2920 died while working no power

[Freddieboy]

Hope to get some ideas.....I was removing some brush in my field when the tractor just died. No power, no click, nothing. Checked the battery at 12.97 V all fuses, seat switches and no love. Neighbor came over to help and used a portable battery to start it. But when it was removed the tractor died. Kept this up until in the driveway. Could this be an alternator issue? I have not load tested the battery so far. Always thought a motor would run without a battery once started. Thanks

 

[ptsg]

The shutdown solenoid needs 12v to keep the engine running. Have you check the battery cables at both ends? Specially all the grounds? That's often where the issue resides.

 

[Henro]

The shutdown solenoid needs 12v to keep the engine running. Have you check the battery cables at both ends? Specially all the grounds? That's often where the issue resides.

Been 10 days so the OP probably got his tractor running again.

We really need some more details. Like where were the jumper cables connected from the battery the neighbor brought over? If they were connected to the clamps on the battery itself then essentially the connections at both ends of the battery cables were verified as being OK, since the current from the extra battery flowed through those connections.

Perhaps the OP will come back and tell us what the solution was… Or with more details if there was no solution to this point.

 

[ptsg]

Been 10 days so the OP probably got his tractor running again.

We really need some more details. Like where were the jumper cables connected from the battery the neighbor brought over? If they were connected to the clamps on the battery itself then essentially the connections at both ends of the battery cables were verified as being OK, since the current from the extra battery flowed through those connections.

Perhaps the OP will come back and tell us what the solution was… Or with more details if there was no solution to this point.

I agree.

 

[Freddieboy]

Been 10 days so the OP probably got his tractor running again.

We really need some more details. Like where were the jumper cables connected from the battery the neighbor brought over? If they were connected to the clamps on the battery itself then essentially the connections at both ends of the battery cables were verified as being OK, since the current from the extra battery flowed through those connections.

Perhaps the OP will come back and tell us what the solution was… Or with more details if there was no solution to this point.

Hi all, been out of town and will be working on the tractor next weekend and I will get back. Seems possible the fuel solenoid might be at fault. More to follow.....just still unclear on the scenario's with how this went down.

 

[grsthegreat]

Where did he jump your battery at. Just because it shows 12v at rest, it may be a bad battery under load. Load test rhe battery first, than disconnect and clean all battery cable connections. All 4

 

[Freddieboy]

Where did he jump your battery at. Just because it shows 12v at rest, it may be a bad battery under load. Load test rhe battery first, than disconnect and clean all battery cable connections. All 4

Great suggestions and glad to get back and start the trouble shooting.

 

[Henro]

Where did he jump your battery at. Just because it shows 12v at rest, it may be a bad battery under load. Load test rhe battery first, than disconnect and clean all battery cable connections. All 4

When you test the battery under test, be sure to put your volt meter leads directly on the battery terminals and not on the clamps that connect to the terminals. If it is a battery problem you will see the battery voltage drop significantly.

If the battery voltage holds high then move your probe from the positive terminal to the clamp or some other point further down the positive lead line and try again. Doing this you may find a point where the voltage drops and you will know the issue is between that point and the positive battery terminal.

 

[Freddieboy]

Great suggestions and glad to get back and start the trouble shooting.

Hi Folks.....getting back with an update. Battery on the 2920 failed the load test miserably. New battery fixed it. Generator is working . I'm still wondering how a tractor would just quit in the middle of a field while the dynamo is still working. Any thoughts. Most of my experience is with gas engines and the local Kubota mechanic told me that once started the diesel will run without a battery.....

 

[rScotty]

Hi Folks.....getting back with an update. Battery on the 2920 failed the load test miserably. New battery fixed it. Generator is working . I'm still wondering how a tractor would just quit in the middle of a field while the dynamo is still working. Any thoughts. Most of my experience is with gas engines and the local Kubota mechanic told me that once started the diesel will run without a battery.....

An old style diesel will run without a battery or any electrics at all.

Newer diesels - those built in the last 10/20 years depend on some source of electricity to run things like a fuel solenoid, lift pump, and computer. They won't run if a short circuit is drawing all the current from the dynamo.....leaving none for the tractor.

It's rare for a battery to fail because of has short-circuited internals, but not impossible. More probably the battery leads shorted. Either would cause the tractor to stop and not restart. Sounds like something like that is what happened.

rScotty

 

[Henro]

This is just speculation but my experience with my Kubota tractors is that dynamos were rated lower than the alternator option as far as power output goes, and the 40 watt(edit: Amp, not watt) alternator was an option, which I purchased.

My guess would be, since your problem went away with the battery change that the problem was within the battery, and somehow the failed battery was loading down the dynamo, and therefore the dynamo output voltage dropped below the level needed to keep the fuel cutoff solenoid energized, so fuel was cut off.

There are two electrical schemes used by Kubota for fuel cutoff to shut down the engine with the key. One is they use a timer relay, and apply voltage to the fuel shutoff solenoid for several seconds when the key is turned to the off position. The other is the cutoff solenoid has two coils, and one is kept energized to keep fuel flowing through the injector pump, and a spring pushes the solenoid armature to cut off fuel when the key is turned to the off position, and voltage is removed from the solenoid.

IF you tractor has the second scheme, like my BX2200 does, then if voltage dropped for any reason the engine will shut down. But it will start if jumped, because the battery supplying the voltage is strong. But as soon as the jumper battery is removed the engine will shut down again.

That is my guess...based in some fact...don't know your tractor though...

 

[Henro]

Just an afterthought. If the above scenario is the actual case, then you may be fortunate that the tractor did not continue to run, with the dynamo overloaded. It might have over heated and failed, and you would have needed to replace it along with the failed battery...

 

[Freddieboy]

An old style diesel will run without a battery or any electrics at all.

Newer diesels - those built in the last 10/20 years depend on some source of electricity to run things like a fuel solenoid, lift pump, and computer. They won't run if a short circuit is drawing all the current from the dynamo.....leaving none for the tractor.

It's rare for a battery to fail because of has short-circuited internals, but not impossible. More probably the battery leads shorted. Either would cause the tractor to stop and not restart. Sounds like something like that is what happened.

rScotty

Thx for the input on this....

 

[Freddieboy]

Just an afterthought. If the above scenario is the actual case, then you may be fortunate that the tractor did not continue to run, with the dynamo overloaded. It might have over heated and failed, and you would have needed to replace it along with the failed battery...

Thanks for the info and very helpful to understand this.