Odd electrical issue

[Butch]

First of all..... Please enjoy 2017... pick the good stuff and go for it!

About a two months ago I blew the 10A fuse on my B2410 that goes to the lights and gauges. Did not think much of it... just replaced it and went on.... till a couple of days ago. That is when I noticed the charge indicator flickering a little bit...
I figured it could be either the dynomo or the voltage regulator.... but before I could check it out I fired the tractor up and guess what.... the darn charge light came on when heating the glow plugs and went out and did not flicker at all after start up!!!
However... I noticed the fuel gauge was not working nor were the lights...

That is when I said to myself.... Self, there is most likely something else afoot!

After a little pondering... I figured it was a short of some kind in the circuit... not a dead short but some component that was periodically drawing more current than normal.... the only thing that popped in my noodle was the fuel sending unit... a rheostat that has gone wack-a-doodle....

So I figured I would start 2017 right and take the opportunity to consult my fellow orange tractor folks on my errant electrical issue...

later guys and gals!

 

[BruceP]

This may not be your specific problem.... when I bought my Kubota, the previous owner said it had all kinds of electrical issues and would occasionally blow fuses.

When I got it home, whilst degreasing the engine, I found a copper washer kinda hooped over one of the glowplugs. I removed the washer and wondered where it may have come from.

Later, when I changed the oil, I found the sealing-washer on the drainplug missing.... YUP that is whee it goes.

BTW: I have never had any problems with blowing fuses... I assume that washer was making intermittent contact with the glowplug.

Why did I tell you the above story?

You need to look for something INTERMITTENT... perhaps a wire which is too tight near the frame with the insulation worn off? Pay close attention to the wiring to the lights.

A very good troubleshooting technique is to DISCONNECT things and see if the problem goes away. For example, follow your 'fuel sending unit' idea by disconnecting the wires to it and see if the issue changes. Also try disconnecting the lights (one at a time)

If you have a DVM (Digital VoltMeter), perhaps you can take some voltage measurements while a buddy hits the glowplugs. (or turns the lights ON/OFF)

With the black lead of the DVM clipped to battery minus... check the following:
*) Battery voltage before and during glowing
*) Voltage on glowplug before and during glowing

(During glow, the battery-voltage and GP voltage should be nearly the same.... with some voltage-drop of the wiring )

 

[Butch]

BruceP... you are dead spot on... great advice. I will keep you posted on the continuity checks...as I look, wiggle and jiggle the wiring. Butch

 

[Tooljunkie]

Fuel sending unit alone will not blow a fuse,circuit open will make needle go one way, shorted to ground makes needle go other way.

It appears nothing turned on and fuse blows, so fault lies between fuse and where it branches off to feed the guages and lights.

 

[Dave_eng]

First of all..... Please enjoy 2017... pick the good stuff and go for it!

About a two months ago I blew the 10A fuse on my B2410 that goes to the lights and gauges. Did not think much of it... just replaced it and went on.... till a couple of days ago. That is when I noticed the charge indicator flickering a little bit...
I figured it could be either the dynomo or the voltage regulator.... but before I could check it out I fired the tractor up and guess what.... the darn charge light came on when heating the glow plugs and went out and did not flicker at all after start up!!!
However... I noticed the fuel gauge was not working nor were the lights...

That is when I said to myself.... Self, there is most likely something else afoot!

After a little pondering... I figured it was a short of some kind in the circuit... not a dead short but some component that was periodically drawing more current than normal.... the only thing that popped in my noodle was the fuel sending unit... a rheostat that has gone wack-a-doodle....

So I figured I would start 2017 right and take the opportunity to consult my fellow orange tractor folks on my errant electrical issue...

later guys and gals!

Bad ground connections can cause weird problems as circuits find odd paths to find a ground and can illuminate lights that should have nothing to do with what you are operating. I am not just talking about the battery ground cable, although cleaning both ends of it is always a good starting point. There may be a ground cable between the engine and the frame or between the frame and the dash.

Do you have a wiring diagram you could post?
Dave m704

 

[Butch]

When I put the new fuse in and activated the dash and head lights along with the fuel gauge. The right head light was out. Pulled the bulb and the filament was (looked) intact... even looked at it under a magnifying glass... so I swapped it out for the left bulb.... still would not burn. Obviously the bulb was bad as I did try the good left bulb in the right socket... the right socket was fine... dang bulb bad.

Still curious I carefully broke the glass and checked the filament in the bad bulb.... it was fine... 100% intact and had continuity. But.... (there is always a but) when I checked continuity on the bulbs base and bottom contact... no continuity... this is a new one on me... replaced bulb and now waiting to see if this has any influence on the fuse symptom.... Like BruceP suggested... change one thing at a time to narrow down and isolate the problem.

At least this gives me something as I continue to recover from triple bypass.

 

[kubotasam]

Check for a bad connection where the wiring harness plugs into the back of the instrument panel. I bought a B7500 that has the same panel as the B2410 and was getting all sorts of weird electrical problems. I isolated it to the ground connection at the junction between the wiring harness and the panel. I ended up running my own ground wire because the factory connection even when cleaned up still had resistance.

 

[Butch]

I already broke out the wiring diagram from the service manual... the ground connection on the panel is going to be my next stop... What's really weird is.... I just ran the tractor for an hour... dang thing normal as hell.... we'll get it tracked down....

 

[Dave_eng]

Butch
Did your problem return or did you find the cause of it

Wolfman sent me a link to the WSM for your tractor two weeks ago and I failed to see it.

If you are still having problems I WILL study the wiring diagram

Dave M7040

 

[Butch]

The issue has resolved itself. However I did find one anomaly and corrected it. I had a bad 1073 bulb in a headlight. The bulb was not burned out as the filament was still intact. Just for grins and giggles I opened the bulb and clipped the filament. Then I checked continuity between the base and contact... I had a short in the bulb...Replaced bulb and all seems to be well... 12 hours in....