No starts, battery & charging systems, similar electrical problems: Team Kioti Fixes.
I'd
like to create, with the help of other key 'Team Kioti' members,
knowledgeable about certain common electrical issues, a thread that may
become a 'sticky' note for Kioti and other TBN members to refer to for
solutions to frequent electrical problems.
I'll start the discussion with what is often posted on this and other
TBN forums about tractors and similar equipment that have no start,
dead batteries and similar charging system issues.
The beginning: No prior level of knowledge is assumed on the part of
the reader, so keeping things in basic understandable terms is the
starting point here... The battery and related components.
One of the first things to know about any tractor battery is it needs
to have a steady charge state to last it's anticipated life. This means
it needs to be used regularly, and if it sits for any amount of time it
must have a 'battery tender' connected to a 120Volt source to keep it's
charge above 80%, otherwise it will have a shorter life than expected.
When preparing for the winter months soon upon most of us the first
thing to do is access battery condition, and correct any problems now
while it is still fall and not wait until dead of winter. Using proper
safety items like glasses, gloves, no jewelry on hands/wrists etc., one
can visually inspect their battery and it surrounding areas. Also make
sure your tractor is in neutral, no key in the ignition, wheels are
chocked, and all implements are on the ground/floor, etc. Some if not
most batteries allow for the OP to add water to the split ring level
under a removable cap on the top of the battery. If with a visual
inspection one finds some cells to be low on water/electrolyte, then
carefully add preferably distilled water, NEVER add acid to a battery!,
to the top of the split ring in each cell. Then replace the cap(s).
Next carefully loosen and remove the negative post clamp and place the
clamp and cable aside, so it cannot reconnect itself to the negative
battery post if it gets knocked loose. Then remove the positive post
clamp and place it away from the positive post.
If the battery is several years old and it shows any signs of poor
starts,etc. now might be a good time to have it load tested at a
reliable auto store, or your favorite mechanic's shop. Load testing is
done AFTER the battery is fully charged and allowed to sit long enough
to 'cool down', after charging. Then a load like the starter or
headlights is applied to determine how well the battery performs when
the load is applied. If it drops down to a discharged state rapidly it
has failed the load test and will likely need replacing. Other tests
that show the batteries ability to perform are a specific gravity test,
which shows the condition of each cell of the battery against the value
it should be. This can indicate problems with a particular cell, or
several cells that could be keeping the battery from delivering current
when needed. Tests like specific gravity can be done by the DIYer with
a simple tester available at most auto stores. Load testing is best
left to places with the more expensive equipment needed to perform the
test.
So for discussion purposes let's say one has a new battery and it's
ready to go. You've installed it and taken emory cloth or sandpaper and
cleaned both the negative and positive post clamps inside and out
untill you now have clean shiny metal. Now follow the negative post
down to where it bolts to the frame/chassis. Unbolt it and clean
everything until the metal shines. If needed, replace the possibly
rusted bolt with a new one and then coat the bolt threads with copper
anti-seize or regular, if copper isn't readily available. Tighten the
bolt then clean off any additional anti-seize and spray the bolt/cable
end and any exposed/bare metal on the frame with battery protection
spray. Do the same process at each battery post. I add the felt red and
green washers over each post then anti-seize the clamps inside, then
tighten each down, starting with the positive, then the negative. Using
cardboard, cover the battery while spraying each post/clamp until they
are completely covered with battery protector. Once everything is
complete, then clear away all tools, etc. and note on your maintenance
chart when the service was done and at what hours. Still check the
battery post periodically as well as the ground, (negative cable) at
the frame and reapply spray or anti-seize as needed.
Now that gets us started on battery condition, install of a new battery, etc.
I'd like to ask KOua or Richeyvs to write about what to do when trying
to troubleshoot a dead battery with a meter, (VOM), multimeter, etc.
Please include warnings about what not to do around the starter
solenoid, starter hot feed, etc.
(I think if we keep this a step by step progress through the charging
system, then starting circuit, ignition switch, fuse box, relays, etc.,
we may end up saving ourselves, and hopefully some TBN members from us
having to explain certain things each of us to date has done too many
times, with IMHO, no real single location to refer to as a source for
the information we might be able to detail here for easy reference to
one detailed thread we could add to as needed).
I'm hoping you guys will choose to contribute some of your vast knowledge to this thread. I know I would appreciate it....