Electrical/Charging Issue

Ed A. M. · Nov 3, 2016

I checked on a Ford 4000 gas tractor for a friend. The battery keeps going down. I started by charging the battery and then load tested it and it tested fine. The charge light in the dash goes off after starting the engine. But when I removed the positive battery cable from the battery while running, the engine quit. Doesn't this indicate a charge is not getting to the electrical system? But with the charging light going off after startup, it seems the generator is working. So next step, i ran a jumper wire from the generator directly to the starter solenoid (where the charge wire is also attached), and now the engine keeps running when the positive cable is removed. I'm wondering if there is a wiring connection loss somewhere between the generator and solenoid. I don't have access to an electrical manual.
I'd appreciate any help. Thank you.

old · Nov 3, 2016

Pulling a battery cable off to check if the system is working is one the worst things you can do and can even depending on the system kill a person. It can also let the smoke out of parts so good chance you haev done so to at least the V.R.

A meter is the correct way to check things and the safe way also. Battery should read around 12.5 volts when engine is not running and around 13.5-15 volts running. If you do not have those number then the charging system is not working

Sean in PA · Nov 3, 2016

There are two different Ford 4000 model tractors. It is always best to tell us which one it is. The earlier one had a 4 cylinder engine and the gasoline models were 6 volt from the factory. The later one had a 3 cylinder engine and had a 12 volt system. They both used generators, and they both had external voltage regulators that the generator connected to and then a connector from the VR went on to the battery/solenoid connection, so you have basically bypassed the VR, which might indicate that the VR is bad, but what you did might also have damaged other components, as the generator puts out a lot more voltage than the tractor needs to recharge the battery and keep the engine running and it is the voltage regulator that is supposed to keep the voltage going to the battery and ignition circuit at the proper level.

Ed A. M. · Nov 3, 2016

(reply to post at 09:41:27 11/03/16) Sean, Thanks for the reply. This is the 3 cylinder w/ 12 Volts. My bypass was a temporary jump wire to see if the engine stays running when the positive battery cable is removed. What is your thought on what is the cause for the engine to quit when the cable is disconnected? Thank you.

old · Nov 3, 2016

Any time you disconnect a battery cable every thing goes form normal to seeing a flat out dead battery and well in this case it is flat out not working. As I said only way to know for sure what is going on it by putting a volt meter on it running and not running. That way you can really see what is happening

Sean in PA · Nov 3, 2016

ditto on using a meter running and not running to see what's going on. Best to use an old fashioned analog meter with a sweep needle face rather than a modern digital meter, as the voltages are not steady enough on these old tractors, even when everything is working properly, and a digital meter display will be constantly fluctuating.

old · Nov 3, 2016

Not all digital ones do that. I have one that I can use on any thing and it reads just fine with no odd readings. But yes some do not work well

souNdguy · Nov 7, 2016

1, quit hating on that tractor by unloading it when you pull the bat cable off.

use a meter to test voltages running and not running.

Electrical/Charging Issue

Ed A. M.

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old

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Sean in PA

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Ed A. M.

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old

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Sean in PA

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old

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souNdguy

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