1986 414-8 elecrical problems solved (Lesson learned)

[pen414 13]

Growing up, my Grandfather used to say, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it." ..... I recently learned how I misapplied this lesson. 

 

A few years ago, I became the 2nd owner of a heavily used, but well maintained 414-8.  This thing mowed 4 acres with it's original deck for over 20 years, and plowed the drive.  It's mowing duties stopped when the deck was just so worn, it was done, and then it has maintained (in it's last 8 years with the original owner), as a plow tractor in the winter, always being reliable.  This guy actually changed the oil at 25 hours or damn near to it, greased it well, cleaned it, etc. 

 

I bought the tractor for a song, found a deck and put it back into light duty about 2 years ago.

 

This summer, I noticed a few slight things happening.  First, the voltage was reading high after the machine was well warmed.  I checked with a volt meter at the battery and confirmed the gauge was right,,,, even though the gauge was bouncing once warm. Running volts were over 16.

 

Later in the summer, on a rare occasion, when trying to start after being warm, it wouldn't roll over.  However, if I pulled my leatherman out and bridged the solenoid, it would roll over and start right up.

 

I was thinking solenoid was going bad and voltage regulator, until the other night.

 

I brought the tractor in with a wagon load of firewood behind, unloaded, and it restarted right up.  Pulled it into the garage and unhooked the deck, cleaned it thoroughly for the winter, and installed the plow.  Went to start it up, and no go.

 

It wouldn't roll over by the key and even jumping the solenoid, it would roll, but would not fire. 

 

Started playing around and found I had no spark.  In testing, I found if I held the key in the start position, and jumped the solenoid, I had spark.

 

To shorten a long story, I replaced the ignition switch, and every problem has dissipated.  Apparently the B terminal on the ignition had corroded so badly that poor power through it was causing a slew of problems, intermittently. 

 

Now, even when warm, charging voltage is appropriate, no need to jump the solenoid to start, etc. 

 

I was about to do much more, and will eventually just for maintenance, but almost replaced parts that weren't in need of replacing, and wouldn't have helped the problem, because I neglected to look at the obvious for a beast this age, corrosion, on a very crucial part, the ignition switch terminals. 

 

Thanks for all that have shared and I have been able to learn from that has helped me enjoy my machine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 15, 2018 by pen414

[953 nut 59,323]

          Corrosion at any point in a circuit, including grounds, will have the similar results. Cleaning and tightening ALL electrical connections will pay big dividends in the long run.