Cub Cadet battery amp indicator lights when PTO engaged
#1
05-05-15, 11:13 AM
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Cub Cadet battery amp indicator lights when PTO engaged
Hi,
Hoping someone will know what's going on when I engage the mower deck pull-out control, the Console battery charge warning light comes on.
Then when I disengage the mower the light goes off... It didn't seem to affect the running or the subsequent starting of the tractor but I thought this warning light indicated %Low charging condition.
The battery was bought this past Fall and when I checked the electrolyte level, the battery cells were down about a 1/2 inch but the internal charging plates are still fully submerged. I'll fill the cells with distilled water before taking the mower out again but I don't think this is causing the problem.
Quick Internet Search on the Battery light coming on when PTO Engaged indicates two possibilities, aside from a bad battery or electrical connection:
1. There is a electrical harness diode mounted somwhere that may need replaced - though it doesn't identify where the diode is located and how to test it; There's a single relay component in the wiring diagram for the Cub 2135 Part #925-1648 but nothing identifying it as a 'Bridge Rectifier' or 'Diode'..
2. Something about the electrical PTO drawing too much current and causing the battery to discharge -- I'm not sure about this one - Can someone explain How you'd go about determing this to be issue aside from %Battery Discharge/Low Charge light coming on...?
Finally, to keep the battery charged - do I have to just run the tractor around without the PTO engaged and be sure to hook a battery charger up between runs on trickle charge?
Thanks,
greynold99
Hoping someone will know what's going on when I engage the mower deck pull-out control, the Console battery charge warning light comes on.
Then when I disengage the mower the light goes off... It didn't seem to affect the running or the subsequent starting of the tractor but I thought this warning light indicated %Low charging condition.
The battery was bought this past Fall and when I checked the electrolyte level, the battery cells were down about a 1/2 inch but the internal charging plates are still fully submerged. I'll fill the cells with distilled water before taking the mower out again but I don't think this is causing the problem.
Quick Internet Search on the Battery light coming on when PTO Engaged indicates two possibilities, aside from a bad battery or electrical connection:
1. There is a electrical harness diode mounted somwhere that may need replaced - though it doesn't identify where the diode is located and how to test it; There's a single relay component in the wiring diagram for the Cub 2135 Part #925-1648 but nothing identifying it as a 'Bridge Rectifier' or 'Diode'..
2. Something about the electrical PTO drawing too much current and causing the battery to discharge -- I'm not sure about this one - Can someone explain How you'd go about determing this to be issue aside from %Battery Discharge/Low Charge light coming on...?
Finally, to keep the battery charged - do I have to just run the tractor around without the PTO engaged and be sure to hook a battery charger up between runs on trickle charge?
Thanks,
greynold99
#2
05-05-15, 05:30 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
Check voltage at the battery with the engine running full rpm and the PTO engaged. If it's under 13 volts, it's draining more than it's charging. This could be due to a PTO clutch going bad and over-amping. If so, you can test across the clutch connector for resistance. If it's under 2 ohms or so, it's going bad and pulling too much current. This will eventually burn up other components.
#3
05-06-15, 11:24 AM
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Reply to Cheese
I may not be able to get to look at the voltage readings you've indicated to check till this weekend... I have to hit the 'Push Mow' and 'Weed Whack' grass rest of this week - amounts to about half of what I can mow with the Cub.
I'll probably start with checking all my electrical connections as well since that's come up as a frequent source of this type of issue with the Charge light coming ON when the PTO is engaged - specifically with something called the Voltage Sensor in this particular Cub tractor's electrical wiring.
Just wanted to let you know I got your message and thanks,
greynold99
I'll probably start with checking all my electrical connections as well since that's come up as a frequent source of this type of issue with the Charge light coming ON when the PTO is engaged - specifically with something called the Voltage Sensor in this particular Cub tractor's electrical wiring.
Just wanted to let you know I got your message and thanks,
greynold99
#4
05-11-15, 08:04 AM
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Update to Cub 2135 Batt Charge Warning light coming ON
Cheese,
I thought I'd back up a bit and check my electrical connections first...
Saturday morning, I disconnected and cleaned the main electrical connections at following places: the battery, the battery chassis-ground to engine, the 2-wire PTO connector and some odd-looking connector I found on the air-cleaner/carb side of the engine on the lower engine body, this is the opposite side where most of the electrical connections/wiring are.
Basically, I would disconnect the switch, rub any corrosion off with 220 sandpaper where possible or a very small flat file, apply some grease and reconnect
Due to another Sat. time committment, I was not able to test the Batt Voltage or PTO Resistance and did not pull/clean the switch/ignition connections under the console (ignition switch or PTO switch). After trickle charging for an hour or so, I could only take it out for about 20 minutes mowing to see if that fixed - and when I pulled the PTO switch to engage, the BATT Charge Warning light did NOT come ON. I was able to mow a 20 yd X 40 yd area and thought I had it fixed but yesterday when I started mowing my hillside bank - the BATT light came back on.
At that point, I knew it would drain the battery so in order to keep mowing I would disengage the PTO when climbing the hillside to let the battery charge a little and then engage mower when coming downhill. This seemed to work Ok! and I noticed on the downhill-mow the BATT Charge Warning would some times NOT come ON or would come on dimly or would flicker On & Off. However, every time I started to climb the hillside or put a load on with the mower engaged, the BATT light would come full ON.
