Oil & Fuel Branson 3820 stalls, light switches between glow plug and battery?

[steffeng]

My Branson 3820 keeps stalling. The glow plug indicator light switches to the battery light being on? Stalls. If I wiggle the key sometimes it starts. 1st impression is key ignition is bad? 12.8 volts on battery

 

[52wej]

When the tractor stalls, is the electric fuel solenoid switch closed? That would support your impression about the ignition key. W. Jones

 

[Texasmark]

How long and how many hours on the machine? Sit outside in northern climate? How often do you start it?.......aka does it make sense that it may be the ignition switch. Since that is what deenergizes the fuel flow solenoid to kill the engine when you want to stop and you said you were already having problems with the switch seems to me a good place to start.

Next time it happens without touching the ignition switch or anything else that might change the condition, get a voltmeter and put it across the coil windings on the fuel flow solenoid. If no voltage, I'd check at the ign switch 12v input to tractor chassis...battery -. IF nothing out of the switch, check the 12v input. If good you found your smoking gun. There is a wiring diagram in your service manual you should have received with your tractor.

 

[Zork]

We need more information. When does the engine stall? After start up? After running for 1 or 5 hours? Can you hear the fuel pump run after it stalls? I am not sure what you mean when you say the GP light switches to the battery light - does it stall after that? When you jiggle the switch do you hear any other noises? This information is important in diagnosing your problem.

Anyway, my experience with my tractor stalling was that the OEM fuel pump was weak and caused my tractor to fail without notice. One time it stalled when I as I was pushing debris toward a burn pile. The pump was quiet but I found that it would stop intermittently. I opened it up and found some tiny debris, presumably from fuel contamination on my part. Maybe the tolerances are so close that a prefilter is necessary. I installed a prefilter and that took care of the issue for a few years. Then the pump stopped again and I got one from Advance. I have not experienced any more issues. Also, the filter/cut off valve at the ip pump started leaking, could cause air intrusion, so I removed it and installed an inline filter.

Additionally, I found the fuse connections in my main fuse block to be slightly corroded. I cleaned the terminals of the fuses and applied die-electric grease on the connections.

 

[JohnAnemone]

My Branson 3820 keeps stalling. The glow plug indicator light switches to the battery light being on? Stalls. If I wiggle the key sometimes it starts. 1st impression is key ignition is bad? 12.8 volts on battery

Hello steffeng - I know this is an old post but I am experiencing virtually the same with one difference. When I turn my key to start, my starter will keep turning. As soon as I let the key go back to the run position it starts. As you wiggling my key and can get it to run and/or cause the glow plug and battery lights to flash.

Hopefully you a re still a member and will read this - what was causing your issue / what did you do to fix it

 

[JohnAnemone]

Hello,

I wanted to post a follow up to my issue. I replaced the ignition switch and problem solved.

John

 

[LouNY]

Good to hear, poor starting can be quite aggravating.

 

[Branson Bob]

Hello,

I wanted to post a follow up to my issue. I replaced the ignition switch and problem solved.

John

Good of you to follow up and lend some closure and resolution. Cheers.

 

[K5lwq]

Thank you for the follow up!! :drink: