Battery warning light flashes on FT504

[Baroness]

Greetings from Adelaide South Australia. I have a 2013 Foton FT504 and the battery light in the dash flashes while the engine is running. I have owned the tractor just over three years and have never had to charge the battery, even though I do not use it constantly. The dealer has disappeared and although I made them aware of it while the tractor was under warranty they did nothing. Anyway I have tried increasing the revs to over 1000 which does nothing. On the odd occasion the light does go out but never stays out. Any recommendations welcome.

 

[aesmith]

Try tracking down the connections between alternator and voltage regulator and clean any contacts or connectors.

 

[brad miller]

Greetings from Adelaide South Australia. I have a 2013 Foton FT504 and the battery light in the dash flashes while the engine is running. I have owned the tractor just over three years and have never had to charge the battery, even though I do not use it constantly. The dealer has disappeared and although I made them aware of it while the tractor was under warranty they did nothing. Anyway I have tried increasing the revs to over 1000 which does nothing. On the odd occasion the light does go out but never stays out. Any recommendations welcome.

Yes I've got a TB504 (which I'm told the TB and FT are one and the same?) with the same issue since day one and have just changed the original battery after 9years!
Probably like you it annoyed me initially but I just kept checking the battery with a multimeter and it was keeping its charge.
The only time I ever charged the battery was when I left the ignition on
Who did you buy you're Foton from?
My dealer whent out of business 3years into my ownership (Xtream Machinery)

Brad

 

[brad miller]

Do you have a decent maintenance and service manual?
Mine is hopeless

 

[Baroness]

Thanks for the advice Aesmith. I will try that and see how I go. Cheers

Baroness

 

[Baroness]

Hi Brad

I have replied to Aerosmith following his response saying I would try his suggestion of checking the contact points etc. I purchased my tractor from Tractor World in Victoria who delivered it to me in the Adelaide Hills in 2015. I bought it new. They disappeared two years after I bought it. They did however provide some parts for the tractor during the three year warranty but the third year warranty was worthless. I agree it is a little annoying see the flashes but like you agreed, it has not affected charging the battery at all. I have never had to charge it.

Cheers

 

[Baroness]

Hi again Brad, the manuals I received with my tractor from Tractor World were for the TD series and had nothing to do with the FT504. When I contacted them they sent me a parts manual for my tractor but that was all I got. All maintenance and servicing has been done by myself with some advice from neighbours. I am in the process, as no doubt you are, to locate some decent manuals which hasn't been easy. Should I be successful I will let you know. Where in the world are you situated in case I do find some?

Cheers

Baroness

 

[brad miller]

Hi again Brad, the manuals I received with my tractor from Tractor World were for the TD series and had nothing to do with the FT504. When I contacted them they sent me a parts manual for my tractor but that was all I got. All maintenance and servicing has been done by myself with some advice from neighbours. I am in the process, as no doubt you are, to locate some decent manuals which hasn't been easy. Should I be successful I will let you know. Where in the world are you situated in case I do find some?

Cheers

Baroness

Cheers for that I will do likewise!
If your ever in the hunt for parts
Tractors in Perth - Circle D

Brad

 

[Dave M7040]

An inexpensive purchase is for a voltage display costing less than $10. With this display you will know exactly what is happening

DC 12-24V Waterproof Car Motorcycle LED Voltage Meter Digital Display Voltmeter | eBay

Likely there is a failing diode or more in the alternator. The risk in ignoring it is that it could allow the battery to discharge back through the alternator under some circumstances and cause serious damage or a fire.

Many owners have had great success with one wire Denso alternators. $56.

NEW ALTERNATOR CHEVY MINI DENSO STREET ROD 1-WIRE 35 AMP 4-5262 1218-SE | eBay
Abandon all the existing wiring and run one wire from the Denso to the starter solenoid. Nothing else required.

General Motors uses Denso alternators now so it is high quality product.

Dave M7040

 

[jmacshriver]

https://circled.com.au/PDF/FT504 parts.pdf

is this the manual you already have?