WD45, now that I've got it, I need some pointers o

Anyway, I'm hitting Tractor Supply or somewhere for a carb kit (it's the stock TSX464), and I'm having to rewire the whole thing due to massive mouse damage to EVERY STINKING PIECE OF WIRE on the whole tractor. (Some fun, huh?)

Hints on the best place for the carb kit would be appreciated, but mainly I need some specifics on how to figure out what has been done to this poor beast's alternator. It has been converted to 12V, and an old truck alternator hung on it, dunno exact model (yet). From the alternator there are two wires, chewed all to heck of course, condemned mouse, coming from the alternator, one of which ended inside the switchbox (there's no key switch on this old beastie, just a toggle switch for the lights and another for the main power, and the original rod-actuated starter switch).

The other alternator wire had a diode soldered onto it, a big 50-ampere job, but it was just dangling and I have no clue exactly where it came from before the rodents took over.

I suspect that both wires end up at positive 12v terminals somewhere, and the diode one is for feedback prevention (I hope it isn't the rectifier for the alternator!), but one way or another it needs to go through the ammeter and I've less than a complete clue how to get this back in working order. All the wiring diagrams I can find that aren't original equipment show a key switch and an accessory connector. Would that just be direct to the battery, which makes sense to me, and the other wire goes through the ammeter and then back to the battery? That's my best guess, but I would sort of expect a load resistor in here somewhere. There is a large wire-wound resistor, about 50 ohms and 10 watts, but it was in the ignition coil energizer circuit, best I can tell.

Anybody got wiring suggestions, for a setup with no key and just the toggle switch for the power? And where shoudl that resistor really go?

Shawn in KS

Soundguy

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(We"ll also see if with some intact wires the coil gives some spark, too. I"ve dived the forum for help with this already, and am going to pick up a set of Autolite 303 plugs to replace the antiques still in the head of this thing. New plug wires last night, new plugs today, clean filter and sediment bowl, air filter has been de-wasp-nested and fresh oil in the sump, I even put a padded cover on that hemorrhoid-killer of a seat. I have high hopes for this beastie. I need a brush hog really badly. A hydraulic or trip loader would be nice, too, but that will have to wait.)

How hard are the hydraulics on this thing going to be to work on? I think there are a couple of leaks in the hose fittings, easy enough to remedy, but is the pump stout enough to do a couple of double-acting cylinders for a front-end loader?

Oh, I have loads more questions, like how hard is the tricycle to wide front conversion, hope you folks are patient. Seems so thus far....

Thanks again, folks.

(We"ll also see if with some intact wires the coil gives some spark, too. I"ve dived the forum for help with this already, and am going to pick up a set of Autolite 303 plugs to replace the antiques still in the head of this thing. New plug wires last night, new plugs today, clean filter and sediment bowl, air filter has been de-wasp-nested and fresh oil in the sump, I even put a padded cover on that hemorrhoid-killer of a seat. I have high hopes for this beastie. I need a brush hog really badly. A hydraulic or trip loader would be nice, too, but that will have to wait.)

How hard are the hydraulics on this thing going to be to work on? I think there are a couple of leaks in the hose fittings, easy enough to remedy, but is the pump stout enough to do a couple of double-acting cylinders for a front-end loader?

Oh, I have loads more questions, like how hard is the tricycle to wide front conversion, hope you folks are patient. Seems so thus far....

Thanks again, folks.

It's mainly going to haul a brush hog around, and later a cultivator, so a full bucket loader is just pie in the sky right now anyway. Heck, it's all speculation until I get some sparks out of the ignition system.... That and finding a carb rebuild kit is a lot higher on the list than hydraulic anything. Are multi-fuel gas/LP) carbs available from anyone? I am seriously thinking of setting up to use methane, locally produced, for at least part of the fuel for this thing. With the price of go-juice going higher every day, anything I can do to lower consumption of gasoline is probably worth the effort.

I suspect I can find an example or possibly even plans or photos of the added hydraulics from someone who has already done this, out there on the web if I ever get to the point where I need it.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the info on the rear-mount loader, and the front-mount pump setup. You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of the front mounted pump, by chance?