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Ford 2910 electrical problems - starting

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CB in central N

09-06-2006 06:13:39




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Greetings to all.

I have been having some electrical issues with my Ford 2910 going back about three years when I bought it used. It has finally come to a head and I need to get it fixed once and for all.

When I first bought it, the solenoid on the starter was going bad and had one loose post. I tried to get a replacement solenoid from Ford / New Holland, only to be told that it was an aftermarket unit and not available through them. I took the solenoid apart, tightened up the post (it’s copper and stripped) and re-soldered it back together. It was never quite right but held together. The tractor always had a starting problem where it would start once and would not have any juice the next time out. In addition, the positive battery post became pitted over time and I thought that the cable connection was bad.

A couple of days ago I tried to start the tractor and smoke started coming out of the solenoid. I tried to stop the engine and the starter got stuck in the on position, so I had to pull the positive cable to make it stop. To make a long story short, I went out and had to buy a whole new starter (nothing wrong with the old one, just can’t get the solenoid for it). I put it in and nothing changed. Even worse, when I turned the ignition switch, smoke started coming from other places along the wiring harness. When I finally looked at the wiring, sections of it were actually melted (just the insulation, not the copper). So I am thinking there is a short somewhere in the line (or several shorts) and they were probably responsible for my woes. Someone suggested the ignition switch itself, but I just spent $325 on the starter and probably for nothing, so I don’t really want to spend any more money on this problem if I don’t have to.

Any electrical experts out there? Any ideas, suggestions, comments would be welcome. Sorry for the long post.

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CB in central NY

09-07-2006 10:02:35




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 Re: Ford 2910 electrical problems - starting in reply to CB in central NY, 09-06-2006 06:13:39  
Last night I took the ignition switch off, polished up all the spade connectors, traced the spots where the insulation melted off and wrapped them with several layers of black vinyl tape. I think, the problem was with a short in one of the connectors, where the two wires (+ and -) were actually touching each other.

Anyway, I put it all back together and it started without any problems (7 or 8 times in a row). Thanks to everyone who responded.

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RodInNS

09-06-2006 14:58:46




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 Re: Ford 2910 electrical problems - starting in reply to CB in central NY, 09-06-2006 06:13:39  
I wouldn't feel too bad about having the OEM starter. The aftermarket's tended to be cheap anyway. So, if the solenoid wasn't bad on your starter, the problem was likely the ignition switch. I've changed a few of them for that reason.... Otherwise, track the wiring down, find the bad pieces, and either replace the wire or splice a good piece in. I generally use 12 or 14 gauge wire. Whatever fuses the tractor has are forward of the instrument cluster, so just unscrew the cluster and pull it back. There should also be a fusible link in the main wire feeding the ignition switch. I replace that with an inline fuse. Hopefully all you have is a couple burnt wires, and it didn't let the smoke out of the regulator or alternator. HTH.

Rod

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Sam#3

09-06-2006 09:16:42




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 Re: Ford 2910 electrical problems - starting in reply to CB in central NY, 09-06-2006 06:13:39  
It's probably water over the obstruction now because you usually can't return electrical parts but in the future look for a good starter repair shop. They seem to have sources the public can't find.
By the way, unless your solenoid has the 'drive kicker', which forces it to be mounted on the starter, you can use any 'switch only' solenoid. They’re just a simple NO relay with big contacts
Go to an auto supply house, get wire of 12 or 14 gauge and the various colors you like. Get a handful of the appropriate end connectors and a crimping tool and change the burned wire one at a time checking for shorts as you go. My WAG is the short is probably on the ignition side of the switch.

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souNdguy

09-06-2006 07:33:48




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 Re: Ford 2910 electrical problems - starting in reply to CB in central NY, 09-06-2006 06:13:39  
Pull your dash cowling.. if you havn't already. Check the wireing between the ignnition and battery.. and any fuses that may be present.. etc.

Sometimes those switches can short to the housing.. or internally short.. thus letting glow systems stay on.. .. etc.

Trace the burnt wires to their components. and go from there. once you isolate the specific system(s) that failed.. we can probably get you some more detailed help.

Ditto ont he starter shop.. many can replace the solenoid by itself..

post back.

Soundguy

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R. John Johnson

09-06-2006 06:28:26




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 Re: Ford 2910 electrical problems - starting in reply to CB in central NY, 09-06-2006 06:13:39  
If you take the old starter to a repair shop that specializes in starters and alternators they will be able to fix it and probably get a new solenoid. This should be a lot less than the new starter. Thats the good news. The bad news is that you have cooked your wiring harness and unless you can repair the areas where the insulation is melted, the entire harness will need to be replaced if you ever want to have your electrical system working properly again.

John

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