Hey AltaVista

[woodlandfarms]

Just checking in on how your system is doing. I assume winter was quiet and you haven't had the chance to get out and beat up the machine yet. You were one of the major voices of frustration on the PT line and wondering if you feel you got it resolved...

Carl

 

[AltavistaLawn]

Just checking in on how your system is doing. I assume winter was quiet and you haven't had the chance to get out and beat up the machine yet. You were one of the major voices of frustration on the PT line and wondering if you feel you got it resolved...

Carl

Thanks for asking. The alternator is still not right, when the cooling fan cuts on, it pops the breaker. So I', getting ready to install a 1 wire chev. alternator ($65.00 vs $500.00) Going to make the mounts today...I'll post pics as soon as we get it done.

I've looked and looked, and there is nothing else that comes close to doing what the PT will do, equipment wise. It can aerate a lawn, carry mulch, do hillside work, and run skid steer attachments like a power rake. The PT attachments are half the price of skid steers.

So we're going to try to fix the problems. First the alternator, then the cooling.

-= Billy out.

 

[KentT]

I've looked and looked, and there is nothing else that comes close to doing what the PT will do, equipment wise. It can aerate a lawn, carry mulch, do hillside work, and run skid steer attachments like a power rake. The PT attachments are half the price of skid steers.

So we're going to try to fix the problems. First the alternator, then the cooling.

Thanks for making this strong endorsement -- given your history of frustration with your PT. It says volumes, IMO, and makes your endorsement EVEN STRONGER...

I'm perhaps perceived as having complained a lot about the lack of torque in the wheel motors on my old PT-425. However, I'm already doing many things and going many places with it that the old Kubota 4WD SCUT that I had previously simply would not... Even with all my criticism and complaints, or all its faults or weaknesses, it is a VERY REMARKABLE machine for it's price. I do not regret at all having bought it and intend to keep it (or a different, perhaps bigger PT) for the rest of my life....

 

[BobRip]

Thanks for asking. The alternator is still not right, when the cooling fan cuts on, it pops the breaker. So I', getting ready to install a 1 wire chev. alternator ($65.00 vs $500.00) Going to make the mounts today...I'll post pics as soon as we get it done.


-= Billy out.

Are you sure the cooling fan is not failing? If the battery is kept charged, then the alternator is probably OK. If this is the fan circuit breaker then is it probably the fan itself (most likely) or the circuit breaker (not as likely). I wish I could come out there and give you a hand with this.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Thanks for asking. The alternator is still not right, when the cooling fan cuts on, it pops the breaker. So I', getting ready to install a 1 wire chev. alternator ($65.00 vs $500.00) Going to make the mounts today...I'll post pics as soon as we get it done.

I've looked and looked, and there is nothing else that comes close to doing what the PT will do, equipment wise. It can aerate a lawn, carry mulch, do hillside work, and run skid steer attachments like a power rake. The PT attachments are half the price of skid steers.

So we're going to try to fix the problems. First the alternator, then the cooling.

-= Billy out.

Make a few spares! There may be people out here to buy them off of you. You are running an 1850, right? What is the amperage of the alternator you have?

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

The alternator is still not right, when the cooling fan cuts on, it pops the breaker.

Billy:
As BobRip said, the problem as you describe it may not be the alternator. I can't think of any alternator problem that would cause a breaker to pop. Breakers (fuses) pop because of too much current. If it happens when the fan cuts in, it most likely means that there is some drag in the fan so that it draws more current than it should. If you stop an electric motor, it is nearly a dead short, and will draw a lot of current. The only time an alternator can contribute to a high-current problem is if its regukator isn't working properly. If that happens, however, you should see high voltage on your panel gauge. It would have to be really high to cause a breaker to blow in an otherwise normal circuit.

I certainly agree about the capability of the PTs, although there are some frustrations. My 1845 will do so much more in less time than the other tractors that there is simply no comparison. I hope you make enough money with yours to keep the frustration level low.

 

[J_J]

I would suggest putting an ammeter in the fan circuit and measure the current. Those cooling fans are not that expensive.

 

[J_J]

I would suggest putting an ammeter in the fan circuit and measure the current. Those cooling fans are not that expensive.

I just thought of something else, the temp sensor for the cooling fan might be defective and sending the voltage to ground and blowing the breaker.

 

[BobRip]

I just thought of something else, the temp sensor for the cooling fan might be defective and sending the voltage to ground and blowing the breaker.

J_J, a good point and that made me think of this: the wiring between that switch and the fan could have a short to ground.


If you pull off the wire on the switch that goes to the fan and it still blows the trips the breaker then it is the switch.

 

[AltavistaLawn]

Thanks, and Yep, I agree with you all on those points. Its a possibility.
But the alternator its self was messing up; we by passed the alternator completely and it ran fine (until the batt drained dead). I tried to replace the regulator kit in the generator, and it ran fine for the last month (very linmited use and cold weather). Ever since we replaced the regulator, the voltage meter runs way too high. So i think the alternatoe (or generator ) is fried......
But the fan or fan circuit may be the culprit. I'll leave it unhooked, then check it piece by piece after we get the new alternator finished.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Ever since we replaced the regulator, the voltage meter runs way too high.

How high are you seeing? I would think if the alternator really is the problem, it would not charge at all. High voltage suggests that there is still some type of regulator problem.
I'm sure other alternators can be installed, but I'd hate to see you spend time and money doing it only to find it was a bad connection somewhere.

 

[Gravy]

If the voltage is too high after replacing the regulator, that usually means one of two things: Either the new regulator is bad, which is not unheard of; or there's a bad ground. I'd start with the grounding. I'd try jumpering the alternator & regulator cases and/or ground terminals directly to the negative battery post.

Gravy

 

[AltavistaLawn]

I should have posted this before, but honestly it slipped my mind. When I tore down the Deitz alternator, the inside was burned; there could be a short or some other problem that killed it or..
Its very possible someone sprayed water directly into it trying to clean it out for the overheating, I know that happened once last summer, but it seemed to do fine for the next two months.; the part opposite of the regulator mount is where its burned.

Also if we disconect the alternator completely, all is fine; until the battery runs dead though. But I can get a good 8 to 12 hours out of it between charges.

So I'm pretty sure the alterator is shot for whatever the reason. I'll start a new post on the new GM Alternator.