59 Ford 601 Workmaster

[FSA1953]

Here we go again. Well went to go start the tractor to move into the garage to rebuild the power steering pump and turned over real slow then clicked like the battery was dead and smoke was coming from the arm wire. Replaced the voltage regulator again and same thing. Battery read 12.65 volts so I know it's not the battery. Started right up 2 days ago and today I get this. What could be the issue I really need to get this thing up and running. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[old]

While it is unlikely to be the battery a bad battery can read good voltage but yet not have the CCA it should. More likely it is the starter or a bad battery cable or poor connection

 

[FSA1953]

I'll check the battery connections. Could it be a bad solenoid? I'll drop the starter and check it to see if it's not froze

 

[stevob671]

Before you go through the hassle of dropping the starter, take a jumper cable from the hot battery post to the starter stud. Or jumper it from your truck.

 

[old]

Not likely to be a bad solenoid but one can jump across the 2 big post of the solenoid with a heavy wire to check that. As for the start try a different battery and see what happens

 

[FSA1953]

Starter turns over fine with my jump pack.

 

[old]

Weak battery or bad cable. A battery cable can be bad but you cannot see that. Some times you can hold a battery cable and try to spin the engine over and if it gets hot it is likely to be bad

 

[FSA1953]

It doesn't have a enough to turn motor over even though the battery shows 12.65 volts and for the cables they're brand new. Looks like I have to replace the wiring harness again cause the arm wire and the wire that goes to the solenoid is melted. I have a funny feeling that the solenoid is shot.

 

[old]

If the solenoid got stuck it can in fact cause a problem like you have and burn up wires

 

[FSA1953]

Ok. That's the next thing on my list to check. I'll post later on how I made out. Thanks for your help

 

[graham_in_NJ]

Batteries can, in fact, show a good voltage but still be unable to deliver starting current. You can buy a carbon-pile tester fairly cheaply which will give you a better idea of the condition of the battery.

 

[FSA1953]

So why all of a sudden I go to start it
and the wires start to melt from the arm
side of the regulator to the solenoid. It
worked fine 2 days ago charging fine and
now this issue. Solenoid bad?

 

[Sean in PA]

More likely to be bad cables or dirty connections. Heat that melts things is from too much resistance in the circuit, just like an electric toaster.

 

[WayneIA]

12 volt system with a external regulator?? Do we have a generator or and alternator on the tractor?? Most 12volt conversions have a built in regulator in the alternator. The wiring setup doesn't sound good!!

 

[FSA1953]

It has a 12 volt generator an a internal resistor coil and changed from positive ground to negative ground. Everything was put new on the tractor except the solenoid. My buddy and I did this conversation about 3 months ago and ran perfect until yesterday. He said that the solenoid went on it. So now I going to change out the solenoid and replace the burnt wires go from there. Hopefully that is the problem.

 

[FSA1953]

If that doesn't work then I'll switch out the generator and rewire everything and add a 1 wire alternator.

 

[JMOR]

there should be no arm to solenoid wire

 

[FSA1953]

Is that with an alternator or with
generator or just completely eliminate
that wire completely? In previous post it
ran perfect for 3 months after the 12 volt
conversion and yesterday I had this
problem.