dsmreaper 7 #1 Posted Monday at 11:01 PM So, I had to do some terminal work, basically I needed to install shims on the top post terminals as they were tight but still loose, any who, after I began I noticed the positive of the battery was hooked strait to the frame!!! Does that mean my tractor(67' 1077) is what they call a positive ground? Anyone have diagrams on this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 16,988 #2 Posted Monday at 11:12 PM (edited) The 1077 is a negative ground system. Edited Monday at 11:14 PM by rmaynard 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 20,060 #3 Posted Monday at 11:23 PM (edited) It is possible that some PO really messed up. But as long as he switched the wires to the coil and you have an S/G that gets polarized when you start it ... it may work. I know regulators are sometimes listed as + or - grd. but they still sometimes work.... Is the small + terminal on the coil hooked to the ignition switch or is it hooked to the points and condenser. Edited Monday at 11:25 PM by pfrederi 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ranger 1,851 #4 Posted 17 hours ago Has someone fitted a positive cable, which has a larger clamp, to the negative post on the battery? That could explain why it is loose? Assuming the battery has the conical posts of course? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 19,498 #5 Posted 5 hours ago 23 hours ago, dsmreaper said: ) is what they call a positive ground? If that's how it's actually connected, then that's what they call a mistake. That should be a negative ground system Could be someone wasn't paying attention Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsmreaper 7 #6 Posted 3 hours ago On 3/30/2026 at 7:23 PM, pfrederi said: It is possible that some PO really messed up. But as long as he switched the wires to the coil and you have an S/G that gets polarized when you start it ... it may work. I know regulators are sometimes listed as + or - grd. but they still sometimes work.... Is the small + terminal on the coil hooked to the ignition switch or is it hooked to the points and condenser. What is an S/G? I am not new to mechanics or automotive work and systems, but tractors and small engines, albeit sometimes similar, are a whole new game to me. 2 hours ago, wallfish said: If that's how it's actually connected, then that's what they call a mistake. That should be a negative ground system Could be someone wasn't paying attention it is for sure hooked up backwards, I will have to check the coil like another commentor stated, I did not check the rest of the wiring, just that I have a 26 group battery and noticed the positives cable ran strait to the frame about 4 inches away!!! 14 hours ago, ranger said: Has someone fitted a positive cable, which has a larger clamp, to the negative post on the battery? That could explain why it is loose? Assuming the battery has the conical posts of course? this is possible, but both clamps were actually lose, they are the softer lead style and seems to have been over tightened previously as well, and were not down all the way on the posts either, which did not help either. On 3/30/2026 at 7:23 PM, pfrederi said: It is possible that some PO really messed up. But as long as he switched the wires to the coil and you have an S/G that gets polarized when you start it ... it may work. I know regulators are sometimes listed as + or - grd. but they still sometimes work.... Is the small + terminal on the coil hooked to the ignition switch or is it hooked to the points and condenser. I will check and get back to the post on this one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsmreaper 7 #7 Posted 3 hours ago Yeah not sure what is going on, the + on the coil goes to the ignition switch though. You can also see the POS on the battery clearly in the photo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 19,498 #8 Posted 2 hours ago (edited) Does it start and run like that? Can't imagine it would charge the battery Kinda looks like someone slid the battery in backwards and hooked'er up. Reversing the polarity I've never tried that, yet! LOL SG for Starter /Generator of which that engine has. Edited 2 hours ago by wallfish 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsmreaper 7 #10 Posted 1 hour ago 24 minutes ago, wallfish said: Does it start and run like that? Can't imagine it would charge the battery Kinda looks like someone slid the battery in backwards and hooked'er up. Reversing the polarity I've never tried that, yet! LOL SG for Starter /Generator of which that engine has. Oh okay, and yes it does start and run, I haven't check the charging system while running so I can't say for sure it charges.perhaps the older models and tech were so simple it didn't matter as long as there is voltage? I definitely had the thought the battery is in backwards though when I saw how close the terminals were to the S/G though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ineedanother 1,971 #11 Posted 1 hour ago If it were me, the first step I would take would be to check polarity. If I'm not mistaken, that battery could have actually be charged backwards had it been depleted at some point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
