My FIL was using my Cub 2186 mower and the front headlight assembly fell out and he ran over it. I replaced it and they worked fine. Then all of a sudden they just quit working. I replaced the fuses under the dash panel and still nothing. :confused2:
The headlights are turned on and off by moving the ignition key in and out of the center position.
First thing to check would be the bulbs. If they test OK check the grounds for the lights.(a volt ohm meter is a good thing to have ). Then check that you have voltage to the headlights. If you are burning out lights allot you will need to see what voltage you are putting into the lights, you may need a voltage regulator.
Good luck
Steve
I'd try to straight wire the lights from the battery. If they come on your problem is in the switch or the wiring from the switch. If they don't come on you have bad bulbs or a bad ground.
I'd try to straight wire the lights from the battery. If they come on your problem is in the switch or the wiring from the switch. If they don't come on you have bad bulbs or a bad ground.
i agree-most also have a plug for when the hood is removed-make sure that this is making good contact and not damaged
#5
Rooster7
Thanks guys! I'll check it out and let ya know.
#6
Rooster7
I forgot to add an important piece to this puzzle. The dash lights/dummy lights quit working at the same time as the headlights. This is why I replaced the fuses but still no go.
I forgot to add an important piece to this puzzle. The dash lights/dummy lights quit working at the same time as the headlights. This is why I replaced the fuses but still no go.
Ok. Flame me if you must :smile: but I got through the summer without headlights. Don't really need them but now I'm blowing snow and they would be nice to have since I drive to work in the dark and come home in the dark.
The reason I'm posting now is because tonight I had the tractor warming up so I could blow snow. (Have blown snow about 4 times so far this winter and we got another 8 inches or so last night)
It was running fine and then BLAH. It just died. I checked the gas and it had plenty. I turned the key and nothing. I know the battery is good so I pulled the battery connections and cleaned them. They were not really dirty but ya never know. Still nothing.
When I turn the switch all the way to start there is nothing. If I leave it half way (lights on position) the switch behind the hour meter clicks about every 5 seconds.
I'm going to pick up a new ignition switch tomorrow but my question is if the ignition switch goes bad, does it make sense that it would cause the dash and headlights to fail in May and cause the tractor to die in December and not start?
Well I replaced the ignition switch and it started right up. It ran good but then died. It did this a couple of times but would always start again if I wiggled the positive battery cable. (The cable is not loose)
I blew snow for a couple of hours yesterday and just went out and started all over again after our second blizzard in as many days. I got all the way to the end of my road and BLAH. It died again. Turned the key and nothing again. Wiggled the cable. Still nothing. I had to pull it all the way back to the garage.
I'm just confused as to what could be causing this.
The cable ends (eyes) can be a bad electrical connection inside...
Check both ends .
Was this working when you wiggled the battery end of the positive cable or the solenoid end of the cable? KennyV
The cable ends (eyes) can be a bad electrical connection inside...
Check both ends .
Was this working when you wiggled the battery end of the positive cable or the solenoid end of the cable? KennyV
Kenny it was the battery end. One other thing I would like to add that I just thought about. The safety switch under the seat that shuts the mower down when you get off of it quit working this summer. Do you think it could have something to do with this switch not working properly and "confusing" the engine?
The safety switch under the seat that shuts the mower down when you get off of it quit working this summer. Do you think it could have something to do with this switch not working properly and "confusing" the engine?
The 'safety' circuit is easy to check out...
Most likely a single pole N-O (normally open) switch... Disconnect the wires and connect them to each other.
Check the battery cable eyelet ends AND check that the battery post is actually not loose inside the battery... :smile:KennyV
The 'safety' circuit is easy to check out...
Most likely a single pole N-O (normally open) switch... Disconnect the wires and connect them to each other.
Check the battery cable eyelet ends AND check that the battery post is actually not loose inside the battery... :smile:KennyV
Ok. Something came up so I wasn't able to mess with the tractor until a little bit ago. I thought I would see if it would start before I tried anything. It did. Then stopped but started again. Stopped. Started again. This time it kept running well. Got half way down the road again and it died. Turn the key and nothing.
Its almost like something is getting hot and expanding causing a break in circuit. Then when it cools back down it makes contact again? I don't know. Its frustrating as all get out I know that.
