L2050 Electrically dead

Sage127

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Jan 25, 2019
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Hello all, new member here. I have a 90' L2050 that due to the cold, was having difficulty getting started so I had my battery charger hooked up and set to "start" mode when everything just went dead. No ignition, no lights, no nothing. I assumed I had blown a main fuse but can't seem to locate any main fuse on the tractor. There is a fusable link which I tested for continuity and from what I can tell (though I am no electrical expert by any means) is that the link is ok. Fuses to lights etc are all ok. So is there a main fuse somewhere on this thing? If not, what could it be?? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
 

D2Cat

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Welcome to the forum. You mention you were having difficulty starting the engine. I'd suggest removing you battery cables and cleaning the ends opposite the battery (since you surely already cleaned the battery post and cable ends). At the tractor frame scrape all paint and rust before reinstalling.

A bad grounding system renders your battery useless, even if the battery checks out fine.

You can also meter the voltage on your battery as it sets, then have a helper turn the switch and measure again. See how much it drops.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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The main fuse or Fuse link is right above the starter, it should be a green loop.
 

Sage127

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Jan 25, 2019
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Thanks for the replies. I have already cleaned battery terminal ends and battery was new just a few weeks ago but for some reason would only turn the motor over (very slowly) for a second or two before just "clicking". (which was my original issue before shorting something out while trying to jump start it). Fuseable link tested good for continuity though I still have my suspicions about it. I will clean the negative cable at tractor end tomorrow.
 

Sage127

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Jan 25, 2019
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Just wanted to post an update:
It has been super cold here lately but today finally warmed up (got just above 30 degrees today) so I got back on diagnosing my issue(s). Found that the ground cable where it contacts the chassis was very rusty and so I cleaned both the terminal, bolt and the mount point on the tractor, bolted it back up and shazam! Everything back to normal. Started right up as it has always done before this issue. Glad that it was something easy and best of all, free! Thanks for the replies, I hope that I can be of some help to you in the future.
 

85Hokie

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Just wanted to post an update:
It has been super cold here lately but today finally warmed up (got just above 30 degrees today) so I got back on diagnosing my issue(s). Found that the ground cable where it contacts the chassis was very rusty and so I cleaned both the terminal, bolt and the mount point on the tractor, bolted it back up and shazam! Everything back to normal. Started right up as it has always done before this issue. Glad that it was something easy and best of all, free! Thanks for the replies, I hope that I can be of some help to you in the future.
I'll bet a poor ground is the cause of 95% of no starts.....assuming the battery is in good shape and a safety switch is fine.

Glad you found your cause and fixed - I cussed for 2 months on my 71 Torino .....till I checked the ground and found it to be ...well, piss poor!;)
 

SidecarFlip

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Di-Electric grease or spray on corrosion inhibitor is your friend, use it after cleaning.
 

Dunbar

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Di-Electric grease or spray on corrosion inhibitor is your friend, use it after cleaning.
Or get an AGM battery and say goodbye to corrosion. My brother in law in Madison changed his alternator and his starter on a Ford Explorer after changing his battery and still had starting issues. I said change battery cables and even though they looked good, corrosion was up under the insulating plastic preventing a good contact. Of course that is a salt state but an AGM battery would probably have prevented the problem.