International 254 electrical issue

330standard · Sep 9, 2015

I recently acquired an international 254 small compact 4WD tractor. The previous owner stated the battery kept running down even if he put a new one on it and while it was running. I got the tractor to run and used it only a short time and while trying to start it the thing just quit doing anything with a hot battery. I put a jump starter on it and it seems to me the starter will barely turn over and is dragging. Could a bad starter be the problem with the electrical system and be causing the battery to run down even while running. Tractor runs great with no issues when it runs so i need help troubleshooting this as I have no clue. Any help appreciated.

rvirgil_KS · Sep 9, 2015

Starter only draws current when the cranking circuit is activated. So, unless you have a start switch or solenoid that is sticking the starter is probably not your problem. Dragging starter could be due to low battery.

My first suspect would be bad alternator or regulator

Steve@Advance · Sep 9, 2015

Sounds like it's not charging. If the battery is going down while it's running there is nothing going back into the battery, only running on what was stored from having it on the charger. If it's not fully up to charge, which takes a long time to get a good charge on a charger, it won't take long to discharge, especially if there are any accessories being used.

Trying to jump even a small diesel with a dead battery is not going to result in a fast spin. Get the charging issue resolved, check all the connections, be sure it has the proper size cables, and the battery is still good... Starter should be ok.

da.bees · Sep 9, 2015

Electrical problems are really straight foward to find and solve when compared to other systems,,,,,,,,,,"IF" useing a $20 vom. Your problem reminds me of the very first time I posted an answer on YT. Long story short,the "old guard" was not having any new arrival come in with new fangalled ideas and they voiced it loud and long. There are at least half a dozen members who can find your problem quicker than me and I can do it faster than the peck on it,blow it out with compressor,guess at it and throw parts at it crowd. The methods don't work well togeather so choose which you want to try. Point being if you plan on chaseing electric grimlins much in the future,buy a vom or get out the one you own and let these guys teach you to use it while locating this problem. I will help to but not while nay sayers circle and buzz.
Now to give you somthing you can use. If the battery is good,the tractor will run for hours eventhough the alternator is not charging (unless lights or somthing besides engine is pulling juice).

International 254 electrical issue

330standard

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rvirgil_KS

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Steve@Advance

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da.bees

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