Ed Douglas
Member
Greetings Forum Chums,
I share this with you cause maybe it will save you some money and embarrassment.....My Dear departed Dad.....a Taciturn Scott from the Highlands...and the most brilliant mechanic the world ever knew....plying his trade for over 65 years used to drum into my head......don't work on a car or tractor when you are tired .....or angry!.....it can spell "muckle grand" disaster!
well....today his sound advice...and my failure to heed.... did just that.....no injury to my person....but to my pride and pocketbook.....The setup....the 231 would not start yesterday in 2 degree weather....so...the trouble shooting begins....As our esteemed colleague Bruce (VA) has often said...start with all the connections.....for clean and secure!....I did...lots of poor looking connections were polished to a shine with the wheel...and the battery was removed for charge and a test....some corrosive build up was observed on the positive cable...and the clamps showed their age....cut the cables back and cleaned said cables...new clamps....got dark...off to bed...this morning I got a call that infuriated me....I shan't bore you with details....I storm out to the 231...put the battery on the floor next to the tractor....phone rang again for round two....came back out 20 mins later....bordering on rage....grabbed the battery...mind NOT on the task at hand....battery went flying into the tray.....wrong orientation as I was continuing to seethe with anger.....slap on the clamps.....as the "negative" was attached...heard a loud click and knew immediately what I had done....pulled it off in just a second.....too late....Alternator billowing smoke......dead short....FRIED.....170 dollars later....all is well!....learn from this idiot....do the things you always do.....check...recheck...slow down!!!....you have my personal permission to rub it in!!
Cheers!
I share this with you cause maybe it will save you some money and embarrassment.....My Dear departed Dad.....a Taciturn Scott from the Highlands...and the most brilliant mechanic the world ever knew....plying his trade for over 65 years used to drum into my head......don't work on a car or tractor when you are tired .....or angry!.....it can spell "muckle grand" disaster!
well....today his sound advice...and my failure to heed.... did just that.....no injury to my person....but to my pride and pocketbook.....The setup....the 231 would not start yesterday in 2 degree weather....so...the trouble shooting begins....As our esteemed colleague Bruce (VA) has often said...start with all the connections.....for clean and secure!....I did...lots of poor looking connections were polished to a shine with the wheel...and the battery was removed for charge and a test....some corrosive build up was observed on the positive cable...and the clamps showed their age....cut the cables back and cleaned said cables...new clamps....got dark...off to bed...this morning I got a call that infuriated me....I shan't bore you with details....I storm out to the 231...put the battery on the floor next to the tractor....phone rang again for round two....came back out 20 mins later....bordering on rage....grabbed the battery...mind NOT on the task at hand....battery went flying into the tray.....wrong orientation as I was continuing to seethe with anger.....slap on the clamps.....as the "negative" was attached...heard a loud click and knew immediately what I had done....pulled it off in just a second.....too late....Alternator billowing smoke......dead short....FRIED.....170 dollars later....all is well!....learn from this idiot....do the things you always do.....check...recheck...slow down!!!....you have my personal permission to rub it in!!
Cheers!