John Deere 530 Electrical

Navajo350 · Jun 30, 2017

How can you tell positive ground and negative ground? Looking at the photo below, wouldn't the thick cable be the positive and the braided cable be the ground or negative?

What would happen if I ran the tractor with these cables on the wrong terminals of the battery?

Did I wreck anything? Starter?

Pastures are getting pretty tall, might need a 630 if I don't fix this problem soon (the problem discussed a few days ago).

Thanks,

Robert

Navajo350 · Jun 30, 2017

Also, I'm not seeing a ground cable at all. If you look on the seat rim, there's a broken off wire. Maybe that was the ground? Could Injust put a new wire in that and then connect it to the negative cable clip where you see another wire, probably the same one? Would the tractor have a hard time starting if a bad ground? I'm getting nothing when pushing the starting button. I also just tested the brand new battery and it tested at 12.9. (Original wiring on tractor)

fixerupper · Jun 30, 2017

Cant see it that well but the small broken wire is probably a ground wire for the seat frame so the tail light will work. Your other ground 'cable' is that strap that appears to be bolted to the battery box. The ground cable needs to go to a bolt in the tractor frame. Rust and corrosion under the battery box can isolate the battery box from the tractor frame, making a ground cable bolted to the battery box useless. I run the ground cable to one of the bolts that bolts the battery box to the frame making sure the bolt area is clean shiny metal first. The 630 came from the factory with a positive ground but it could have been switched by someone.

coonie minnie · Jun 30, 2017

The braided cable is the ground. Look what is attached to the other end. It is most likely hooked to the frame.

James Howell · Jun 30, 2017

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0](Original wiring on tractor)[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Take a look at the [b:654c4848f0]Electrical Wiring[/b:654c4848f0] diagram below.

Note that the electrical system was originally a POSITIVE ground system.

Note the braided battery cable is connected to the POSITIVE battery post and grounded to the battery box.

Note the solid battery cable is connected to the NEGATIVE battery post and to the solenoid on the cranking motor (starter).

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]If you look on the seat rim, there's a broken off wire. Maybe that was the ground?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Note the only small black wire in the battery box is connected to the NEGATIVE battery post and to the SWITCH, STARTER SWITCH, and ELECTRICAL OUTLET SOCKET.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]Could I just put a new wire in that and then connect it to the negative cable clip where you see another wire, probably the same one?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Yes, if the new wire is connected to the solid battery cable that is connected to the NEGATIVE battery post.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]Would the tractor have a hard time starting if a bad ground?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Yes.

Instead of using the braided battery cable grounded to the battery box, you might consider using a solid battery cable grounded to the rock shaft.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]I'm getting nothing when pushing the starting button.[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Take a look at the [b:654c4848f0]Electrical Wiring[/b:654c4848f0] diagram below.

You might consider replacing the solid battery cable with one that has a better connection to the NEGATIVE battery post.

Using a test light, check for power at the solenoid terminal connected to the solid battery cable connected to the NEGATIVE battery post.

Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL and lock both brakes.

If there is power to the solenoid terminal, then "test" the solenoid.

If the solenoid engages the starter, then move on; otherwise check connections and repair/replace the solenoid.

Check for power at the STARTER SWITCH terminal connected to the black wire from the solenoid.

If there is power to the STARTER SWITCH, then move on; otherwise check connections and repair/replace the black wire.

Push the starter button and check for power at the other two terminals with black wires connected to the SWITCH and RESISTER.

If there is power at both terminals, then move on; otherwise check connections and repair/replace black wire(s).

Hope this helps.

PJH · Jun 30, 2017

"How can you tell positive ground and negative ground?"

