Raider 8 green wire going to start switch smoking and red hot

[Wendelin Giebel 4]

My Raider 8 ignition key switch is red hot. The green wire ( amp meter ) is burning its insulation . Tractor starts and runs as usual . Would anybody like to offer an opinion . I have noticed the wire connector on wire appears dirty but I hesitate to cut it out and replace until I have more evidence that’s the problem. Wondering if this is symptom of a bad key switch , amp meter seems to be working as usual? 

[WHX?? 57,501]

Most likely the amp meter is grounded. Disconnect it and tie the wires together that were on the posts and see if the wiring continues to get hot. Check the posts on the meter to see if insulation has broken down. 

[ri702bill 12,565]

Welcome!!

A lot of WH models from the '60's and '70's did NOT come with an inline fuse on the red wire feeding the ammeter. I always add one on all of mine. Nice to have when there is a short in the wiring, or either the keyswitch or ammeter go bad. Also, check the condition of all your terminal connections. Rusted or corroded terminals raise the resistance, lower the voltage, and turn the wiring into a space heater....

Edited 12 hours ago by ri702bill

[ineedanother 2,650]

5 hours ago, ri702bill said:

and turn the wiring into a space heater....

 hey @ri702bill, if you don't mind I'm gonna have to borrow that one from you 

[ri702bill 12,565]

3 minutes ago, ineedanother said:

 hey @ri702bill, if you don't mind I'm gonna have to borrow that one from you 

Have at it.

[953 nut 67,659]

8 hours ago, Wendelin Giebel said:

The green wire ( amp meter ) is burning its insulation

Is the black wire coming to the amp meter also getting hot? If not the green wire itself could be making some contact with ground or have a very bad connection, inspect it closely.

The green wire comes directly from your battery via the amp meter. If the AMP Meter was the problem the black wire would be getting hot, not the green one so we will move on.

The key switch is a strong possibility but lets test it before spending the money.

Fore this test we will have four key positions, (1) OFF, (2) RUN with lights and PTO, (3) Run only and (4) Start.

Please disconnect the battery "-" negative (ground) wire to prevent any accidental sparks or shorts during testing.

Now disconnect the GREEN wire from the ignition switch and connect a 12 volt test light or DC volt meter between the terminal where the green wire had been and the green wire itself, and touch the battery ground cable you removed before and see what key positions the light or meter responds to.

With the key switch in the OFF position there should be no connection to anything and the light or meter should not respond. Try to tap on the switch while it is in the off position to see if something internal shorting out.

Next, remove the battery ground wire again and remove the wire to the ignition coil wire (I) and the regulator wire (R) from the ignition switch and turn the switch to the third position (RUN ONLY) and then touch the ground wire to the battery ground side again. There should be no action from the meter or test light presuming this is the factory correct switch and no one has messed with the wiring.

Let us know what you come up with.

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by 953 nut

[CasaytheMann 202]

How many amps is the amp meter reading?