706 wiring problems

I recently bought a severely neglected International 706 Diesel tractor.
It had been sitting along side a field for about 3 years.
Since, I've repaired the engine, repainted the whole tractor, and am working on some bugs.
The wiring harness is old and brittle, and in some places, the wiring has been cut.
I've tried re-wiring it, but there are some bugs, so I would ask if any one would have a complete schematic for this tractor. It has an alternator instead of a generator.
The only diagrams I have, are what's in the shop manuals, but it shows a harness, not the true diagram.
I've burned out 2 sets of glow plugs in this process, and it's getting expensive.
The plugs are wired up to 24 volts. Should it be 12?
I also burned out the glow plug gauge in this manner too.
The wiring was no existant when I got the tractor, so I had guessed.
Also since some of the wires were cut, I have no idea where they go.
I really don't want to buy a new harness, as I've never seen one offered for a 706. Maybe it's my best bet, but I'm a hands on guy and am willing to try re wiring .
Being that this is my first diesel, how long should I hold the button in for the glow plugs? The gauge that was in it, wan not hooked up. I've heard from a so called expert that you may have to hold the button in for 2-3 minutes. When bench testing the glow plugs, it takes a matter of seconds before they get hot.
Any advice for cold weather starting it, would be greatly appreciated.
I know a little shot of ether gets it going, but I don't want to install the ether kit.
thank you for your time. :roll:

I commend you for wanting to build your own wiring harness. It's not that hard to do, and I think you'll end up with a better harness. I really can't answer your other questions, but I think everything you need to know IS in the operators manual for that tractor. You can get one from any Case-IH dealer, or go to binder books dot com and order it on-line.

The IH operators manuals are chock full of info that you wouldn't expect to find in an owners manual.

No wonder you burned up two sets of glow plugs. The 706 is a TWELVE volt system.
Second Don't EVER use ether in a glow plug engine.
Third, the wiring diagram is usually in the operator's manual, you do have it don't you?

Try this link.

Thanks to bermuda ken at Carter and Gruenewald for making them accessible.
06 Series wiring diagrams

Thanks for the great advice, and the wiring schematic.
I have the shop manual and owners manual, and the only thing they show for wiring, is a harness, and how it's attached to the tractor, as in installing a harness.
As for the glow plugs, and the switch and meter, they are not hooked directly to the batterys or the starter, so the voltage is dropped down to 12 volts through a resistor.
As for one of my original questions, how long should one hold in the button for the glow plugs, and what should the meter read?
It's great to know there are people out there who are willing to help others out there. I had gone to 2 different Case IH dealers and asked for the wiring schematic, and they told me all they had was what was in the book.

No the voltage in NOT dropped down to 12 volts with a resistor. It is a 12 volt system. Factory stock was two 6 volt batteries in series to give 12 volts. If you have two 12 volt batteries in it now, they must be connected in PARALLEL. If you are not familiar with these connections, find someone local to help you through this.

As far as how long to hold down the glow plug button, it depends on temperature. 30 seconds if it was shut down a half hour ago, 30 to 90 seconds for the first start of the day in mild weather, 2 to 3 minutes in really cold weather with some help from a block heater. My 656 (same engine) will start at 20 deg using only the glow plugs.

AAAh! Didn't know why I spaced out over the "12 volt system" you wrote.
That's exactly why, things did what they did. It's pretty embarrassing to forget, that when we first started it, we used 1, 12 volt battery.
The 12 volt batteries that fit in the original place, are cheaper than the 6 volt ones that were then originally installed.
I started really tearing into the wiring on it tonite, and found squirrels or some rodents have really chewed things up. I'm lucky it didn't catch on fire from a short.
Some of the wiring had been cut off, and some connectors are chewed up. So it looks like I will have to buy a replacement wire harness afterall.
Is there a good place to purchase one, besides an IH dealer?
Thanks for the glow plug advice, and the site for the wiring schematic!

Well to start off with that tractor was NEVER a 24 volt system . So you either have it wired wrong at the batterys to start with . Now IF it has Glow PLUGS then it never came from the factory with and alt. on it , so it has been Barn yard wired . I have all factory wiring on a lot of the tractors that i use to work on on disks and also in my computer , but the problem is that i am no computer wizz and now that my youngest has left the nest i do not know how to pull them out or even send it to you . That tractor came from the factory with TWo 6 volt batterys and was wired for 12 volt it ain't a John Deere The later 706's that came with the alt. had the 310 German diesel and NO glow plugs . So you have a 282 with glow plugs . Yes and alt. can be used BUT then you need to do a rewire as the Gen wiring is not enough as the main wire from the gen to the reg was a 10 ga. and with and alt. they were and 8 Ga. So what you have is probably a rats nest that has been hacked on mickey moused and cobbled on over the years . And you can either get a new factory harness or you can set down and make up a new one from the get go , as i have had to do on may . Just redid my 806 here a month ago or so and made it up in less time then it would have taken me to drive down and order it and drive back . But i have been doing this kind of stuff for over 40 years .

Well, now I know, to count the filler caps on the tops of the batteries!
As for the alternator, yes the tractor has the 282 diesel, but it also has an AC Delco alternator on it, and has the external regulator. As for the wiring harness, it looks pretty darn good, if someone cobbled it in, being that it has the factory type sleeve over the wiring.
I'm not saying anyone is wrong, but someone at sometime, took the time to add an alternator to this tractor, and did a professional job.
I've ordered a right side dash harness, to replace the spliced up area.
If I need another harness, They are on hand too. It is so much easier than trying to re wire it myself!
Don't know if I will have anymore bugs, but I want to take the time to thank all of you who put in your 2 cents worth, to get me on the right track.