425 just died

[smilindave]

I just installed some new lights on my canopy and went out to try it out. Worked great! But only for about 4 minutes. The lights went out and then the tractor died. It won't do anything. Completely dead. I checked the tho only fuse that I could find and its good. I'm thinking that maybe I fried the ignition switch. Any ideas?

 

[beenthere]

Did you check out the wiring before installing the lights, and know which wire you were using to get 12v ? Or direct to the battery?

 

[smilindave]

I had lights on it before and just replaced the ones that were there. The only thing I can figure is maybe it was drawing too much voltage.

 

[MossRoad]

I just installed some new lights on my canopy and went out to try it out. Worked great! But only for about 4 minutes. The lights went out and then the tractor died. It won't do anything. Completely dead. I checked the tho only fuse that I could find and its good. I'm thinking that maybe I fried the ignition switch. Any ideas?

How many watts were the lights? Did you check your battery connections?

 

[smilindave]

I'm thinking they were 35 watts. Checked the battery terminals. All good.

 

[ernemats]

Did you check the battery to see if it is still good?

 

[smilindave]

Do You think that the battery is fried? I did not check it for spark, but it worked fine before. I had the tractor out earlier cleaning snow from the driveway and no problems until I installed the new lights.

 

[woodlandfarms]

First check the battery. I am cursed with being a victim of circumstances. I fix something, put it back together and something else fails at the same time, but I blame it on what I just did...

425 does not have a robust electrical. How man lights did you put on? Are you sure they are 35 and not 55 (more of a common wattage). Given that it died while running I am thinking that you might have a wire come loose, the alternator has stopped charging, or you burned up a lead.

When I did my lights, I pulled the dash. When I bolted the dash back in I pinched a wire. My machine has a circuit breaker so it pops the system so nothing bad happened but it was frustrating trying to track it down.

When I put in my lights, i went with a relay as I was unsure that the ignition had the guts to survive the amperage I was pulling...

 

[smilindave]

I will check the battery first thing in the morning. Already pulled the cover off the front and checked for loose or bad wires. I put 2 lights on. Its my understanding that if the alternator quits working, then the lights would slowly go dim. That would be an indication that the electrical system was failing.

 

[BobRip]

I will check the battery first thing in the morning. Already pulled the cover off the front and checked for loose or bad wires. I put 2 lights on. Its my understanding that if the alternator quits working, then the lights would slowly go dim. That would be an indication that the electrical system was failing.

On my 422 there is a fuse on the big positive wire to the starter that feeds the electrical system. This fuse holder just hangs there. Trace a smaller wire coming off the starter and the holder should be there. Your machine may vary. I have had the fuse holder fail as well.

 

[smilindave]

Thanks, I'll look for one.

 

[smilindave]

Checked the battery and its ok. Also I looked for another fuse but did not find one. Any other suggestions?

 

[woodlandfarms]

It sounds electrical in issue, right? No lights, basically DOA (nothing clicks on, right? Nothing lights up, nothing makes noise, right?)

You need to start tracing backwards with a voltmeter.

First make sure you have a good ground. This will bite you all the time.

I don't know your wiring at all but I bet someone has a schematic. Basically you start moving forward off the battery toward the starter and ignition and when you no longer get a voltage reading you have your problem.

 

[ponytug]

Following up on Carl's suggestion to start at the battery;
Go both ways- unscrew and check both battery cables.
With cables off you, can use your voltmeter to see where you have complete circuits.
I think it is good practice to clean both ends of the negative cable. The same for the positive cable.
There is at least one big fuse in the electrical box. Sometimes the big fuses can look intact, but be open. If the large fuse is blown, I would try to find why it blew before replacing.
I would also check both the start key switch, and the contacts, and make sure that the wires are all well attached in the interconnect under the dashboard.
All the best,
Peter

 

[smilindave]

Thanks. I'm going to have to get it in the garage first. Getting to cold out there.

 

[Marks481]

You don't happen to still have the PTO switch in the "ON" position? Because my 422 has an interlock that prevents starting with the switch in the "ON" position.

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks. I'm going to have to get it in the garage first. Getting to cold out there.

You know about releasing the towing port on the pump before moving it without power, correct?

 

[smilindave]

Checked the PTO switch and it was off. Thanks Moss about the Port warning. Got it in the garage warming up. I will start checking things out tomorrow.

 

[smilindave]

Got it running! I found another fuse. It was covered with crud and was hard to see. Thanks for all your support and help!

 

[BobRip]

Great!! Congratulations.