Eventually even this trick quit working and it got to a point later on level ground when I would pull the PTO Switch and Nothing, the mower wouldn't engage and BATT light would come ON.
If this gives you anymore ideas let me know but I'll try to check the Voltage Output and Resistance as you've suggested.
Thanks,
greynold99
I thought I'd back up a bit and check my electrical connections first...
Saturday morning, I disconnected and cleaned the main electrical connections at following places: the battery, the battery chassis-ground to engine, the 2-wire PTO connector and some odd-looking connector I found on the air-cleaner/carb side of the engine on the lower engine body, this is the opposite side where most of the electrical connections/wiring are.
Basically, I would disconnect the switch, rub any corrosion off with 220 sandpaper where possible or a very small flat file, apply some grease and reconnect
Due to another Sat. time committment, I was not able to test the Batt Voltage or PTO Resistance and did not pull/clean the switch/ignition connections under the console (ignition switch or PTO switch). After trickle charging for an hour or so, I could only take it out for about 20 minutes mowing to see if that fixed - and when I pulled the PTO switch to engage, the BATT Charge Warning light did NOT come ON. I was able to mow a 20 yd X 40 yd area and thought I had it fixed but yesterday when I started mowing my hillside bank - the BATT light came back on.
At that point, I knew it would drain the battery so in order to keep mowing I would disengage the PTO when climbing the hillside to let the battery charge a little and then engage mower when coming downhill. This seemed to work Ok! and I noticed on the downhill-mow the BATT Charge Warning would some times NOT come ON or would come on dimly or would flicker On & Off. However, every time I started to climb the hillside or put a load on with the mower engaged, the BATT light would come full ON.
Eventually even this trick quit working and it got to a point later on level ground when I would pull the PTO Switch and Nothing, the mower wouldn't engage and BATT light would come ON.
If this gives you anymore ideas let me know but I'll try to check the Voltage Output and Resistance as you've suggested.
Thanks,
greynold99
#5
05-11-15, 11:20 AM
Group Moderator
You charged the battery up and it worked well for a while but without actually looking at the voltages with a meter you're just guessing at the problem.
Just another point..... be careful sanding and filing contacts. Most switches and contacts are plated so that if you file or sand them they will rust very easily after that.
Just another point..... be careful sanding and filing contacts. Most switches and contacts are plated so that if you file or sand them they will rust very easily after that.
#6
05-11-15, 04:47 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
Need voltage reading with engine running pto on,
engine running pto off,
Ohms across the terminals on the clutch.
engine running pto off,
Ohms across the terminals on the clutch.
#7
05-12-15, 11:48 AM
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Update to Cheese & PJMax
Cheese & PJMax,
Given the flaky nature of the BATT Charge Warning light coming ON, going OFF and sometimes dimly coming ON, I couldn't get the 'loose connection' out of my head...
I had checked the main electrical connections and grounds on Saturday but didn't reseat the PTO Console Switch on top - which is what I did last night.
I then put on the trickle charger and went off to push mow for an hour.
When I finally started the Cub, NO more BATT Charge Warning light and it never came on the hour I mowed.
I still have a problem though because when I pushed the PTO Switch to OFF, I was going to go to a different area but when I got there, pulling PTO to ON - It didn't start. Instead I heard this weird electrical buzzing but with all of the engine running noise I couldn't tell where it was coming from. It stopped as soon as I pushed the PTO Switch to OFF.
Anyway when I got back to my garage where I store the tractor, I lowered the fuel throttle to reduce the engine noise (thinking I might be able to determine where the 'buzzing' was coming from) pulled the PTO Switch to ON - there was a short period of the 'buzzing' and then the PTO suddenly started.
Looking around on the Internet it may be connected to the Reverse safety setup that Cubs have which stops the PTO when you go into Reverse. There's an electrical component called a 'Voltage Relay' that I think may be the source of the 'buzzing' and possibly going to fail soon.
Thanks for your help,
greynold99
Given the flaky nature of the BATT Charge Warning light coming ON, going OFF and sometimes dimly coming ON, I couldn't get the 'loose connection' out of my head...
I had checked the main electrical connections and grounds on Saturday but didn't reseat the PTO Console Switch on top - which is what I did last night.
I then put on the trickle charger and went off to push mow for an hour.
When I finally started the Cub, NO more BATT Charge Warning light and it never came on the hour I mowed.
I still have a problem though because when I pushed the PTO Switch to OFF, I was going to go to a different area but when I got there, pulling PTO to ON - It didn't start. Instead I heard this weird electrical buzzing but with all of the engine running noise I couldn't tell where it was coming from. It stopped as soon as I pushed the PTO Switch to OFF.
Anyway when I got back to my garage where I store the tractor, I lowered the fuel throttle to reduce the engine noise (thinking I might be able to determine where the 'buzzing' was coming from) pulled the PTO Switch to ON - there was a short period of the 'buzzing' and then the PTO suddenly started.
Looking around on the Internet it may be connected to the Reverse safety setup that Cubs have which stops the PTO when you go into Reverse. There's an electrical component called a 'Voltage Relay' that I think may be the source of the 'buzzing' and possibly going to fail soon.
Thanks for your help,
greynold99
