01'JD 4110 how to check alternator?

[2001 JD4110]

Not charging newer diehard, disaasembled alt & cleaned, still dies when + cable is disconnected from batt...not much to alternator, just a magnet & stator..?? maybe theres a bad regulator somewhere? Thanks for any help!!

 

[Zebrafive]

Did you check the battery voltage with it running? If charging it should be 14-16 volts.
There is a regulator. Two different ones, depends if you have the 20 or 35 amp alternator.
Does the battery light work on your dash? It should light at start (bulb check) and go out if charging, or stay on if not charging. A burnt out bulb will prevent charging.

 

[2001 JD4110]

Hi,Thanks! Yes the batt light works & not on when running. I have the 20a alt with external regulator. I read/search found an expensive safety relay under dash "might" be a culprit though that was for a 2k series iirc. any way I can check stuff with a voltmeter?

 

[hosspuller]

any way I can check stuff with a voltmeter?

Zebrafive has posted the expected voltages... Check it, then post back on what you measured.

 

[2001 JD4110]

I forgot to run at 1/2 throttle!
Geez, when I boost the gas a lttle I'm getting 14.0v at battery! wondering why it dies as soon as + terminal is removed? I know on a regular car, that would be an alternator/charging problem.

 

[2001 JD4110]

I forgot to run at 1/2 throttle!
Geez, when I boost the gas a lttle I'm getting 14.0v at battery! wondering why it dies as soon as + terminal is removed? I know on a regular car, that would be an alternator/charging problem.

anybody got any ideas and/or wiring diagrams?

 

[Tx Jim]

If volt meter indicates 14 volts across bat posts with engine running then I think if it were my tractor I'd find something else to concern my thoughts.

 

[2001 JD4110]

why does engine instantly die out when positive cable is removed from battery?

 

[2001 JD4110]

So I got to the 4 relays on right side under column, the 1st 2 are the same so I switched them, no difference. I did see the batt light on at idle with relays in both positions but went off as soon as I raised idle...never really noticed that before. More importantly I found that eng will always die when lifting of positive terminal BUT if simply "tapped" to post, then removed away eng stays running? any ideas?

 

[jd110]

Disconnecting the battery while running is NOT a conclusive test for charging system. In fact, it can CAUSE a problem when a problem did not exist before. I don't recommend doing this as it can cause voltage surges that can burn out sensitive electronics such as regulators, alternators or controllers if you have them. You have proven the alternator IS charging by checking voltage. If your battery is going dead(you never say that) then the battery can be bad even if it is "newer", the system could have a drain such as a stuck relay that is draining the battery when it sits overnight or longer, or what I have seen on these pretty frequently, the glow plugs can stick on and actually drain the battery while running because the glow plugs draw more power than the alternator can keep up with on these 20 amp systems.

 

[2001 JD4110]

Interesting! Yes battery dead every few days/all started 2 wks ago iirc. I had found cells at both ends very low-or dry, so I filled w/distilled water. A friend said battery may be fault too? Those stupid things are $110.00...what a rip!

 

[DLTTrekkers]

Electrical fuelshut-off valve on pump ?

 

[DFB]

Low voltage while running also could be bad glow plug timer module...disconnect module wiring harness and see if voltage comes up to normal.

 

[2001 JD4110]

I think the battery **** the bed! prolly my fault since I did no maintainance on it since replacing4-6 yrs ago I bought a new 1 today but havent installed yet. I'm monitoring the battery voltage now which seems to be ever so slowly decreasing....but the other fact is that the charging system is functioning but eng.dies when + is removed promptly BUT if slowly wiggled of or simply retapped eng stays running?? That seems to be "very peculiar"? Thanks for the ideas..who knows? cause I'm not there yet..lol

 

[mfreund]

It should shut off when battery is removed because of the fuel shut off relay looses power. By taking the battery cable off you are sending voltage spikes through the wiring. It is possible to short out the controller. It is yours and you can do as you like, but I would not. There are better ways to test parts than that.

 

[beenthere]

prolly my fault since I did no maintainance on it since replacing4-6 yrs ago

Probably is a bad battery, after all those years.

In the OP, you stated

Not charging newer diehard

Doesn't sound 'newer" to me.

 

[2001 JD4110]

Did you check the battery voltage with it running? If charging it should be 14-16 volts.
There is a regulator. Two different ones, depends if you have the 20 or 35 amp alternator.
Does the battery light work on your dash? It should light at start (bulb check) and go out if charging, or stay on if not charging. A burnt out bulb will prevent charging.

Long time with light on, then off, then on? Put a new interstate battery in last year. I ran a small sprayer for 2+hrs then it sat for 4 hrs then went to start…stone dead so I charged overnight & just checked at 2k rpm- 12.1v at battery? Any ideas?

 

[beenthere]

What has been happening over the last 7 years with this problem? Is it the same, or was it once fixed and now is happening again?

 

[2001 JD4110]

No the light has been acting up for years but now more frequent.

 

[JimRB]

Remove alternator and have it checked at parts store. Disconnecting battery cable when engine is running is not a good way to test an alternator.

I bought a tractor battery a few months ago and it was $150. Last car battery was $200.

Could be a bad voltage regulator. Could be bad wiring. Could be stuck relays. Multimeter that reads amps when engine is not running can help a person find power leaks. The ohms setting can help find bad wiring.