Tractor ran fine but then.....

[Ninety-two]

So the tractor was running like a champ.....for about 45 minutes then it seemed to choke out and die.......originally I thought I just ran it out of gas.....there was gas in the tank but Ive read that it needs it needs about three gallons in the tank to run.....so I dumped 5 gallons of gas in to her.......started right up then ran for about 40 yards then died again.....this time I'm thinking it might be over heating.....so I let it cool about thirty minutes......went about 30 yards died again...now no start. I am getting spark at the plugs......don't know if it will jump the 1/4 gap yet....my plug checker is just a bulb. So I left her in the field and hiked the battery back and threw it on the charger....I noticed that my amp gauge doesn't move when the tractor is running....it is the after market type not the induction type....I assumed that I just hooked the ammeter up wrong.....but now I am believing that the generator is not charging the battery and the tractor is just running on batt power....now the battery is too depleted to get a good spark to the plugs and is not spinning the starter fast enough to build the compression......Ideas? would the tractor stop running because of a dead battery and no generator? I assume yes that the weakened spark would cause it to feel like it ran out of gas.....It does have good fuel flow....any help would be appreciated....Anyway to check to make sure the genny is working properly?

 

[HFJ]

Ive read that it needs it needs about three gallons in the tank to run

i didn't realize with was that much - but this was a lesson it took me a while to learn.

there is extra gas in the tank it won't use if u don't open the valve at the sediment bowl all the way, or if the reserve pickup of that assembly is plugged

 

[HFJ]

*it* was

 

[Ninety-two]

well it should have about 8 gallons in there now which should be way more then enough

 

[Den N Ms]

Ninety-two,Yes if the battery was not getting any charge,that would cause it to sputter and die like it was running out of gas.Then you let it set and the battery built back up enough to start again.Charge the battery up and see if it will start up.Then get your charging system repaired.

 

[Ninety-two]

absolutely what the problem is. gave the battery about 45 min of charge....thing fired up and got back to the house before it died....So my question is........generator trouble shooting advice.....

 

[old]

A full charge battery can/will run an engine for hours. But the more you start it the less time it will last. I ran my 841 for years with a bad charging system. Ya I charged the battery when ever it would not start and did not fix the problem till the alternator that was on it locked up. If you ask why did I do it that way well I was to cheap to bother replacing the alternator.
But yes if a batter gets to discharged it will cause the spark to get weak which in turn will cause it to die sooner or latter

 

[Bruce (VA)]

" would the tractor stop running because of a dead battery and no generator?"

If it has a bad generator & dead battery, where do you think it's going to get current to produce a spark at the plugs?
75 Tips

 

[Tall T]

Ninety Two,

Generator testing via the "motoring" method.

8N GenMotoring

T

 

[Ninety-two]

Outstanding thank you

 

[R Geiger]

Pull the plug out of the bottom of the carb and catch the fuel as it runs out. It should fill a pint jar in 2 to 3 minutes.