Your question has been answered well, but on a tractor that old, the battery polarity may have been intentionally changed, especially if the generator has been replaced with an alternator. In your posts, I couldn't find a clue to whether the electrical system was original. My old Deeres have both been modified. If I were installing a battery in an empty battery box on a strange tractor, I would look the whole tractor over for clues. The first thing I would check is - does it have an alternator? If it does, that would make it nearly certain that the negative battery post would connect to the braided cable. Also - the coil polarity is a clue. If the small wire to the side of the distributor is connected to the - terminal on the coil, it is probably wired for negative ground, and again - the negative battery post would connect to the braided cable. If the distributor wire is connected to the + terminal on the coil, it's probably intended to be positive ground, and then the positive battery post would connect to the braided cable. You need to be aware that if you find conflicting clues that you need to dig deeper - someone could have botched a wiring job, and that might be what has brought you to this situation.

I've typed this in a hurry, and may have made a mistake, so I'm hoping others will chime in on this polarity issue. I took the original posters question as "which battery post do I hook to which cable?" I'm not criticizing anyone's response.

The other issues in your post require a test light and James Howell's good explanatory response and diagrams.

Joe Way · Jun 30, 2017

(quoted from post at 03:58:37 06/30/17) How can you tell positive ground and negative ground?

One more useful clue is the relative size of the openings in the battery cable clamps. Positive battery posts are larger than negative posts, so the clamp with the biggest opening was on the positive post.

Navajo350 · Jul 1, 2017

(quoted from post at 06:43:09 06/30/17) "[b:6f526c2261][i:6f526c2261](Original wiring on tractor)[/i:6f526c2261][/b:6f526c2261]"

Take a look at the [b:6f526c2261]Electrical Wiring[/b:6f526c2261] diagram below.

<img src="http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a164448.jpg" width="650" />

Note that the electrical system was originally a POSITIVE ground system.

Note the braided battery cable is connected to the POSITIVE battery post and grounded to the battery box.

Note the solid battery cable is connected to the NEGATIVE battery post and to the solenoid on the cranking motor (starter).

"[b:6f526c2261][i:6f526c2261]If you look on the seat rim, there's a broken off wire. Maybe that was the ground?[/i:6f526c2261][/b:6f526c2261]"

Note the only small black wire in the battery box is connected to the NEGATIVE battery post and to the SWITCH, STARTER SWITCH, and ELECTRICAL OUTLET SOCKET.

"[b:6f526c2261][i:6f526c2261]Could I just put a new wire in that and then connect it to the negative cable clip where you see another wire, probably the same one?[/i:6f526c2261][/b:6f526c2261]"

Yes, if the new wire is connected to the solid battery cable that is connected to the NEGATIVE battery post.

"[b:6f526c2261][i:6f526c2261]Would the tractor have a hard time starting if a bad ground?[/i:6f526c2261][/b:6f526c2261]"

Yes.

Instead of using the braided battery cable grounded to the battery box, you might consider using a solid battery cable grounded to the rock shaft.

<img src="http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a164456.jpg" width="650" />

"[b:6f526c2261][i:6f526c2261]I'm getting nothing when pushing the starting button.[/i:6f526c2261][/b:6f526c2261]"

Take a look at the [b:6f526c2261]Electrical Wiring[/b:6f526c2261] diagram below.

<img src="http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a164457.jpg" width="650" />

You might consider replacing the solid battery cable with one that has a better connection to the NEGATIVE battery post.

Using a test light, check for power at the solenoid terminal connected to the solid battery cable connected to the NEGATIVE battery post.

Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL and lock both brakes.

If there is power to the solenoid terminal, then "test" the solenoid.

If the solenoid engages the starter, then move on; otherwise check connections and repair/replace the solenoid.

Check for power at the STARTER SWITCH terminal connected to the black wire from the solenoid.

If there is power to the STARTER SWITCH, then move on; otherwise check connections and repair/replace the black wire.

Push the starter button and check for power at the other two terminals with black wires connected to the SWITCH and RESISTER.

If there is power at both terminals, then move on; otherwise check connections and repair/replace black wire(s).

Hope this helps.

Thank for all the help, especially "Mr. Chilton." Test light wasn't very good on the selonoid. I cleaned up the terminal, wires, and hardware, and now the starter works well.

John Deere 530 Electrical

Navajo350

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Navajo350

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fixerupper

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coonie minnie

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James Howell

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PJH

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Joe Way

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Navajo350

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