David Brown Case 885

Doug Wise · Feb 11, 2014

Just got my first Tractor - a David Brown Case 885. I don't know a whole lot about tractors in general, but seems like there is a lot of information floating around on this forum. Just picked up my users manual today and should have a shop manual coming on CD soon. The tractor runs great, but I don't think its charging the battery. The alternator looks new and the wiring job is a joke. Should the shop manual have a good wiring diagram? I am also looking for the selector knob for the hydraulic system.... Any help on these issues would be appreciated!!
Doug

RGMartin · Feb 11, 2014

Is the shop manual a real one or one of the copies of an I&T manual from eBay? The real one will have a wiring diagram.

The DB club in the UK has a real diagram posted online at :

http://www.dbtc.co.uk/index.php?module=Content&func=view&pid=186

If it is like every other hacked up Lucas electrical system, you might be best to start from scratch.

Bret4207 · Feb 12, 2014

DB uses the Lucas electrical setup. It's not quite like we're used to. Some had gens, some had alternators and none of them seem to work like they should. I rewired my 990 just like the book showed and put on a new rebuilt gen. Lasted about 2 seconds. I'm putting a Delco on and wiring it Ameircan style, getting rid of the idiot lights where I can and going to an oil pressure gauge, etc.

RGMartin · Feb 12, 2014

My normal set up is: Delco 3 wire with idiot light on dash, Mechanical oil pressure, capillary temperature, electric fuel if it still has a good sender(only one style of sender is available that I have found).

The later style light switches seem pretty decent, as do the ignition switches.

The starters can be fine, or total garbage. The Indian copies are OK. On the turbos engines, there is a starter intended for the Big Fords that I use, from eastern Europe somewhere(ISKRA?).

Doug Wise · Feb 26, 2014

I think I am going to start from Scratch on this one. The alternator has a plug with two wires (a white and a black), and another wire from a terminal on the back of the alternator.

On the wiring diagrams I have looked at, I do not see any type of voltage regulator. Is it okay to wire the positive voltage out of the alternator to the positive lead of the battery and ground the other? Will this over charge my battery or cause any other problems?

RGMartin · Feb 26, 2014

A picture of the alternator would help. It doesn't sound like the normal Lucas which has 3 spade terminals in a row. 2 of them are power out, and one is sensing which ends up at the idiot light in the dash.

All the DBs I have dealt with which came with an alternator were internally regulated.

I'd bet you have a Delco that someone installed along the way.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 27, 2014

I found a serial number i think can anybody tell me the year so i know what manual to buy
F945574

RGMartin · Feb 28, 2014

A serial number for what?

Jim in Sask · Feb 28, 2014

Here's a list of DB 885 serial numbers by year:

1971: 620001
1972: 620336
1973: 625731
1974: 630611
1975: 634830
1976: 11000001
1977: 11005148
1978: 11011088
1979: 11015095
1980: 11019389

Serial number plate is on the side of the tool box, and on the top of the chassis front extension below the lower rad hose.

David Brown Case 885

Doug Wise

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RGMartin

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Bret4207

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RGMartin

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Doug Wise

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RGMartin

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Anonymous-0

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RGMartin

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Jim in Sask

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