FredBarber
New member
I had a similar problem with my Kubota L48 -- battery seemed to be failing, eventually wouldn't start, all dash lights went out when I tried, etc., etc. Replaced the battery and no joy. Cleaned up the battery and ground connections, including the ground connection to the battery tray. No joy. Did some (obviously incompetent) multimeter testing. Some of the readings didn't make sense, but it was clear that sufficient power to start the thing wasn't getting to the starter. Replaced the starter relay. No joy. Bought and installed a new main harness. No joy.
Finally checked the resistance from the battery ground to the engine block. Voila! The battery tray's connection to the tractor frame is obviously rusty (I haven't actually checked that), so the battery was effectively floating. Used a random piece of 12 gauge wire to connect the battery ground directly to the block (promising to do something better at a later date, which I haven't done yet) and everything came right back up.
As others have said, using the battery tray as the grounding point is a bad idea. The main harness on the darn thing goes right to the solenoid on the starter, so there's no reason they couldn't have included a proper ground there, too. (Well, no reason other than $$.) I can't help but wonder if the original battery was actually fine, even though it was the "obvious" problem when things first went south. At least I saved the old relay and harness, just in case I need them some day -- and to remind me of what an idiot I am.
Bottom line, even if this isn't your problem now, it probably will be some day. Go ahead and fix it before it bites you.
BTW, if you really do need to charge that battery, just disconnect it and carry it up to your garage.
Finally checked the resistance from the battery ground to the engine block. Voila! The battery tray's connection to the tractor frame is obviously rusty (I haven't actually checked that), so the battery was effectively floating. Used a random piece of 12 gauge wire to connect the battery ground directly to the block (promising to do something better at a later date, which I haven't done yet) and everything came right back up.
As others have said, using the battery tray as the grounding point is a bad idea. The main harness on the darn thing goes right to the solenoid on the starter, so there's no reason they couldn't have included a proper ground there, too. (Well, no reason other than $$.) I can't help but wonder if the original battery was actually fine, even though it was the "obvious" problem when things first went south. At least I saved the old relay and harness, just in case I need them some day -- and to remind me of what an idiot I am.
Bottom line, even if this isn't your problem now, it probably will be some day. Go ahead and fix it before it bites you.
BTW, if you really do need to charge that battery, just disconnect it and carry it up to your garage.