seeking ADVICE

[Strokerace2639 4]

1988 520H

   heres the story. Last time I ran the mower about half way through I noticed that the gas gauge had stopped working. after finishing I parked the tractor back in my garage. I was like HMMM  let me check battery voltage with the engine running.

It was 12.14V. So I then did all the test for the regulator/rectifier and stator. I have no voltage from the Stator. Ordered part, part arrived. Then today I was like I should mow 1 more time before I start taking things apart. go out put my charger on the battery,

wait 1 hour, go back out start the tractor. close the hood and it dies...  Hmm   ok maybe thats just a flook. open the hood restart the tractor, close the hood and again it dies. ok what is going on here. open the hood start it again. this time I pay attention. 

closing the hood the engine starts to die. This is within the last 1/2 inch of closing. Open it back up just a little and it picks right back up. I then shut it off opened the  hood and started looking around. I could not find any markings of a short. I then 

disconnected the headlight wiring making sure both ends were out of the way and safe. Secured that famous 9 pin connector with some zip ties to make sure it did not move. Then made sure there was nothing that could touch or be moved by the 

hood. Started tractor again  and began closing the hood.  in the same area it started to die again, lifting it back up and it picks back up. As I began closing it again I looked very closely at everything. To the bast of my ability there are not touching wires,

nothing is being moved.  I am at a loss here.  TAKING ALL ADIVE

 

thank you.

[rmaynard 17,505]

Looking at my 416-H as the only point of reference available to me, the only wiring that would be in any way related to the hood and it's movement is the connector going to the lights. If the lights are disconnected and the harness on the tractor side is secured from movement, the hood must be hitting something that you are not seeing. Leaving the hood in the open position, I would begin by touching every wire or moveable part that could touch a wire until the engine quits. Something is either grounding or causing a break in a circuit that is critical to the running of the engine. It's not magic or voodoo, it's a mechanical disconnect. Try your testing at night in pitch black darkness and see if you can see a spark as the culprit raises it's ugly head. When working in the dark, just be careful of moving parts such as belts, fans, PTO's etc.

[lynnmor 8,989]

I wonder if the only ground for the coil is coming thru the headlight wiring.

[Strokerace2639 4]

38 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

Looking at my 416-H as the only point of reference available to me, the only wiring that would be in any way related to the hood and it's movement is the connector going to the lights. If the lights are disconnected and the harness on the tractor side is secured from movement, the hood must be hitting something that you are not seeing. Leaving the hood in the open position, I would begin by touching every wire or moveable part that could touch a wire until the engine quits. Something is either grounding or causing a break in a circuit that is critical to the running of the engine. It's not magic or voodoo, it's a mechanical disconnect. Try your testing at night in pitch black darkness and see if you can see a spark as the culprit raises it's ugly head. When working in the dark, just be careful of moving parts such as belts, fans, PTO's etc.

   Yes in a way I have just returned from doing that. With my garage door closed it get pretty dark in my garage. With the key in the on postion, I tried closing the hood carefully and watching. It is possible I saw 1 spark from around the Flywheel shroud area...   I then tired several more times and saw nothing.  then trying to start the tractor I find that I no longer was getting spark... as I have to already change the stator I will do that and check all the wiring that I am able.

 again thank you.

[squonk 47,821]

If you get stuck, I am in the same village as you. PM  me if needed.