John Deere 214 Cranks up but wont run, electrical issue

[noguice]

I am having issues with my '76 214. It seems to have an electrical fault, but I am not sure where it is coming from.
It first seemed like the battery had gone dead, as it had needed jumping in the past. However, with the last time, it began to have an intermittent issue with getting power to the starter/ammetter. Replaced the old battery with no improvement, eventually without any power getting to the gauge. I checked it with a voltmeter and found power at the wires but not across the gauge. I figured this was due to corrosion in the wire ends, so i clipped them and stripped them and put a connecter directly between the wires without the gauge. The tractor then cranked right up, ran for a minute or so, then died. again with a intermittent ability to crank. I could however hear a click that after that I could start it until it clicked again and died. Is there something int he ignition switch that would cause this?

 

[beenthere]

:welcome: to the forum.

Regulator maybe? As it seems to be doing this when switching from the starter to the generator.

Need to figure out how to get past the intermittent happenings, especially and firstly, the cranking. Maybe jumper the ignition switch to take it out of the equation.

After getting a steady crank from the starter motor, then need to check out the spark.

Am assuming that fuel is not shutting this down, but lack of spark is a secondary culprit.

 

[forgeblast]

It could be that fusable link that comes out of the carb(for me (LT160) it comes right out from under the airfilter there is the electronic fuel thingy(need coffee), and the wire that comes out of that goes into the fusable link. I had mine snap in side the insulator and the tractor would start and then cut out. It might be something to look at.

 

[beenthere]

forgeblast
I had a 212, which is same as 214 but different motor, and don't recall a fusable link. Or are you talking about the circuit breaker that is in the wiring harness?

The 212 is a '75 - '87 vintage with a pretty standard carb on a 14 hp Kohler.

Any more details of that fusable link on the 214?

 

[forgeblast]

Troubleshooting

I dont know if the 214 has one my my fusable link comes right out of my fuel pump (coffee helps with the vocab). I had the wire that comes out of the bottom of the fuel pump break and it would start and then would not run.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Sounds like you have a need for new set points and condenser. There's no fusible link, but there is a solenoid. The starter switch is a common ailment in these after a time, but if you haven't given it a tune up, I'd start there. A new key switch will set you back about $13 and is super simple to replace Good Luck.

 

[noguice]

Thanks, I'll hopefully tear into it this weekend, if not sooner, it's been nearly a month since i mowed last, so need to hurry. The engine needs a rebuild anyway as i've seen bbq smokers produce less smoke. I've just been putting it off a quart at a time.

I traded my shopsmith for the 214 a year ago. the guy said it just needed a grommet at the base of the filler tube and it was just oil splling out onto the muffler that was causing smoke.... oh well.

 

[noguice]

Is there a good parts source any of you recommend for these?

 

[noguice]

tractor by noguice, on Flickr
ok, the clicking noise is coming from one of these parts.

the (either a fusable link or breaker) gets rather hot when the tractor does crank. not sure which is actually making the noise. I may just replace both anyway... considering they're 36 years old.

 

[noguice]

It was the circuit breaker, possibly fried from jump starting. just grabbed one from advance auto and it did the job.