ZL1802DT - wrong battery terminal issue

[Gippy]

Hello, First great site and great information, keep up the great work. The problem as hand, I have inherited the tractor with the purchase of the small farm in Australia. And this is the first issue I have with it and purely my own stupid fault. I (I mean a friend) connected the battery with the wrong polarity. The friend saw smoke out the side of the engine grill and now the tractor will not start. The glow plug does not glow and the light does not light-up. I have checked a few operator/part manuals and the L185 seems to be the closest match. My question is what should I check for first, as I would think that this is a common error. After doing some research, I am guessing slow blow fuse and regulators are the two things affected by polarity. But I got no idea where they are located. Any help is muchly appreciated.

[cabu]

Hello Gippy,

your ZL1802DT looks like my B1502DT.

At my traktor the regulator is below the dashboard at the position wher your left knee would touch the traktor (sitting on it). But I have a AC Alterator.

If you have a 3Ph generator than the regulator is normaly in the generator.

So maybe you should disconnect the generator, checked all fuses, and try again to start the engine. If the generator has a short cut now, it will blow your fuses again.

There are normally not so many things sensitiv to polarity: Generator, Starter (maybe mechanical porblems), the Stereo :) , and maybe the automatic control of the hitch.

I would start one by one by checking the fuses and thinking about a reason why this and that fuse might has blow.

Have Fun

carl

[Service Dept Vic]

Hi Gippy,

Welcome to OTT!

If your friend saw smoke comming from the grille area it was probably from burning wire insulation.

Here's where you go now:

Trace back the POSITIVE wire from the battery to the starter, replace if it soft, mushy or melted.

The GROUND cable will attach to the fram just under the LH side of the radiator. Check that it is not burned off.

The fuse box for the L1802 is located on the firewall of the tractor, just inside the hood opening on the upper RH side. There are 5 fuses in there that control lighting, signals, guages, glows, and the MonroeMatic System if equipped.

Look carefully just below the fuse box, tucked above the starter solenoid and near the clutch safety switch and you'll find 2 seperate fuse cartridges. These have fuses for the charging system and starter soleniod and are heavier amp fuses.

Check all the wiring in the firewall area that wraps from the fuse box up and under the dash area for intergrity. You cannot buy that wiring harness, so if ANY wires are melted together, you need to rebuild and repair as required on your own.

Once all the wiring is repaired/replaced etc, install a new battery of 850-1000 CCA and then remember the following for later:

"You can lend your friends a ladder or a hand saw but you must never lend out your Kubota"

Hey, I didn't make that rule. I just pass it along and make sure that as many Kubota owners know about it as possible! :D

Here's a pic of one of my L-1802's!

441

[Gippy]

Thanks for the quick replies. Will check all the above this weekend. Carl, thanks for the pointer, will compare the manual for reference. Vic, I will post a picture of my beast when I am there again this weekend. When I say beast, I mean it is damn fugly, but so am I. Will let you know how I go.

[Gippy]

Hello Vic,
Spent the weekend checking all the wires and fuses. And OMG what a mess I have made!! All the panels are out and the "rattle can" series looks like the next thing on my to do list. But first I have to get the work horse running!! :mad:

The fuseable link just after the starter was replaced and that fixed all the electricals. (e.g. lights, coil, horn)

However, the ignition is still not cranking over. When I turn the key to the on position, the two display indicators on the dash does not light up.

I really couldn't find the extra two fuses you spoke about. Is the fuseable link one of them? Also the "safety switch" is that a small round matallic looking cylinder?

Awaiting your reply, I will retrace the wires again and make sure in the meatime. Thanks. And the pictures as promised.

Gippy

[Gippy]

Ohh..and here is a picture of the engine bay and starter solenoid. Any pointers would be appreciated. Obivously the highlights are more for me, just incase I am refering to something incorrectly. Cheers Gippy

[Service Dept Vic]

Hi Gippy,

The two indicators on the dash are charge light, the thunderbolt thing, and oil pressure, the oil drop looking thing!

The small silver electrical device in your engine bay photo, is the flasher.

Look for 2 fuse cartridges tucked into the area immediatley rear ward of the starter, where the wiring from the fuse box makes it's way to the dash. Note: your Kubota may not have these extra fuses if it is not a Monroe Matic equipped tractor (electric over hydraulic side link on 3 point hitch)

The clutch safety switch is located on the LH side of the tractor, behind and slightly below the starter, about where your toes would be with your Left foot on the foot board. It's actuated by the clutch lever when depressing the clutch. Operate the pedal by hand and you'll see that switch.

If you have no power going to the dash cluster and ign switch, I'd start checking grounds, and fuses again and dig into that area around the starter. You may find a loose or burnt off ign solenoid wire, the thin single lead wire on the starter solenoid.

[Gippy]

Hi Vic,
Started searching OTT for starting problem, and realized that my post was prob in the wrong area. Sorry about that.
Anyway, I read this thread where it said a fuse can b broken even if it looks Ok, eg the middle link still intact. So $3 later I replaced all 4 fuses (so no automatic thingy), my tractor is in business again.
So you are right on the money, wire and fuse.

Now pple say that taking things apart was the easy bit..
Thanks for all your help, until next time..
Gippy