I am a relatively new owner of an L3430...approximately 15 years old. It was in need of a lot of repair when I bought it, and I am slowly working my way through it. Today I replaced the battery and the positive side connector. The connector was really rusted and very hard to get off. Quite a bit of pushing, pulling and good chemicals. I finally got it off and installed the new battery and replaced the connector. The tractor started right up, but I’m getting a battery warning light and one with a wrench. Any thoughts on what these are trying to tell me or what I need to do? I only ran it for a minute or so and was wondering if the new battery needed a charge perhaps and maybe I didn’t run it long enough. Perhaps all the pushing and pulling broke something else. Any thoughts or help appreciated. Front tires are next...
Battery Replacement / warning lights
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85Hokie
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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Have a volt meter? If so - place it on with tractor off - take the reading then repeat with tractor running.
Tell us both voltages
Tell us both voltages
When you were attempting to remove the old positive battery terminal, might you have first removed the negative terminal? If not, did you accidentally touch the wrench to ground when you had it on the positive terminal? You might have grounded the system, and damaged a diode in the alternator. I was taught to remove the negative terminal first, and if it can't be removed easily, then I remove the terminal using a battery terminal puller. You don't have to buy an expensive one, and the inexpensive ones work as well as those that cost twice the price. I bought mine in the 1950's, and I don't use it often, but when you need it, it is worth its weight in gold.
I’m pretty sure I took the negative side off first and the positive side was pretty loose and came off easily (the positive connector was in bad shape and came off easily which is why I wanted to change it). Is there a relatively simple way that I can check the diode?
What transmission does your L3430 have? Does it have a cab or is it open station?
Is the #3 is the photo below the wrench image you speak of?
Dave
Is the #3 is the photo below the wrench image you speak of?
Dave
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The best way is to take the alternator off, and bring it to a shop that repairs them. They will have the ability to check and repair it, if the parts are available. The alternator with a built in regulator on my Lister Petter diesel engine wasn't repairable, and the only choice was to either replace it with new ($600+) or put a trickle charger on the battery. Being that it is a diesel engine, and the battery is only for starting, I opted for the least expensive alternative. The engine is hooked to a 18KW generator for back up use.
Russell King
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L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
If you used the battery terminal that clamps the old wire I suggest you get a whole new cable and replace the whole cable instead. The wire will corrode and cause trouble in the not too distant future.
Were there any additional wires on the positive terminal that you missed connecting back onto the terminal?
Were there any additional wires on the positive terminal that you missed connecting back onto the terminal?
No idea on transmission, but it is an open cab and item 3 and the battery display are the ones lit up.
You need to get an Owner's Manual for your tractor.
The lit up wrench is a service indicator light. It comes on every so many hours of operation.
Turning it off can involve a trick in your owners manual.
This video gives more info.
Service Indicator light
Your tractor likely has a more computerized engine than you would like but to look after it properly you need at least the basic book.
You need to start checking fuses including slow blow fuses. The battery light being on is not a good sign.
Dave
12.80 bots while not started
12.68 volts when running
after looking at the cables, I think I’m going to have to trace them to where they go and see if I can replace them. There isn’t much left on the ones I have once I freed them from the old battery terminal. Can I get cables like this through tractor supply or Atwood’s or do I need to go to the dealer?
thanks for the help...
You should be well over 13 volts with the engine running above idle. It appears that the charging system is not working. A good auto parts store should be a source for battery cables.
85Hokie
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Something is amiss with the alternator - check belt, check cables back from alternator too.
Replace cables and report back -
you are not charging the battery as you understand that should be the reason for the battery warning light on the dash
I decided to go into town to get a fuse. Replaced it and still have the same error codes. I think I definitely have an alternator or charging problem given the voltage readings, but am wondering if I charged the battery up might those go away? Not that I don’t need to fix it, but am curious why they weren’t on when I bought it. Only thing I can think is either he charged the battery up to where it didn’t show the error or somehow I created it when I changed the battery. If the latter, wondering if I can clear the error codes somehow.
Any help appreciated...
Nothing will go away till you get that +13 volts with the engine running. You need to troubleshoot the charging system using the work shop manual. Some auto parts stores will test an alternator off the vehicle, but they may not want to do it if they don't have one that fits.