HELP!!! - Electrical Problem

[JoelD]

I've been using the tractor all day. Start and stop, start and stop. Just hopped on to start and she went to crank, engaged the starter and then something must have shorted. It seemed as though the battery was dead. Would not turn over the starter motor. I turned key back to turn on glow plugs but nothing, just dim dash lights for alternator and oil light. I turned on turn signal and it worked (both directions) turn on the hazards and they blink faster and faster. I turn on the work lights on rops and something just buzzes and the lights don't get enough juice to light.

The battery has 12.96 volts, so it's not the battery. I must have a short somewhere.

ANY HELP is GREATLY APPRECIATED!!

I am totally stuck and don't know where to start.

Everything (except for one rops light which did not work a few weeks ago) worked fine prior to this attempted start.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

Joel

 

[JoelD]

My blinkers also blink faster and faster the longer I leave them on. There is definately something gone wrong, I just have no idea where to start. I've got the shop manual, so any references would be greatly appreciated. When I turn the key on, the two lights on the dash go on, but when I turn the key to engage the starter, nothing. There seems to be a short somewhere. And it seems to be something other than between the key and the starter. The rops lights don't work properly, the head lights don't work properly, the blinkers don't work properly, the glowplugs do not appear to work properly. The brake lights also do not work.
Thanks again,
Joel

 

[IXLR8]

My blinkers also blink faster and faster the longer I leave them on. There is definately something gone wrong, I just have no idea where to start. I've got the shop manual, so any references would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again,
Joel

The blinker thing is strange, never heard of that. I would start by checking all the fuses, I would suspect one of them is gone and that will give you an idea what path to go down. When you say lights don't work properly, what do you mean? Do they not come on at all? Do they come on dim? I suspect you are looking at an open, not a short, possibly a ground removed by an errant stick. If you can't fix by Friday.. just load it on a trailer and take it to Rick's. Somebody there will be able to fix it for you. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Put the volt meter leads across the battery and try cranking. How many volts? Are the battery terminals clean and tight?

 

[Patches]

Sounds like a bad ground. Check both ends of your battery to chassis ground. You may have a good mechanical connection(tight) but not a good electrical connection(clean and tight)

 

[Highbeam]

Sounds like bad connections on the main cables. Remove and clean both ends. The ground is the most likely culprit. Your battery is fully charged or else you would get a click from the starter.

 

[c23380]

The Battery voltage sounds ok but, the real test is to measure voltage while applying a load, IE lights, turn signals and or he starter or plug. The voltage should not drop drastically Durring anything but start and should not go below 11V or so initially.

 

[JoelD]

First, thanks for the barage of answers.

I just ran my voltmeter, I have 12.96 normal state.

I turn on the blinker for example and the voltage drops to 8 volts or so.

I turn off the blinker and the voltage comes back up, over about 5-10 seconds to 12.96 or so again.

I'll start going through the connections and see what I find.

I pulled off the ground from the tractor, emory clothed and reattached.

Again, any and all help appreciated.

Unfortunately I would have to use the tri-axle to transport this thing and would take me forever to haul to ricks.

Could probably load with the dozer somehow, but loading this thing without the loader up and backhoe up would be a problem.

Joel

 

[JoelD]

I've gone through every connector I can find, behind the dash and all.

Still no fix, no matter what electrical item I turn on the voltage drops to super low (below 8 in fact).

I don't know what the means, can someone help me understand what that means?

I am at a loss. If it was one thing, I'd understand, but it's everything.

I've checked all fuzes in the fuze box and they look ok, I'll check all the battery terminals again.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Bummer.

Thanks,
Joel

 

[IXLR8]

Joel, where are you connecting your voltmeter? If anything you turn on is loading down the voltage right at the battery terminals, not the big terminal connectors, the terminals themselves... then I suspect you have a battery issue.

 

[MichiganIron]

Sounds like a load test on the battery is in order, or a slow blow fuse. There is a 60amp slow blow fuse on the main electrical harness. It is wrapped in black tape near the stater motor. Load test the battery and continuity check the slow blow fuse.

If it is the slow blow fuse, you should check for a short it the main harness.

 

[JoelD]

I am checking the voltage at the battery, no matter what I turn on the voltage imediately drops to less the 9, sometimes 7.

I see the slow blow fuse you are refering to, I'll check it for continuity.

I've been through every connector and they all look good.

I've never seen a battery go from great to malfuction, but anything is possible.

I could see another fuse wrapped into the harness, looked like a 20, I'll check that also, but will look at the 60 amper first.

I'm keeping a brave face on the outside, but definately all choked up on the inside.

Every time something like this happens I think of my friend Phil. He and I got married at the same time about 15 years ago (my first mariage).

He went to Hawai for his honeymoon and I went to Disney.

I came home from my honeymoon to find out that Phil had drawned while in Hawai, was a tough funeral.

Electrical problem in tractor pales in comparison to a real problem.

Thanks again all, any other thoughts greatly appreciated.

Joel

 

[Willl]

Dead battery. Jump start it.

 

[JoelD]

Will hook up the jump pack and see what happens.

That would be beyond terrific.

Thanks, thanks, thanks.

Will update,

Joel

 

[IXLR8]

I am checking the voltage at the battery, no matter what I turn on the voltage imediately drops to less the 9, sometimes 7.

Joel

If you are checking the voltage at the battery posts themselves... then you got battery problems. What is the water level like? As others have said... get a jump... then get a new battery. How old is the one you have?

 

[Highbeam]

I had this happen in a pickup truck after a long brutal off raod motorcycle race. Got all loaded up, turned the key to start and nothing. The horn honked okay but while trying to engage the starter the horn was very weak. A jumpstart got the truck going and the alternator kept the system voltage at 14 so I made it home without shutting the engine off. When I did shut it off, the battery would not let me start it again. New battery and it was as good as new.

Take this opportunity to replace the lead acid battery with an absorbed glass matt or gel style battery. Optima red top is the common one but NAPA makes an AGM battery called an orbital that uses the same technology. These batteries won't lose or leak acid all over your tractor and connections. Highly vibration resistant as well.

Of course if you discover something other than your battery is at fault then it is a tougher upgrade to make.

 

[JoelD]

At neighbors for dinner, will try jump as soon as I get home (200 foot walk).

If battery, I'll be a very happy tractor owner.

Joel

 

[JoelD]

Hooked up jump pack and all is well.

I've never seen a battery die so quickly.

Lesson learned.

THANKS to ALL!!

I also know were every single electrical connector is on my tractor.

Sincerely,
Joel

 

[IXLR8]

Hooked up jump pack and all is well.

I've never seen a battery die so quickly.

Lesson learned.

THANKS to ALL!!

I also know were every single electrical connector is on my tractor.

Sincerely,
Joel

Glad to hear that a new battery is all you are going to need. We have all learned a little more about our machines going through this with you. I suspect knowing where all those connectors are will help you in the future.

 

[c23380]

If you are aplying a load to the battery like a light or the switch and it is dropping to 8 volts then the battery is Bad. It might be one of two issues you have though. Your battery should have about 12.5 to 13 volts with no load. With a load it should drop rappidly to about 12.5 to 12.2, depending uon the amp draw, and remain constant. Since yours is not, I would either charge the battery over night to see if improves, (doughtfull), or replace it. As for why it is bad, It might have just been time for it to go, or you might have a charging system fault. If you and Jump start or slave in another battery and start it up, and measure the output voltage, It could be as high as 14.8v but should settle doun o about 13.5.