HELP!

54farmall400 · Apr 24, 2017

First time being here but I'm in a bit of a pinch and I've been scrating my head to the point idk if I have any hair left. Lol
I've got a 54/55 Farmall 400 that I'm working on converting to 12 volts
It was coverted or cobbled together when I bought it. And now I've done some new wiring for lights and guages.
I've got a new battery, rebuilt starter and some new acc. wiring.
All of the wiring is right as far as I can tell. There is a diode on the alternator and a resistor by the coil.
I had just finished up tonight turned the key and tried the lights and starter and nothing.
Is there something that I missed along the way?

D Slater · Apr 25, 2017

Check for voltage or power where battery cable goes on the starter switch. No power there a bad connection of cables at battery and ground or dead battery. Should also be a # 10 or 12 gage wire on the same terminal as the battery cable to power everything other than the starter. If every thing has power so far turn the key switch to start and check for power at the small terminal on starter switch. If switch was replaced sometime and has two small terminals make sure small wire is on the correct terminal marked with a S on some. If everything is good to there the starter or starter switch or connection of strap from starter switch to starter has a problem. If no power to small starter switch terminal check ignition switch or wiring. Don't know if other wiring is okay but all you need is power to ignition switch and a good switch and other connections I mentioned above to get engine to crank over.

rustyfarmall · Apr 25, 2017

Not all new batteries are fully charged when you bring them home. I bought a brand new 6 volt battery a few years ago. Installed it, gave it a try, and it was totally dead. Put the charger on it, and a few hours later it was good to go.

old · Apr 25, 2017

Did you remember to hook up the battery?? Believe it or not I have had to trouble shoot that problem before and a guy did in fact forget to hook up the battery.
Next are the connections at the battery good bright and tight??
Are the battery cable connections at the starter or starter button good and is the ground clean tight and bright??
Is the battery in fact charged and is it good. I have picked up more then one brand new battery that was a waste of time to even set it in the machine as in it was brand new and bad.
If all that is good then try a jumper from the battery ignition side to the starter post. Be sure it is out of gear when you do that. If the starter spins then double check all the connection and work your way back to where power gets lost

54farmall400 · Apr 25, 2017

well here is what I know so far
There are new ground and positive cables along with the new charged battery.
I have 12 volts at the starter solenoid then there is 12 volts on the positive side of the voltmeter.
Now this is were I get confused. There is 6 volts at the "bat" connection on the alternator and the negative side of the volt meter. With the key off
Also there is 6 volts at the key switch and light switch.
When I turn the key to "run" I read zero volts at the key switch and light switch

Also maybe this will help but the voltage regulator was removed and the green, blue and I believe gray wire are all hooked together.

I won't know much more until I get home from work

54farmall400 · Apr 25, 2017

So far so good I have ironed out a couple issues but have just one possibly 2 more questions.
I figured out I wasn't getting power to the ignition switch. Took the smaller wire that comes off the starter solenoid that was originally on the ammeter and hooked it up and everything works and fired right up.
But now I am having issues with the volt meter. the wire I put on the ignition switch was originally on the ammeter now i either get it to come on and stay on all the time or nothing at all.
I hooked it to the ignition side of the ignition switch and grounded it both ways and nothing.
I have the wire coming off the "BAT" connection on the alternator to the "+" of the volt meter and not sure how to ground it without it always reading voltage.
Also one more tid bit that may or may not be an issue but when I had the tractor running I hit full rpm and tried reading voltage at the alternator and was getting
a sporadic reading and bouncing all over.
Now I am stuck. have I wired this the right way or am I going backwards and just need to completely start over?

Thanks

HELP!

54farmall400

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D Slater

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rustyfarmall

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old

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54farmall400

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54farmall400

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