G 5200 electrical issue

[Paddy]

Hello all.

I've got an electrical issue with my old G5200. After resting all winter, I charged the battery ready to cut a bit of grass. Turned the key and nothing.

I noticed the fusible link was burned through. With the key off, I jumped the fuse link, but it sparked a bit, so I assumed I had a short between the starter, (where the key switch get's it power) and the ignition switch. I quickly removed the jumper.

Looking at the bundle of wires at the ignition switch, I saw where the main power wire to the ignition switch plug had been spliced with a connector. I disconnected the splice. I then made a jumper from the fusable link direct to the ignition switch wire at the plug connector where the splice was found.

Same results as before, with key in "off" position it was carrying current!

Am I crazy for thinking if the key is off, there should be no power beyond the ignition switch? Meaning, the only short can be in the ignition switch or in the connector.

 

[Paddy]

Anyone have a wiring diagram for the G5200? Or something close?

 

[ptsg]

Check here: Index of Kubotabooks/Tractor Owners Manuals/

There is a operators manual for the G series. It may have the wiring diagram.

 

[Roadworthy]

Look your wiring over very carefully. The insulation could have worn through at some point shorting a wire to ground. You could have also had a small critter snacking on the wiring. In short, your electrical problem could be mechanical in nature.

 

[jaxs]

Good news Paddy,you aren't crazy for thinking the short must be in the switch,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it might be,,,,,,,,,,,,but not neccessarally,,,,IF something (such as a cigarette lighter) on the tractor is supposed to be powered even when switch is in off position. More good news,you can find the problem fairly easy. Install a light inline with the jumper. The light will come on when jumper is hooked up but there will be no sparking like before. With jumper hooked up and light glowing,disconnect all other wires from switch. If light go's off when one of the wires is disconnected from switch,the short is in that wire DOWNSTREAM of the switch. Follow that wire watching for light to go off when wire is wiggled or moved. If light continue's glowing after all wires disconnected,the short is 100% certain at switch as you origionally suspected. Questions?.

 

[Paddy]

jaxs,

I will try you suggestion in some fashion. I assume the light line has it own small battery?
Also, if there is a "power always on" I would assume it shares the terminal on the switch where power originates at the switch. In my case the Big Red wire.

But this is a garden tractor and I can't think of any aux needs with the key off. I need to replace the ignition switch because last year I had noticed I had hunt for the perfect spot to get glow plug contact.

Thanks all

 

[Paddy]

I unplugged the leads to the rectifier/regulator and the short is gone. So I think the charge wire is shorted or the rectifier/regulator is internally grounded/bad. Getting closer!

 

[ptsg]

I had a Kubota B7000 before and it stopped charging one time. I traced it down to a broken solder on one of the diodes. Maybe yours broke as well but is shorting somewhere. I'm not sure if you have the same style of rectifier though.

 

[Paddy]

ptsg,

The red lead coming out of the rectifier/regulator was not shorted. I hooked up all the remaining wires and it starts! I will now check the AC voltage coming out of the dynamo to insure it's just the rectifier/regulator.

I will takes the rectifier/regulator off an see if it is potted or can be fixed. It looks like the modern replacement has a lot more leads than whats on the tractor now with just; the dynamo 2 leads, red charging lead and a ground.

Thanks all for helping