JD 4100 battery light

[johndeere4720]

Hi, I have a JD 4100 and the battery light has been flickering on and off when the the pto is engaged. It just started doing it this week. I really need to cut the yard. Is it ok to mow with the battery light flickering on and off?

 

[kennyd]

Have you checked the battery voltage with a meter?

 

[johndeere4720]

The voltage meter said that the battery is putting out 13.1 volts.

 

[kennyd]

The voltage meter said that the battery is putting out 13.1 volts.

Is that with the engine running?

I looked at the schematics for my 4110 (newer model of your 4100) and don't see how the two (battery and PTO)lights are related

My gut feeling is that the PTO clutch is robbing enough power to make the light flicker because the battery or alternator is bad. Can you duplicate the flickering by turning on the headlights?

 

[johndeere4720]

Is that with the engine running?

I looked at the schematics for my 4110 (newer model of your 4100) and don't see how the two (battery and PTO)lights are related

My gut feeling is that the PTO clutch is robbing enough power to make the light flicker because the battery or alternator is bad. Can you duplicate the flickering by turning on the headlights?

No that was with engine off. I will try flickering the headlights tomorrow.

I have had to have the alternater replaced along with the battery though.

 

[mfreund]

Is that with the engine running?

I looked at the schematics for my 4110 (newer model of your 4100) and don't see how the two (battery and PTO)lights are related

My gut feeling is that the PTO clutch is robbing enough power to make the light flicker because the battery or alternator is bad. Can you duplicate the flickering by turning on the headlights?

My gut feeling is kennyd is right on the $$$$$$$

 

[johndeere4720]

My gut feeling is kennyd is right on the $$$$$$$

So you are saying that I have a bad PTO cluch. Can I cut the yard with a bad PTO cluch.

 

[jenkinsph]

I think KennyD means it is drawing enough power that the battery and alternator problems are more evident. I would recomend you test as was mentioned, check voltage while running at a fast idle with and without headlights on and pto engaged and disengaged to determine if the electrical system is the problem or pto clutch.

With the engine running off hand I would expect to see about 14 to 14.5 volts with the lights on or off.


Steve

 

[kennyd]

I think KennyD means it is drawing enough power that the battery and alternator problems are more evident. I would recomend you test as was mentioned, check voltage while running at a fast idle with and without headlights on and pto engaged and disengaged to determine if the electrical system is the problem or pto clutch.

With the engine running off hand I would expect to see about 14 to 14.5 volts with the lights on or off.


Steve

Thanks Steve, that is exactly what I meant.

 

[johndeere4720]

I was getting 12.3 volts with the headlights on and 13.6 volts with them off. I did test the voltage at 1500rpm and was getting 14.1 volts. By the way, all the tests were from the battery.
I was not able to test the voltage with the PTO on because I didn't have an operator. I have a feeling that the alternator is going bad.

I think KennyD means it is drawing enough power that the battery and alternator problems are more evident. I would recomend you test as was mentioned, check voltage while running at a fast idle with and without headlights on and pto engaged and disengaged to determine if the electrical system is the problem or pto clutch.

With the engine running off hand I would expect to see about 14 to 14.5 volts with the lights on or off.


Steve