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So Kubota GR1600 II, first time I used it as the owner has broke his leg and it wouldn't start. Jumped and no problems in use. Took the battery away and charged it. Started first time but only 12.4v going back in, online manual seems to suggest this should be 13.4 to 13.6.
Got another cut out of it and a week goes by, call from the owner who has limped out and done another curt himself but it won't stop. He's only 10 mins away so headed up and popped the hose off the air filter and suffocated it.
This isn't a well looked after mower and sits outside, it also has wiring 'modifications' and the bonnet is cracked and bogged on with screws so I've started from scratch and given everything a good clean, cleaned up all the battery terminals, earth point, and reinstated all the safety switches that had been removed.
Current symptoms are:
Not charging, need to understand how to test the dynamo - tips please
Not stopping, the stop solenoid doesn't move when the key returns to off or if the safety switches are activated, appears if either of these conditions occur then 8 seconds of power should be sent to the solenoid to activate it and stop the engine. The solenoid is free to move and now I know where it is I can push it manually. Going to try putting the battery directly onto the solenoid tomorrow as well as my good spare car battery so I know it's a good 12v +. Thinking being if the dynamo is past it then it's not got enough juice to activate the solenoid and it's dynamo. If the solenoid doesn't react then I have two issues to deal with. Need to narrow it down a bit as the online spares seem difficult to come by and seem to be more expensive than car parts. But other thinking welcomed or easy things that I might have missed. Not completely up to speed on how the safety cuffot wiring would work and struggling for a wiring diagram.
Any advice welcomed
All I would say is my parents ride on mower doesn’t charge the battery itself. I guess it doesn’t need electricity for much.
They have to charge the battery every so often, I was surprised by this, as was my Dad who called out a chap to look at it.
I take it that this is a diesel? If so does it not have a standard alternator?
Most likely problem will be mice eating the wiring, especially as it lives outside. The little gits have attacked the fuel caps and wiring on our mower 🐭🐭
Sounds like it needs a new battery. It is probably a simple diesel that doesn't really any electricity to run once started - chances are there's not enough power to operate the fuel shut-off solenoid.
I take it that this is a diesel? If so does it not have a standard alternator?
My John Deer mower is a commercial diesel and has an alternator, I'd expect a diesel Kubota to have the same..... but the batteries on these things are pretty small.
The battery on mine is knackered as well [but runs great] - I hard wired a connector to the battery and made it easily accessible so when I'm finished with it I just plug in my CTEK charger so it's, theoretically, always ready to go.
All I would say is my parents ride on mower doesn’t charge the battery itself.
Then I'd say there's something wrong with it then!
Fun fact: a few car manufacturers (JLR defo and Merc apparently) use a soy based wrap around their wiring looms - mice love these and this is why those makes are more affected by mice nibbling the wiring.
Then I'd say there's something wrong with it then
Nope. It doesn’t have an alternator or dynamo.
Battery just starts it and powers the lights.
Magneto for ignition I believe.
Wow..... that's pretty crap.
Wiring diagram here
It's a dynamo based system, looks fairly easy to check. Dynamo and regulator are easily available, if you change them get a new battery too as it's been deep discharged.
Fresh battery, just as a point of reference Briggs and Stratton engines also need good battery's
I speak from much experience...
Wiring diagram much appreciated Murray, investigations curtailed today due to torrential rain in Wales, and the owner diverted me onto renovating a commercial walk-in cheese fridge which proved equally electrically annoying
@Murray further thanks, using the diagram i was able to confirm the dynamo was outputting correctly and that it i jumped 12v onto the feed to the stop solenoid, it did indeed stop. Further digging found a corroded spade connector in the regulator connector, which when replaced, sorted the charging issue. Everything in that area is full of wet and rotting grass and debris so think a good clean out and further testing will probably yield the broken link to the solenoid.
So 50% there, but potentially can all be fixed for about 11p which is very satisfying
That's great news, it's always good to fix stuff