Electrical help needed, 720d, pony start

This is probably something that can't be diagnosed over the computer, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

I'm working on my 720 diesel. It has a pony engine, and is 6 volt positive ground. It has a new wiring harness, new pony distributor, and new lights, new switches. Last year everything worked great, with all the above parts new.

For Christmas I received new gauges to finish it all off. Hooked them up last weekend. Tonight I reinstalled the battery. When I turn the ignition switch on, to any position it seems, after 15-20 seconds smoke starts coming out of the right side of the dash wiring. (I have the dash unbolted and hanging there). I haven't pin pointed where the smoke came from other than that because I didn't want to leave it on and fry something. Ammeter seemed to work, lights worked, starter will spin. I know youre not supposed to keave the switch on too long on these or you can fry the pony coils, but i dont think i had it on long enough for that yet. I unhooked the battery and quit for the night.

I thought I was careful to follow my wiring harness instructions when reassembling the wiring.

Where do I start looking? Would this be a wire in the wrong spot, or 2 wires touching, or could a loose connection do it? All of the above?

Like I said, I know this is probably an unanswerable question, and I just need to dig in to the wiring. But I'm going to be laying in bed tonight trying to figure out what's wrong. Haha!

could be any of the above, could also be a wire that may be routed wrong and got rubbed through (or just got rubbed through) and shorting to ground.

?<font color="#6699ff">[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]When I turn the ignition switch on, to any position it seems, after 15-20 seconds smoke starts coming out of the right side of the dash wiring.[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>?

From your description, there may be a wire that is ?going to ground? or other problem within the IGN circuit.

?<font color="#6699ff">[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]Where do I start looking?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>?

Start by troubleshooting the IGN circuit.

Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the wire, ammeter to ignition switch (Key 9) connected to the BAT terminal on the ignition switch.

Take a look at the photo below of the location of the BAT terminal on the ignition switch.



Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the lead, wiring, starter switch to ignition switch (Key 11).

Take a look at the photo below of the location of the IGN and RES terminals on the ignition switch.



Disconnect the lead wire at the RES terminal.

Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the starter switch (Key 12) and wire, starter switch to C.E. distributor (Key 14).

By disconnecting the lead wire RES at the terminal, electrical current will not ?flow? to the coils while troubleshooting the ignition.

Turn the ignition switch to the ?I? position.

If "[i:654c4848f0]after 15-20 seconds smoke starts coming out of the right side of the dash wiring[/i:654c4848f0]", then turn the ignition switch OFF.

Disconnect the lead wire on the IGN terminal.

Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the starter switch (Key 12) and wire, starter switch to cranking motor (Key 13).

Check the connection at the starter switch.

Check the wire from the starter switch to the cranking motor.

Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the wire, indicator light to pressure switch (Key 16) and indicator light (Key 26).

Check the connections and wires.

Continue troubleshooting the IGN circuit with the ignition switch to the ?I? position until there is no more smoke.

Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot! That's perfect!