Another problem - electrical

woodlandfarms · Apr 14, 2010

OK. So mowing. Darn machine kinda just conks out. Wouldn't restart. Realized due to my welding on the PT the ground to the battery is loose. Clean it up, jump start the PT. Off I go. A few hours later, jossling around, and same thing. The positive is just the slightest bit loose, but....

So, How do I self Diagnose an alternator?

I think the issue is cable related but I want to make sure.

woodlandfarms · Apr 14, 2010

Update..

If it is the alternator it is intermittent.

It happened again. Here is what went down. Clunking along, and the engine dies and the voltage drops to zero. Now, when I stall out, the voltage stays up.

I am pulling the dash as I had to pull it to put in the throttle cable. Maybe I knocked something loose.

Any suggestions guys. I got 4 more days of fun then back to the big city... Don't want this to cramp my style.

Bob999 · Apr 15, 2010

Check the grounding path for the fuel solenoid. It has a separate ground wire that on my 1845 grounds via the rear electrical connection box to the frame.

ponytug · Apr 15, 2010

You might just want to go around and tighten your cables and grounds. Specifically, both ends of your battery cables (and make sure you remove them, clean them, and then put them back on and tighten).

Given that you pulled the dash, I'd bet on something loose in there. You might want to check the fuel solenoid path, on the starter key, and the cables. I had to go through several cycles of tighten the various screws there until they settled in and stayed tight.

I finally put some copper based dielectric contact grease on the engine interconnect to help my PT out. (Del City).

All the best,

Peter

woodlandfarms · Apr 15, 2010

Solved I think. You guys guessed it. The ground had some surface rust on it. I have a few other things grounded and I think that opened the area to rust.

Crossing fingers an toes.

jaquetarr · May 12, 2010

woodlandfarms said:
Solved I think. You guys guessed it. The ground had some surface rust on it. I have a few other things grounded and I think that opened the area to rust.

Crossing fingers an toes.

Some advice I received in the past was to place the ground clamp as close to the weld as possible to prevent stray weld currents. Now it is written into policy.

Stray weld currents can cause bearings to fail and electrical componemts to burn out and lots of other obscure problems.

Don't depend on clamping anywhere on the body to provide a ground as you don't know how the current routes as it goes from point A to point B.
Rgds, tim