situation.

Just a thought.

I have decades of experience, wiring, repairing damaged wiring, and replacing entire wire harnesses in vehicles. So, yes, I am intelligent enough to consider that.

They never put a circuit, they intend to use a 10 amp fuse to protect, on a heavy gauge wire. It would be stupid.

I used a very light gauge wire. The exact same crap, as lightest gauge wire I found under the hood of my GC. That piece of wire, came out of a scrap automotive wiring harness, from a Japanese car. So, it's as close to identical, as you can get.

Now that it blows the fuse instantly, it has a dead short. As I said, it will be fairly easy to trace the circuit with the schematic in hand, and find a dead short.

 

[SteveM70]

Axlehub, think of it this way. What do you think would happen now if he replaced the 15 amp fuse with a jumper made from a piece of wire the same size as the smallest in that circuit?

 

[AxleHub]

Axlehub, think of it this way. What do you think would happen now if he replaced the 15 amp fuse with a jumper made from a piece of wire the same size as the smallest in that circuit?

Interesting question. A wire operates differently than a fuse. A fuse is designed to break while a wire is designed to transfer and "build heat till separation".

Wiring harnesses that are "homerun" designed operate differently than harnesses that duplex outward to different items frpm a fork. I've seen copper braid blow thru insulation from sudden voltage surges . . And oversizing fuses is one method of creating voltage surges.

What is confusing is that Fiziks has had instant blows and then he can go 3 hours on 2 fuses. In those circumstances when nothing is predictable . . I've learned ti err on the side of caution as I've seen equipment damaged too often by others good intentions on my customers.