24 volt system on my new 3020

lee little · Sep 7, 2021

One of the things I didnt like on this 3020 was it was still 24 volt. The guy had just replaced the starter($400) and both batteries so I hoped I wouldnt have problems with that for a while. WRONG!!! Friday I tedded hay with it and it started all day. Saturday morning it cranked slow and quickly ran down. I had to pull it off. (Is there a good way to jump start a 24 volt?) The rest of the day it started fine. Sunday afternoon it started good. Monday again had to pull it off. After that it started every time. Seems like there may be a drain on the system somewhere. When I bought it I thought when I had trouble I would convert it to 12 volt. What is the best way to do this. I figure a GM 1 wire and a 12 volt starter but I know there is more to it than that. Thanks for any help/suggestions.Lee

rrlund · Sep 7, 2021

What if you were to borrow the gen and regulator off your first 3020 that went down and see what happens?

onefarmer · Sep 7, 2021

Jump starting a 24v depends. If one battery is down, jump that one. If both it'll take two others and two jumper cables, one on each battery hooked up appropriately for each battery. I've done it.

teddy52food · Sep 7, 2021

You may have a bad battery. Take a cable off of each & if it still is weak it is the battery. If not it has a drain. They like to drain through the starter from the brush dust.

Tx Jim · Sep 7, 2021

I recommend checking for electrical drain before R&R of any electrical components. Disconnect accessory ground wire that should be routed from LH rear battery post to tractor frame. Attach 12 volt test light in place of disconnected wire. With ign switch in off position & headlamps turned off if there's a drain the electrical test light will be lit up.

This post was edited by Tx Jim on 09/07/2021 at 06:54 am.

guido · Sep 7, 2021

Lee little,

Yes there is, two 12 volt batteries each parallel to the vehicle's 2 12 volt batteries.one 12 volt jumper to each 12 volt vehicle battery

Get going this way till you can find the problem,

Guido.

JD Dave · Sep 7, 2021

Look at a 24 volt schematic. If everything is in order, batteries equal, charging system up to snuff and no parasitic drains, you should be good to go. Check the starter for clean innards. Twenty-four volt systems worked fine when they were new, but, - remember, that was 60 years ago. Some maintenance may be required.

wore out · Sep 7, 2021

(quoted from post at 05:13:32 09/07/21) One of the things I didnt like on this 3020 was it was still 24 volt. The guy had just replaced the starter($400) and both batteries so I hoped I wouldnt have problems with that for a while. WRONG!!! Friday I tedded hay with it and it started all day. Saturday morning it cranked slow and quickly ran down. I had to pull it off. (Is there a good way to jump start a 24 volt?) The rest of the day it started fine. Sunday afternoon it started good. Monday again had to pull it off. After that it started every time. Seems like there may be a drain on the system somewhere. When I bought it I thought when I had trouble I would convert it to 12 volt. What is the best way to do this. I figure a GM 1 wire and a 12 volt starter but I know there is more to it than that. Thanks for any help/suggestions.Lee

IF all wiring is connected as it was when it left the factory typically the RH (negative-grounded) battery will more commonly drain when the tractor is sitting unused and likely be the first to fail.

This is because the (+) wire from that battery connects to the "belly" post on the starter and also is not "interrupted" when the generator cutout opens at shutdown.

Therefore, any brush debris and other dirt and debris that collects in the starter and generator combined with any moisture that may be present provide paths to ground for the current from that (the RH) battery.

lee little · Sep 8, 2021

Thanks so much for everyones reply. Right now things are crazy busy for me. Some of the advice here may help me get going to get through hay and sowing ground. Randy both of my other 3020s have already been converted to 12 volt so I cant switch parts to test. Thanks again to everyone for the help, you guys are awesome. Lee

24 volt system on my new 3020

lee little

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rrlund

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onefarmer

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teddy52food

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Tx Jim

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guido

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JD Dave

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wore out

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lee little

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