Ford 860
Was converted to 12v at some point
Alternator says 12V NEG
So...
The battery box was rusted out so bought a new one.
Replaced it and while I did, I swapped the red and black battery cables to actually be red +, black -. Also rotated the battery.
I hooked it back up but didn't tighten the battery cables to the terminals very tightly (here's were it all goes downhill). I turn the key on, press the button and nothing. Figure it was just due to the loose cables. I get down there and am about to start tightening them when I notice the white block next to the battery with two wires on it (one going to the solenoid the other to the coil) is smoking. Doesn't seem right. I turn the key off (since I had left it on) and unhook the battery - stops smoking.
I then start to think that maybe I messed up my cables and they should be positive ground so I do the stupid thing and swap them. No smoke but starter doesn't kick in.
Swap them back, tighten them down, turn on the key and start the tractor. Runs ok, doesn't seem quite as peppy, but then dies.
Try again, runs for 30 seconds, dies.
The white block only seems to smoke if the key is on but the tractor isn't running although maybe the fan is just blowing the smoke away?
Figure I may have shot the alternator but I would still think the tractor would run. It ran great prior to this hassle.
Ideas?
Was converted to 12v at some point
Alternator says 12V NEG
So...
The battery box was rusted out so bought a new one.
Replaced it and while I did, I swapped the red and black battery cables to actually be red +, black -. Also rotated the battery.
I hooked it back up but didn't tighten the battery cables to the terminals very tightly (here's were it all goes downhill). I turn the key on, press the button and nothing. Figure it was just due to the loose cables. I get down there and am about to start tightening them when I notice the white block next to the battery with two wires on it (one going to the solenoid the other to the coil) is smoking. Doesn't seem right. I turn the key off (since I had left it on) and unhook the battery - stops smoking.
I then start to think that maybe I messed up my cables and they should be positive ground so I do the stupid thing and swap them. No smoke but starter doesn't kick in.
Swap them back, tighten them down, turn on the key and start the tractor. Runs ok, doesn't seem quite as peppy, but then dies.
Try again, runs for 30 seconds, dies.
The white block only seems to smoke if the key is on but the tractor isn't running although maybe the fan is just blowing the smoke away?
Figure I may have shot the alternator but I would still think the tractor would run. It ran great prior to this hassle.
Ideas?