BX2200 Starting Issues - glow plug short?

[Anonym]

My BX2200 recently decided it was not going to start and I'm trying to track down the issue. Essentially, when the key is turned in the "run" position, all gauges light up and everything looks fine. As I pass by the "glow plug" position on my way to "start", the electrical system crashes and the tractor acts like it doesn't have any juice to turn it over.

I can jump the tractor and it starts and runs just fine. Mowed the grass with it last night without issue, and after over an hour of mowing, as soon as I turned it off, it would not start again doing the same as described above.

I thought maybe the battery had gone bad, so I pulled it and took it to be checked at the local automotive store who confirmed it is in great shape, so now I'm back to square one. I'm thinking there might be a short in the glow plug circuit that I need to track down, or is there something else I'm missing since the battery is determined good, the switch starter operate fine and it runs once started?

 

[Dave_eng]

If you study the Glow plug circuit I have attached it is very simple.

I note that the electric fuel pump is tied into the glow indicator light but if the engine starts when jumped, the pump must be OK.

Next the Key switch would be suspect.

It has been switching the power draw of the Glow plugs without the aid of a relay.

Get a 12 volt test light.

They are sold at any auto parts place or on line.

Connect the alligator clip to the battery ground post.

Use the sharp end to check for power on terminal 19 of the key switch as you turn the key to pre heat.

If there is momentary or no power disconnect the wire feeding the GP's at the GP's.

Now check terminal 19 again. If it now lights, it confirms the key switch is not able to handle the current draw of the glow plugs and is likely faulty.

Dave

 

[Roadworthy]

Before getting deeply into troubleshooting, clean your battery terminals and the connectors that attach to them. Check for corrosion on the wires as well. Follow the ground lead to the connection point on the frame or block. Be sure you have a clean, secure connection.

 

[Dave_eng]

Before getting deeply into troubleshooting, clean your battery terminals and the connectors that attach to them. Check for corrosion on the wires as well. Follow the ground lead to the connection point on the frame or block. Be sure you have a clean, secure connection.

Owner said it starts when jumped
"I can jump the tractor and it starts and runs just fine."

Dave

 

[Anonym]

Thanks for the information and tips. I'll try to take a look at the system tonight and report back.

 

[Henro]

Owner said it starts when jumped
"I can jump the tractor and it starts and runs just fine."

Dave

Yes he said that.

Not sure where he connected the jumper cables, but the normal place seems to be on the terminals of the wires connected to the battery.

The battery checked out out as good, and the tractor starts and runs fine when jump started.

The likely point of trouble is the connection between the battery terminal and the clamp connector.

Unless i missed something, which is certainly possible.

 

[Dave_eng]

Yes he said that.

Not sure where he connected the jumper cables, but the normal place seems to be on the terminals of the wires connected to the battery.

The battery checked out out as good, and the tractor starts and runs fine when jump started.

The likely point of trouble is the connection between the battery terminal and the clamp connector.

Unless i missed something, which is certainly possible.

It was my interpretation of his first post that the jumping was of the the starter and not the battery hence my suggestion to look elsewhere as any the battery cable issues would be ruled out if he successfully jumped the starter.

This was how i read his post........

Further, he describes his electrical system as crashing before he gets to crank the engine.

We shall both learn in the end

Dave

 

[lugbolt]

what is the battery voltage under a load ?

 

[Anonym]

Jumping was at the cables/terminals. So far, the starter has functioned correctly so long as it had juice.

I Put the battery back on the tractor and took a look at both the ignition switch and pre heater circuit this evening.The circuit is all contained in the wiring harness, which appears to be in good shape. I removed and cleaned the lead to as well as the metal band across the glow plugs. I also removed the switch and made sure the wireswere not bound up or shorting on anything.

After getting it all back together, the electrical system seemed to function normally (not drop power at the pre heat stage of the switch), but the battery was too weak to start the tractor, so I jumped it again at the cables/terminals.

We ran the tractor again for about another hour, turned it off and immediately tried to start it again when it went right back to crashing and not starting. I’m thinking it may be in the switch. I’ll pull out the voltmeter tomorrow and try to track it down.

Justin

 

[Dave_eng]

Jumping was at the cables/terminals. So far, the starter has functioned correctly so long as it had juice.

I Put the battery back on the tractor and took a look at both the ignition switch and pre heater circuit this evening.The circuit is all contained in the wiring harness, which appears to be in good shape. I removed and cleaned the lead to as well as the metal band across the glow plugs. I also removed the switch and made sure the wireswere not bound up or shorting on anything.

After getting it all back together, the electrical system seemed to function normally (not drop power at the pre heat stage of the switch), but the battery was too weak to start the tractor, so I jumped it again at the cables/terminals.

We ran the tractor again for about another hour, turned it off and immediately tried to start it again when it went right back to crashing and not starting. I’m thinking it may be in the switch. I’ll pull out the voltmeter tomorrow and try to track it down.

Justin

Your battery, although you report it being tested as OK, sounds like it is not charging.

Dave

 

[Henro]

what is the battery voltage under a load ?

This ^^^

Check the battery Voltage with a meter, directly on the terminals, when you try to start. If it goes low, battery is the issue. If it stays high, a connection is the issue.

If the battery voltage stays up and the tractor does not turn over, put one voltmeter probe on a battery terminal an the second on the wire connecting to the battery cable clamp. You should never see voltage. If you see voltage you have identified where the bad connection is. Do this twice, once for reach battery terminal.

What you indicate is that you almost certainly have a poor connection at the battery terminals/clamps, ( or a bad battery) but you are there and we are here...

 

[Anonym]

Thanks everyone! Got out the voltmeter this evening. Had 17V across the terminals that maintained across the preheat position of the switch.
However, voltage dropped to zero when checking it on the cable clamps. I found voltage on the positive terminal to clamp.

Took the battery off, cleaned terminals and clamps with fine steel wool and applied some dielectric grease and reassembled. Voltage where it should be and none where it shouldn’t. Firing up as it should.
Thanks again for helping me walk through the steps to diagnose the issue!