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Justin D 08-29-2012 05:25:12 24.144.199.186 Report to Moderator	First of all, thank you to those who helped solve my PTO output shaft problem. It appeared to be the result of foreign machining and the shaft was approximately 1/16” too long. Now on to my next problem…I decided to install all new wiring on my 2n as well as a new starter. I replaced the starter, main wiring harness, resistor block, ammeter, cutout relay, starter switch, spark plugs, and installed a front mount tune-up kit. After solving the PTO shaft problem, I fired up the tractor and it ran better than it has in a long time. It started right up and ran strong for a good 15 minutes. I did shut it down and restarted it a few times in that 15 minutes. I put it away and all seemed good until the next night when I went to start it up and nothing. I heard a slight buzzing when I would depress the starter button so I thought that maybe something drained my battery down. I charged the battery as well as removed the starter to make sure that it wasn’t bound up. I did notice that the new ammeter was stuck at around 15 (still stuck there no matter what I do). After letting the battery charge for a while I hit the starter button again and did get a few weak cranks out of it and then nothing. I did notice some electrical smoke which may have been from the new parts. However, I also noticed that the ground wire, resistor block, and wiring to the starter were all hot (too hot to touch). I checked all of my wiring and I noticed that I reversed the two top wires on the resistor block (ignition switch and generator wires). I switched these and tried to start again and got nothing. I did check voltages and was getting around 6.25 volts at the battery through the hot side of the starter switch. When I depressed the starter button, I was getting around 2 to 3 volts at the starter. I figured that I would let the battery charge overnight on my chargers automatic setting to be sure that the battery has a full deep charge for a fresh attempt this morning. This morning I connected the batter and hit the starter button 2 or 3 times for about 2 seconds each time and nothing happened. However, I noticed that the ground cable was hot to the touch. I am baffled. Did I burn up the resistor block (it is hot to the touch when I turn on the ignition switch)? Is my new starter bad? Could my ignition switch be bad (I did not replace this). I checked continuity of the ground using my multi-meter. I connected one terminal of the multi-meter to the ground cable and then touched the other end to the starter post as well as various locations of bare steel and the multi-meter was saying that there is continuity. Any suggestions for troubleshooting would be very much appreciated. [Reply]   [No Email]
Justin D 08-30-2012 05:19:47 24.144.199.186 Report to Moderator	Re: Electrical Problem in reply to Justin D, 08-29-2012 05:25:12   UPDATE: I went through the following troubleshooting and got the starter to turn over. I left the battery on the charger until the charger dial was reading fully charged. I then connected the battery and tried to start…Nothing happened I removed the spark plugs to make sure that I did not have a hydraulic lock issue…Nothing happened I disconnected the battery. I removed the starter and cleaned the mating surface of the starter and the block. I reinstalled starter and battery and tried to start…Nothing happened I then disconnected the battery and connected jumper cables to the battery and then the negative to the starter post and the positive to the tractor steel. Nothing happened other than some sparks. Since I had the battery out of the tractor, I installed a new ignition switch that I had as well as a new grounding cable and new cable from the battery to the starter switch. While doing this, I sanded the mating surface where the ground cable connects to the back side of the dash (there was a decent amount of paint on this surface and the only ground connection was probably through the threads). My ground cable looked like it had been fried as well. I put everything back together. I depressed the starter button..........and the starter turned over!!! It was late at this point and I still had not put the spark plugs back in so I did not fire it up. However, the lesson learned is that the ground surfaces MUST be cleaned. I have seen many posts where Dell has stressed that…those words should not be taken lightly! Just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, I hit the starter button this morning on my way out the door and it did indeed turn over. Now it is on to doing what I set out to do in the first place – troubleshoot my hydraulics. The pump works but the lift arms drop as soon as I turn off the engine. That will be this weekend’s project. Thank you all for the tips. I never would have cleaned the ground connection so well if it wasn’t for the things that I have read on this forum. [Reply]  [No Email]
Royse 08-29-2012 07:27:18 68.77.236.5 Report to Moderator	Re: Electrical Problem in reply to TOM N MS, 08-29-2012 05:25:12   I would try separating things out a bit Justin. Start with the cranking issue. You don't need the balast resistor, key switch or charging circuits for the engine to roll over, so I'd put them aside for the moment. With the key off the engine should roll over when you push the button. All that is required is the battery, battery cables, starter, solenoid and good connections. Clean all the connections as suggested. A parts store should be able to test the battery for free. Once you get it cranking, add in the ignition circuit to get it to run. Once it's running you can get to the charging circuit. [Reply]  [No Email]
teddy52food 08-29-2012 05:48:57 184.94.175.179 Report to Moderator	Re: Electrical Problem in reply to Justin D, 08-29-2012 05:25:12   Your problem is with the cable that is getting hot. Bad connections or bad cable. [Reply]  [No Email]
soundguy 08-29-2012 05:48:11 184.247.53.179 Report to Moderator	Re: Electrical Problem in reply to Justin D, 08-29-2012 05:25:12   i suggest cleaning up the electrical cable connections, terminal ends, and especially battery ground, fground strap to frame, etc. connection to the back of the steering pedistal start switch.. etc. the resistor for the ignition is suposed to be hot when running. make sure you have power on the single post of the block, and that the key goes from there to 1 terminal on the resistor, and from the other terminal on the resistor to the coil. check that ammeter... charge that battery.. post back [Reply]  [No Email]
JMOR 08-29-2012 05:37:08 72.181.173.171 Report to Moderator	Re: Electrical Problem in reply to old, 08-29-2012 05:25:12   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to seeWas your overnight charge with battery cables still connected? [Reply]  [No Email]
Justin D 08-29-2012 05:40:29 24.144.199.186 Report to Moderator	Re: Electrical Problem in reply to JMOR, 08-29-2012 05:37:08   No, I disconnected the battery cables. [Reply]  [No Email]