149 electrical question
 

I was charging up my battery on my 149 tonight because it has been sitting for a while in a non-heated garage. At first, when I touched the connectors to the terminals I got the usually light sparks. I tried to start it some time later and it didn't fire up. Then, I went back to check my connections to the terminals and despite my many hook-ups and re-hood-ups, there was no sparks when I touched the connectors to the terminals. Any idea what this might be? :bigthink: Thanks in advance for entertaining my question!!

With much appreciation,

Cub Cadet 123

You shouldn't have any sparks in the first place when you are reconnecting the battery. If you do, something is wrong.

Matt,

It isn't the battery that gives a spark, it's the terminals of the battery charger. I left the battery installed in the cub and connected the battery charger to the correct terminals and when I place them on there I get a little spark, or at least I did at first but now I no longer do.

Cub Cadet 123

Does the needle on the gauge (on the charger) jump or move when you hook it up?

Have you checked the voltage of the battery?

Just the first couple of things I would check...

Cub Cadet 123
Did the charger quit? :bigthink:

No, the charger works fine. It charged up my 73 battery before and after this happened. The charger reads full charge when hooked up to my 149. Would a dead cell give a false reading like this on my charger?

Cub Cadet 123

Do you have a battery tester or a volt meter to make sure it is the battery and not somthing else like a fuse?

Well, I know that it isn't the battery. I took it out and if fired the 73 up and I even put the 73's battery in it and it did the exact same thing. I guess I was unaware that the 149 had fuses. The headlights work fine, so it isn't the fuse for them. Where are the other fuses at on the 149? Thanks!!

Cub Cadet 123

The reason I mention a fuse is because my dads 129 quite running after the hot wire running to the headlights shorted out on the frame. If your headlights are working then I would test the starter using your battery charger. WARNING! Make sure the brake is set and the transmission is in neutral! If it turns over, then then you know to look at wiring or the ignition switch.

The only fuse in a 149 is for the headlights.