taylorbirkey
Well-known member
I just joined this forum, having recently purchased my first-ever tractor, a used 2048 Super Garden Tractor from my great uncle Kelly. I was nearing the end of my first mow with the tractor (about 2 acres) and driving up the slope on the back half of the property when BAM! sparks explode out from under the hood and the tractor dies.
I quickly cut the steering wheel, noticing the entire steering column/tilt assy is now loose from its locked position, and get the rig perpendicular to the hill to stop it. What just happened?!
A look under the hood reveals a completely melted negative cable clamp.
What the heck?! After scratching my head for a few minutes it dawned on me that the battery itself is loose inside the engine compartment, the battery hold-down having long since rusted/broken off. As I'm driving up this hill, the battery slides backward toward the dash and the positive terminal touches the clevis pin/torsion spring that help hold the steering column in its tilt. There's the reason for the short, and the loss of steering tilt assembly!
Luckily I had an extra battery clamp, so I rebuilt it and got the negative hooked back up. Bungee corded and electrical taped the battery in place so it wouldn't slide, and finished the mow!
I feel like I passed my first test. Now ... I've got to figure out how to resecure my steering given the parts that got destroyed are no longer available (#s 12, 13, 14 below).
12 - 732-3064 Torsion Spr
13 - 714-0104 Cotter Pin
14 - 911-3295 Clevis Pin
A torsion spring, clevis and cotter pin shouldn't be hard to source, right?!
I quickly cut the steering wheel, noticing the entire steering column/tilt assy is now loose from its locked position, and get the rig perpendicular to the hill to stop it. What just happened?!
A look under the hood reveals a completely melted negative cable clamp.
What the heck?! After scratching my head for a few minutes it dawned on me that the battery itself is loose inside the engine compartment, the battery hold-down having long since rusted/broken off. As I'm driving up this hill, the battery slides backward toward the dash and the positive terminal touches the clevis pin/torsion spring that help hold the steering column in its tilt. There's the reason for the short, and the loss of steering tilt assembly!
Luckily I had an extra battery clamp, so I rebuilt it and got the negative hooked back up. Bungee corded and electrical taped the battery in place so it wouldn't slide, and finished the mow!
I feel like I passed my first test. Now ... I've got to figure out how to resecure my steering given the parts that got destroyed are no longer available (#s 12, 13, 14 below).
12 - 732-3064 Torsion Spr
13 - 714-0104 Cotter Pin
14 - 911-3295 Clevis Pin
A torsion spring, clevis and cotter pin shouldn't be hard to source, right?!
