Voltmeter just swept all the way & quit working

[BryanRTenn 11]

I have been working on this 416, voltmeter worked fine for a while, then was off.  I mean it was at 12 when off, 14 when key was on, & all the way right when running.  Then all the sudden it swept all the way around & is stuck at about 11 o clock position in upper LH corner.

 

I have some issues with the idiot light circuit board.  I have decided to let the next owner worry about that.  The light work most the time, I mean it takes turns deciding which ones it want to come on lol.  I have found that circuit board seems to control A LOT more than you think.

 

Can anyone give me some insight on what may have caused the volt meter to do this?

 

Its a 416-8 with Onan

[GT14 243]

Your rectifier may be going out. 

Edited November 24, 2014 by GT14

[ericj 1,576]

check you battery with a volt meter or should i say multi-meter and then again with tractor running you may just have a bad guage let us know what you find after checking and we can give more advice then

 

 

 

 

eric j

[BryanRTenn 11]

The battery is fine.  12.6 & 14 when running.  Like I said, gauge was also working fine.  I tried to get the wires down in the board to fit better, then the gauge started acting funny, being higher than actual voltage.  Then it just swept all the way around & stuck at 11 o clock position

 

I havent checked batt voltage since that happened the other day but I feel its all in that board.  Pink wire from meter runs through that board I think

[BryanRTenn 11]

Ive got to run to Knoxville early & will take all day Im sure, when I get back I will check voltage & let ya know

[ericj 1,576]

sounds like a bad gauge then

 

 

 

 

eric j

Edited November 25, 2014 by ericj

[Save Old Iron 1,563]

Can anyone give me some insight on what may have caused the volt meter to do this?

 

 Then all the sudden it swept all the way around & is stuck at about 11 o clock position in upper LH corner.

 

The indicator pointer rides on a suspension much like the needle of a compass. If the suspension points become corroded, and the meter slams either to the left or right, it can mechanically stick on that position. You may want to take the gauge out of the tractor and tap it on its side to attempt to free up the movement. Ultimately, the gauge should be replaced.

 

Most voltmeter gauges have a very limited range of movement of the pointer.  Some will have a 90 degree movement and more expensive ones - a 270 degree movement. None will "sweep completely around" as you say. Air core movement gauges used in avionics will "sweep all the way around", in fact the 520 tachometer is an air core gauge capable of placing the pointer anywhere in a 360 degree arc. I have never seen a voltmeter capable of doing so.

Edited November 26, 2014 by Save Old Iron

[Save Old Iron 1,563]

 

I have some issues with the idiot light circuit board.  I have decided to let the next owner worry about that.  The light work most the time, I mean it takes turns deciding which ones it want to come on lol.  I have found that circuit board seems to control A LOT more than you think.

Please elaborate on what you believe the INDICATOR board "CONTROLS".

 

I have repaired several of these boards.

 

The tractors which have the indicator boards removed always run fine until the repaired board can be fitted back into the tractor.

 

Last two boards I repaired were from a 418a and a 416-8. I can say without hesitation they only control these boards have is control over the indicator lights on the board.

 

Send me a PM if you want the indicator pcb repaired in your tractor.

 

Chuck