'48 8N tried to start with a short in dash

I haven't fired up my 8N in a while.
All the wiring and components are new within the last couple of years. I bought a new battery for it and tried to start it.
It popped a few times and took off. Smoke started to roll out from under the extreme left side of the dash. I shut it off and the smoke stopped.
Now, the ignition switch has never felt right even though it is brand new. Someone describes them as "Weak sister" ignition switches. I always had to jiggle this one to get it to make contact. I even tried a little red light to come on when the switch made contact and I could start it then.
The smoke I smelled had the odor of burned insulation.
I'm wondering if the switch finally gave up the ghost.
Resistor maybe?
Thanx
 
Bob........would you call it a STRONG sister??? I replace the ignition switch 3-times in one summer of brushhoggin', wanna know what else I called it??? ..........the amazed Dell
 
You are going to have to be careful here. Assuming can lead to a fire. I do not like these tractors not having multiple fused circuits. The new wiring loom I put on a couple of years ago has split loom almost everywhere. The first thing you need to do is disconnect the battery and go over every inch of wire in the affected circuit until you find a spot where it has rubbed through the insulation. If you don't find one, you will have to replace the wire and disconnect the component to which the wire ran. I would NOT tighten the ground battery clamp in case it has to be removed quickly. Post back what you find. Hope this helps. Gerard
 
I tried looking but the toolbox is in the way. The only components down in that part of the dash are the resistor and the ignition switch. I had never had any trouble in almost two years that everything has been in place except for the ignition switch being difficult to make contact. I wondered if something fell down in there and is shorting out. I keep it out of the weather for the most part but if I want to work on it I have to roll it outside. I'm trying to keep it close to original spec as I can so it's still 6 volt. Always worked fine before. As soon as the rain lets up I'll try to look at it closer. The rain hasn't stopped here in a while/ I don't think we've had but 2 clear days in the past few weeks.
 
(quoted from post at 00:44:48 05/22/16) ... I had never had any trouble in almost two years that everything has been in place except for the ignition switch being difficult to make contact. I wondered if something fell down in there and is shorting out....

Might be lots of things but rodents can be a wonderful source of "spontaneous" wiring problems. Mr. or Mrs. M. Mouse just cost me $800 for repairs to the evap system wiring and plumbing on TOOH's BMW....

TOH
 
(quoted from post at 09:00:40 05/18/16) You are going to have to be careful here. Assuming can lead to a fire. I do not like these tractors not having multiple fused circuits. The new wiring loom I put on a couple of years ago has split loom almost everywhere. The first thing you need to do is disconnect the battery and go over every inch of wire in the affected circuit until you find a spot where it has rubbed through the insulation. If you don't find one, you will have to replace the wire and disconnect the component to which the wire ran. I would NOT tighten the ground battery clamp in case it has to be removed quickly. Post back what you find. Hope this helps. Gerard

agree with ASEguy, you have to find it pronto.
couple commons....

critter nest..one of their favorite spots...and with that fire-starter resistor up under there...not good.

still running a ammeter? post style gets rust-bridges or old insulation fails and shorts out.(probably not your problem as it will torch yer tractor/barn key on or off)

You are right though....smoke billowing with a burnt rubber smell is usually a dead short...probably a heavy wire or it would have melted and broke quickly.

I have an unusual tool in my shop against the wall. 3' handle heavy duty brush loppers. They've been there since the time I had a dead short in the starting circuit of a 70 Torino about..30-40 years ago at work.
Turn the key...massive, billowing smoke..popped the hood..insulation burning off the big battery cables..entire cable and ends bright red hot....run :)
Those loppers will cut thick battery cables instantly if need be...without getting too close.
 

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