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SuperMTA problem

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
Have a SuperMTA that I put in the shed about 4 years ago, took the battery out and didn't make a note of whether it was a neg or pos ground. Has been converted to 12 volt, so I assumed it was a neg ground. Also the cables looked like they fit the battery with a neg ground. Hooked it up that way, hit the starter, and could see some smoke on the starter. Touched the post on the starter and was red hot.

Questions - How can I tell whether it's a neg or pos ground?

If it's a pos ground, what damage have I done?

Thanks. DH
 
since it is 12V, it is probably negative ground; you have probably done no damage. The smoke if probably from dirty terminals causing a lot of resistance. Clean everything and try it again.
Having said that, if it has a 12V GENERATOR, it might still be positive ground. If it has an alternator, it is most likely negative ground.
mike
 
It would have been positive ground when it was new, but if it was switched to 12 volts, it might have been switched to negative ground. Look at the ignition coil, there are 2 wires attached to it. Is the wire connected to the distributor connected to the positive or negative terminal on the coil?
 
Howdy
Question, did you have the plugs out or did you leave them in for the first roll over in 4 years?
Plugs should be out and some oil squirted in cylinders then crank her over in a series of short bursts to get everything lubed up. If I'm stating the obvious I apologize. (pull that coil wire)
Bob S.
 
+ or- grnd wont make a starter smoke. you didnt say if the engine turned over or what. engine seized,? starter jammed? thats where to look.need info .
 

rustred is correct. Ground doesn't matter for the starter. It will run in the correct direction whether you have positive ground or negative ground.

If this tractor was converted with an alternator, it is definitely negative ground.

On a generator, it doesn't matter. You can polarize the generator to work either way. If you get it wrong, it simply won't charge until you repolarize, and the Amp meter will read backwards.

Oooh, there's a good way to check: Connect the battery and turn on the ignition. Watch which way the meter moves. If it moves left, you got it correct. Left indicates a discharge, and it should show a discharge with the ignition on.

Of course, that is assuming everything was wired correctly before you put the tractor in storage.

Anyway, the problem is with the starter, not which battery terminal is connected to the tractor's frame.
 
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