hello again, a while ago i asked about my john deere tractor and why it wouldn't run and it turned out to be the alternator or another part in that system. i was waiting for my dad to help test which of the two parts needed replacement but then i needed to use it and i just ran it on a charged battery and jumper cables to improvise for the bad alternator/other part. it was running for a well couple hours and it ran great and then died today. the battery still has enough to get it to turn over and then the Engine might fire once or twice like its about to start then it dies. any ideas?

Did you change the alternator yet? If not that is probably it- it runs on the alternator not the battery... So change the alternator!

but i don't understand why it only ran when the battery was connected then

Is the charging system fixed or not?

I would not expect it to run properly if the charging system is not working properly.

im not sure what part of the charging system is broken, that's what i was waiting for my dad to find out. but why would it have run fine with the battery attached and instantly shut off when i detached the battery?

My guess would be that part of the ignition system requires power from the battery or the charging system for it to operate properly.

If you disconnect the battery and the charging system can not provide the power to the ignition the Engine dies?

Sound about right?

You can connect a simple volt meter to the battery Engine off read voltage, then start the Engine and with the Engine running the voltage should be higher than when the Engine was off if its not then chances are the charging system is not charging.

At the same time Engine running if you turn on the head lights (if it has them) and the charging system is not charging the battery voltage will probably also drop.

well that's the problem, i don't know why the Engine isnt running anymore and without it running i don't know any way to test whats wrong with the charging system.

any ideas on how to get it running again?

charge the battery, fire it up, then while running disconnect the battery. If it dies, you need to change the alternator.

you check the air in the tires lately?

I am not a mechanic, so take the following with a grain of salt......

I was always taught on the older vehicles that there are 3 main components in the electrical system......battery, alternator, and voltage regulator..........

The battery's ONLY job is to start the vehicle, after that the alternator takes over....

So, if the battery is holding a charge, then it probably is the voltage regulator or the alternator.........

just my .02....

that's true in some cases but there are alot of vehicles that wont run without the battery connected. My ford ranger was this way and a few other vehicles I have owned it just depends on what kind of system it is.

My guess is your Ranger wouldn't run without the battery hooked up because of the computer. Most modern vehicles are this way. I have also been told that you are not really supposed to use jumper cables, but I have jumped several vehicles and not had any problems.

That tractor should run with the battery unhooked if the alternator is good, but I am not 100% sure. Hell, only one way to find out! Or just yank it and go have it tested lol.

thanks, i understand how to check the charging system but right now i cant get it to run at all.

possibly not getting fuel?

it turns over fine but it sounds like it might not be getting fuel. any ways to check that or any other possible causes though?