Fuse box location on MF 231 (not231S)

[haycutter52]

Hey Tabasco Jack,

Since the snow has melted and temps are rising, today I will go out and take battery cover off and look closely at the fuse box to see if there are any rusted fuses or busted ones. I appreciate your reply.


Sig

 

[Masseywrench]

I would also trace that black wire back to where it connects to just to verify that it is a ground just to be 100% sure.

 

[haycutter52]

MasseyWrench yesterday I traced the black wire and also the greyish-green wire, both wires are running from the top of the engine, seems like from the same spot. The greyish wire like I said is connected to the D+ lug and the black to an ear where the alternator is tightened down. Isn't the alternator supposed to be grounded from it self to some metal point. I am not to mechanically minded so my question might sound silly.

Haycutter

 

[Masseywrench]

From the top of the engine, where does the wires continue on to?

Did you get a chance to do any voltage readings?

As far as grounding the altenator, some have a ground lug on the back of them - some dont.
Some alternators have grounds going to the ears, some to the back to a designated lug, and some have none at all. It just depends.
That is the reason I had you run those wires all the way out until they stop. If they were to disappear into a connector that you can no longer trace them out, you will need to start doing a couple of test with a multimeter to verify what they are.

Unhook both wire so that they are not connected to nothing and just hanging loose.
You can do a continuity test to ground on the black wire to verify its a ground.
You can do a voltage test on the black wire as well to verify if there is any voltage.
Key on and key off test for both wires. (gray wire and black wire)

 

[haycutter52]

MasseyWrench
We took reading from Red wire lug and it was 12.6---12.8
D+ reading was 12.6---12.7 We tried cranking the tractor and the voltage had a jump to over 12.6 but after it cranked it dropped back to right under 12.

As for the gray wire and Blackwire they both come from top of engine right across from ear of alternator. If I disconnect both wire from where I have them connected they just dangle.
Here is a picture of the alternator: you may need to turn pic to correct position.

Haycutter

 

[Masseywrench]

Was the 12.6 volts on the D+ with the key on or key off? Was there any voltage with the key off on that wire?

As for the voltage dropping out (right under 12volt) that is normal when you crank the motor.

Now I want you to do this.
Start and run the tractor
check voltage again at the red wire lug with the tractor at idle and then bump the throttle up to 1/2 to 3/4 throttle and recheck it again.
If you only show the 12.6 volts with it rev'd up, I want you to take a piece of wire 4 to 5 inches long and strip back both ends just about 1/4" and then I want you to touch one end to the red lug and the other end to the d+. You only need to touch them for a brief second. What you are doing is manually exciting the regulator.
Once you jump them I want you to check the voltage again at the red lug while its still rev up. I am hoping you find 13.6 volts or higher after you jump the exciter wire (D+). If you find that you have good charging voltage on the red lug, I want you to bring the tractor back down to idle and test the red lug again and see if the same charging voltage is there.

This idle point is where you say the light starts flashing on the dash. My main concern is what voltage it is putting on while rev'd up. I would almost guess that it will be less than 13 volts, but possibly just a tiny bit more than the 12.6 with the key on.


How old is this alternator and was it a reman or a new one?

 

[haycutter52]

MW, when we took voltage the key was off., then we turned key on and it was at 12.6 maybe little under that. The alternator is a remanufactured. Tuesday I will do voltage check and post asap.

Haycutter.

 

[Masseywrench]

I really think you have a bad alternator. I don't know how old it is but if you have voltage at the exciter wire it should be charging. I am going to look up one more thing tomorrow at work, but I am hoping this is bad reman on the alt.

 

[Travis_R]

I'm gonna see if I can post a few pictures with my phone. The pics are out of the "Operator Instruction Book" (owner's manual) for a 1998 Massey Ferguson 231.

 

[Travis_R]

Well it looks like it worked. Hope this helps!