Lost my lights

[Florida_Farmer]

My first post - been reading this board for a while - hope you can help....
I've got a red Yanmar 1500 and today I noticed the bulb in the bliner on the fender had fallen out of the socket - I put it back in and checked it - no go.. wiggled the wire going into the plug and got a little spark.
Now I've got no blinkers, lights or horn. How does this circuit work? I looked at the electic panel and didn't see any fuses but I'm probably missing something.
Any help will be appreciated - I've got a manual on the way but not here yet.
Thanks

 

[Tractors4u]

You have fuses. The fuse panel is under the dash, and to the left of the steering column. Weird little wire fuses. But if you have spark then the fuses should be good?!?!

 

[roger_scotty]

Well, the first good news is that if the starter turns over, then the tractor will work just fine without any of those optional electrics at all.
The next good news is that the starter is on a completely separate circuit so it will probably work fine. I't isn't uncommon to have to clean off the fuses and wire brush the connectors in a used tractor. So far I've never heard of a tractor being hurt by operating it without those other electrics working.
Did you find the fuse holder?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

If you saw a spark when wiggling the wire that means you were connecting 12V directly to ground which then probably blew the fuse. The fuses are just small wires between screw terminals like Brent was describing. I replaced one of mine with 30 gauge wire-wrap wire. It was sufficient to power the head lights yet is small enough to provide the protection needed for the tractor wiring harness. You can get this wire-wrap wire at Radio Shack or any electronics hobby supply store.

 

[Florida_Farmer]

Thanks for the replies - I did find the "fuses" on a panel below and to the right of the steering wheel. I was looking for normal fuses - didn't think about the wire.
I'll take a look tonight and check closer - will the wire be burned in two? Is that how the fuse blows?

While were at it - I bought a light to mount on the fender for the rear - the light has a switch so I just need to run 12V from this panel and a local ground. It looks like there are a few "open" circuits - with nothing attached. I'm guessing this won't be too much of a draw with the headlights on also (once I get them working again...)
Thanks again for the replies - I use this to cut about 10 acres in sunny/rainy central Florida. I wished I would have known about all the other models before I bought this one but it's doing great so far.

 

[Soundguy]

Whereabouts in central florida. I live in summerfield, which is located between ocala and leesburg.

Soundguy

Also as for your lights, you may want to take the bulb back out, and check to see if the socket is dammaged or if it is corroded. Sounds like if you had loose wires going into the socket, that the socket might be dirty or damaged.

Even if it is, shouldn't be too hard to get an oem, or cobble up a non oem replacement.

 

[Florida_Farmer]

Thanks for the advice Soundguy - I live in Lake Mary - just north of Orlando off I-4. Leesburg is about 35 min. away via Hwy 46.

 

[Florida_Farmer]

I see the power panel and there is set of screws on the top which have lots of wires connected and a bank of screws on the bottom. There is only one small wire connecting the two banks which comes down from the one furthest on the right top to the right bottom. That wire is broken in the middle so I'll guess that's the 30 guage wire wrap wire you spoke of.
I'll replace that after I repair the blinker socket and cross my fingers.
Is the lower bank of screws open? Where is the best place to connect a power wire for a back work light?
Thanks for the help.

 

[Soundguy]

I havn't actually seen a schematic of that particular power panel and barrier strip. But trace the positive wire from the battery, and see where it connects into that wiring block. That would be the best place to make a power tap. Remember to fuse it.

Soundguy

 

[Florida_Farmer]

Thanks - before or after it connects to the fuse block?