dead battery daily

[OLLIE from the north]

:( Friends , I have just gone through an HG 42 . I charge the battery and
 the next day it is down. battery brand new . Its like something is drawing on it . any guesses.? I have considered a battery disconnect switch.
                                                             Ollie From The North

[John Schwiebert]

First of all, does your tractor still have the generator or has it been converted to an alternator. Next thing. Loosen the ground cable when you are finished for the day and remove it. When it is dark, hook the ground cable back up, and see if you have a spark that jumps from the post to the cable, if you do then you need to look into the problem but we need more details on what you are working with.  Also have you had the battery load tested? Questions?

[OLLIE from the north]

:) I still have the generator and magneto.  When I loosen the ground cable I get a spark. battery is new from landis. We disassembled this unit as the clutch and plate were stuck and the rear end had to be separated. I sometimes get smoke from the push starter switch . I am wondering if a wire has been hooked back wrong. starts right up and runs damn good . Lot of money and time in this one. this seems to be my only problem other than finding an acceptable position for the fuel screw on the carb we just rebuilt. 3/4 to 1 turn out seems to be the best spot but id like an opinion. Cletrac HG 42 ser # 59GA150.  thanx for the response in advance
                                                       Ollie From The North

[John Schwiebert]

I can e-mail you a troubleshooting  chart.  I would also like a phone number to double check a few things on your charging system.

[Tractornut]

Next time you shut it off remove the ground wire & see if it sparks one time when you take it loose. I have had problems with the voltage regulator staying energized til the battery dies, then kicking out.

[walter hudson]

check the voltage regulator ,wiring for short to ground, and your starter switch for short to ground . most likely if it starts properly when charged, you have a voltage regulator with a stuck contact .

[Mike Anderson]

With the magneto you must also be sure that your kill switch is a momentary switch.  I made the mistake of putting an on/off toggle switch on the grounding wire to the magneto once and found the same results you are having.  There may be another way for this to be wired, but that is how mine worked.

MikeA

PS: I'm making progress with the fender.  I took the complete but smashed and rusted one you sent,  cut out the flat part of the old one and welded in a new piece of sheetmetal.  Much banging later, it's starting to take shape.  It probably won't be perfect, but will look ok, I'm sure.

Thanks again .........I'll get the check to Blake the end of the month when I do the nasty accounting stuff.

[RAB]

I don't know how Mike had his mag wired, but a kill switch can be either momentary or on/off.  It will make absolutely no difference to a proper magneto system.  The mag is entirely independant of the battery.  Indeed many were fitted without a battery (only needed for the lights/starter).  
Probably safer with a switch as when it is off it is off and shouldnt restart until turned on, but a kill button at least doesn't let you forget to switch on.
Some mags have been modified to run as Ketteringham systems (contact points and coil powered from the battery).  They are no longer operating as a magneto system, as a magneto generates current for the ignition internally, and when set up like this are basically being used as a distributor.
Regards, RAB

[Mike Anderson]

RAB, of course!  You're right.  That situation was on my OC3, which had a home made wiring harness.  The kill switch went bad, I replaced it with an on/off toggle and didn't think it through.  The momentary works just fine, though, and the generator never has worked, so who knows how it's really wired.  I just put a charger on it periodically and run for a long time before I need to charge it again.  That thing ALWAYS starts right up and smokes and smokes.  The previous owner also ran it for a long time without and air filter.

Another project one of these days!

Mike

[OLLIE from the north]

:lol:  Friends , thanx for all the responses on my question. The switch that was on the hg 42 was a little brass knob. out was off , in was on . I had to spin the knob to get it to shut off. I replaced the switch with a toggle and Im in business and the battery has been load tested . I took her through the sugar orchard today .
I dont know about you but its pretty neat to cruise on a rig that has not run for 35 to 40 years . this is the cletrac rush..................
                                             Ollie from the North