DK-40 Starting issues

[k0ua]

There should NOT be a spark when connecting the battery cables with everything on the tractor turned off. IF there is an arc or spark that indicates that current is being drawn from the battery. You can measure that current with the AMP function of your multimeter. Hopefully you will have a 10 amp scale on your meter and you can start there. Current is measured in series from the battery post to the battery lead. With everything turned off (no lights, key switch off, no emergency flashers etc) the current should be near zero amps.

 

[tkh159]

If your cables are corroded they will pull more amps through them and heat up.

Oh that's good to know! Thanks

 

[tkh159]

There should NOT be a spark when connecting the battery cables with everything on the tractor turned off. IF there is an arc or spark that indicates that current is being drawn from the battery. You can measure that current with the AMP function of your multimeter. Hopefully you will have a 10 amp scale on your meter and you can start there. Current is measured in series from the battery post to the battery lead. With everything turned off (no lights, key switch off, no emergency flashers etc) the current should be near zero amps.

So any more than 10 amp something is pulling current? I'll check that as well. Thank you.

 

[k0ua]

So any more than 10 amp something is pulling current? I'll check that as well. Thank you.

No, 10 amps would be a tremendous load. The current load should be near zero amps. I advised to start on the 10 amp scale, the largest scale you are likely to have on your Volt Ohm Milliampere meter. As you do not know what the current draw is, always start on the highest scale and work down from there. Until you measure the static current draw, you are guessing. If you measure the current draw, you will know if your battery is being discharged by some fault in the tractor's electrical system or not.

 

[k0ua]

I am guessing here, but by the responses I get, that there might be some confusion on the procedures to measure current with a VOM. It is NOT like measuring voltage where the probes are placed in parallel with a voltage source. Current is measured in series from the source to the load. Polarity must be observed with the leads, and consideration must be given to the likely current flowing in the circuit and the proper shunt in the meter, else meter damage will occur. If you didn't understand what I said and don't understand the concepts of Voltage, Current and Resistance and how they interact, then your chances of making proper safe measurements and making the proper analysis of the results will be low.

 

[murphy1244]

You need to measure going through your meter. Meaning one probe on the battery and one on the cable. Meter on 10 amp DC scale. .

 

[tkh159]

Awesome advice. I was a bit confused there for a minute. Now just need the time to trouble shoot.

 

[murphy1244]

Don't be confused, Ask us...

 

[tkh159]

I am guessing here, but by the responses I get, that there might be some confusion on the procedures to measure current with a VOM. It is NOT like measuring voltage where the probes are placed in parallel with a voltage source. Current is measured in series from the source to the load. Polarity must be observed with the leads, and consideration must be given to the likely current flowing in the circuit and the proper shunt in the meter, else meter damage will occur. If you didn't understand what I said and don't understand the concepts of Voltage, Current and Resistance and how they interact, then your chances of making proper safe measurements and making the proper analysis of the results will be low.

I was using my meter more or less for voltage on the battery. The relays and ignition switch I used the meter as well to ensure there was "connection" as if there isn't any connection the meter won't beep. With the relays I took it a step further and took them off got some wire and plugged the wires corretly to the relay and took the bare wire and set them on the battery posts to feel and listen for the relay to ensure it worked.

Basically I user the meter for voltage and need to do a little reading on amperage.

 

[ritcheyvs]

James is correct. With the key switch off, there should be ZERO current from the battery and certainly no spark. The only load that could deplete the battery so quickly is the glow plugs.

Using an ammeter (multimeter measuring amps) is tricky and it's easy to ruin an the meter(or blow the fuse) if you connect it the wrong way. Furthermore, if it is the glow plugs draining the battery, they will draw more than the 10 amp, which is the maximum capacity of most budget multimeters.

I normally recommend folks start troubleshooting with a meter but in this case I think you should first locate and disconnect the glow relay (on the firewall) and see if that stops the current drain. It's possible the relay contacts welded causing the relay to power the glow plugs continuously. It's also possible that something is wrong with the circuit that powers the glow relay. In either case, pulling the connector from that relay will ensure the glow plugs are not drawing current. Then you can check for other possible parasitic loads on the battery with the multimeter.

Scott