Yanmar 1301D electrics

[Nick R]

Good morning all
Nothing on the dashboard works at the moment - fuel gauge, hour counter, warning lights etc
There do not seem to be any blown fuses though. The tractor will not start using the key - has to be "hot wired" at starter motor, but runs fine.
The battery does not charge itself.
I dont know if these are seperate problems or all the same one?!
Your help and advise would be much appreciated.
Have a good one

 

[4get gto]

There were known to get corrosion in their fuse block. Fuses may look good but bad connection where they clip in. Might be somewhere to start. Seems like you're losing power where it starts.

 

[WranglerX]

Place to start is battery..... Check terminals/cables for corrosion.... IF battery post and inside clamps are not buffed shiny clean, clean them up and us anti corrosion grease on terminals.... Next check ground strap/cable connection at frame/engine, same procedure clean and supply anti corrosion grease... Next check positive cable where it connect to starter solenoid or starter... Again clean connection... Also check the supply lead from battery or starter that goes to fuse panel and or ignition switch.... Electricity is like water hose, follow the path for electrical flow just like following water hose searching for kink or hole in hose....

Many will freak out at this suggestion but go to auto parts store and get tube of dielectric grease... Clean any/all electrical connections (and fuses and fuse holders) till bright shiny and coat lightly with grease... Yes it's supposedly insulative, BUT if you have good MECHANICAL connection of electrical path all the grease does is keep moisture and oxygen out of connection and prevents corrosion.... BUT it collects dust and dirt but its a tractor....

I have had car and truck batteries go 8-9 years with absolutely no corrosion at battery terminal using this method, also all crimp on connectors for wiring repairs get same treatment on wire ends before crimping... I DON'T HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS....

Used this stuff (below) all my years in telecommunications (38 to be exact) it's the best ...

Dale

 

[Nick R]

Thanks very much - guess what i'm doing this weekend'"Will let you know if that fixed the problem.
Have a good one

 

[Nick R]

Thanks very much - guess what i'm doing this weekend'"Will let you know if that fixed the problem.
Have a good one

Hello everyone!
fuses all fine, new battery, problem partially solved. Dashboard working again - the power feed to the ignition switch had melted the connector and there was no longer a circuit.
However the tractor will still not start with the key. When i try, there is a small curl of smoke coming from the wire which returns to the starter motor from the ignition switch. Any ideas where the problem is?
Thanks in advance.

 

[WranglerX]

Sounds like shorted starter solenoid and it is drawing excessive amperage and causing the wire that energises the solenoid (from key switch) to overheat.. Would check out starter and solenoid... Maybe have automotive/industrial shop that specializes in electrical stuff look at it IF there is one in your area...

Just a guess on my part from your description of problem...

Dale

 

[Dave M7040]

You are learning about "fusible links." A fusible link looks like a wire but there is much more to its design. The wire is small so it melts when overloaded. The insulation over the melting wire is designed to stand the temp and remains in place so the ends of the burnt wire are not shorting out.

This is one example of a fusible link.

More info at this link:
What Is a Fusible Link and How Do You Repair One in Your Car?

You cannot replace a fusible link with a piece of ordinary wire. You can find fusible link wire on line but it comes in different load carrying capacities so selecting the correct one is a bit of a challenge. Better a fusible link too small a gauge than one too big.

New tractors use "Slow Blow" fuses in place of fusible links.

This is a link to a slow blow fuse on ebay.com. Ideally you would have to find the socket the fuse would plug into.

Amazon.com: 3 Pcs 32V 3A PAL Pacific Cartridge Slow Blow Fuse: Automotive

We need a wiring diagram to better point you in the right direction.

Tractors with any electronics have diodes built into their wiring harness

These diodes are becoming the norm in most farm machinery and garden machinery as more and more electronic components are being used.
When a starter relay or solenoid is energized, a strong magnetic field builds up around the small wire winding's. These are the winding's which power the relay or solenoid.
When you release the key from start, the magnetic field collapses suddenly and in doing so can generate voltage spikes of hundreds of volts.

This phenomenon is called flyback.

Diodes are now used to bleed off the voltage spikes.

Sometimes, when owners are jump starting their tractor, a tiny mis connection of the booster cable polarity blows the diode and now you can have a dead short.

Poor grounds for the starter can cause lots of grief as starter current is flowing backwards up smaller wires.

Add a ground cable with an eye on each end from where the present ground cable attaches to the engine or frame to a starter mounting bolt.

The starter relies on a good ground connection between the engine block and the starter. Rust on these mating surfaces can increase the resistance to current flow.

Dave M7040