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Intermittent Powerhead Gremlins Return

Started by TexasTimbers, June 23, 2008, 04:44:54 PM

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TexasTimbers

This problem is an old one that "fixed itself" but has now returned.

After I run the mill for 30 to 45 minutes, all 4 directions of powerhead movement will become inoperative for about 30 seconds, and then as if a timer has closed a switch, all 4 functions return. But for only a minute or less, and it gets worse to the point that the head will only move for a few seconds before stopping again.

I called WM on this last time it happened but before we could trouble shoot it much - it just quit doing it. I can shut the engine off and go to ACC and you can hear a little "click" whenever the power functions return. I have a spare solenoid but don't think that it is it, and I haven't got the electrical scheme out yet but I bet the PCB in there has a sealed timer that is overheating or something thereabouts.

I have checked for loose connections (could cause excessive amp draw and overheat something eventually) from the battery all the way to and inside the control box.

Anyone have this problem before?

1998 LT40HDD42
The oil is all in Texas, but the dipsticks are in D.C.

TexasTimbers

Correction: The UP/Down travel is not disabled. just F/R. My memory from last time was that all 4 were disabled.

Whatever the case, only F/R fails. It's down to about 3 seconds of travel either direction before it dies, and comes back to life in about 30. But U/D functions. That should make a difference in isolating the problem if anyone has had a similar failure.
The oil is all in Texas, but the dipsticks are in D.C.

woodmills1

don't know if my 93 is the same but there was a moisture sensor on the board that i was advised to disable by clipping the white wire.  It has been fine ever since.


James Mills,Lovely wife,collect old tools,vacuuming fool,36 bdft/hr,oak paper cutter,ebonic yooper rapper nauga seller, Blue Ox? its not fast, 2 cat family, LT70,edger, 375 bd ft/hr, we like Bob,free heat,no oil 12 years,big splitter, baked stuffed lobster, still cuttin the logs dere IAM

MartyParsons

Texas, is this the original engine? 42 hp Kubota?  My information says 6/99 for the Kubota. Do you have Simple Setworks or just Up / Down? on the 6/99 wiring digram there is a 15 amp curcit breaker going to the Up / Down drum switch. This should be a manual reset curcit breaker so you should need to manual reset it. It also has a 50 amp curcit breaker which also has a manual reset button on it. White button on the front panel. I would get a test light and trace where the voltage stops. Do you have the wiring diagram? After the Up/ down drum switch there are 4 solenoids two for up and two for down. You said you have neither up or down so you would think you would not loose all four solenoids. I would look hard at the ground stud at the rear of the operator box. 1/4 " bolt with about 10 black wires hooked to it. Make sure it is not corroded or loose.  If it has Simple setworks we will go into that then. Let me know.
Marty
"A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty." -Winston Churchill

TexasTimbers

It turned out to be the 70 amp white manual reset breaker, but it was acting like an auto reset. I got Mike on the phone at WM and together we figured (mostly he) this one out. He figured the push button was somehow locked shut (since it wasn't popping out) and the contacts heating up inside and opening. It seems highly unlikely that a manual reset could act this way.
What cinched it though was when I was poking around in there and happened to have my finger on it when it failed. I felt a distinct movement inside the switch. Again when it started moving again. I had the variable speed pot turned all the way down so I didn't have to follow the head and it would still fail at the same interval. Mike was real puzzled about why this thing was acting like an auto reset, but it sure was. There was not 5 black CBs in there either as he was expecting but one, plus the white.

I happened to have a new 50 amp  I guess from when I had the problem before I must have gotten far enough with the techs to have ordered it. But the one that came out, after I removed it you could see 70 stamped on the end of the button., It started blowing the new 50 amp I put in it though. I will have to order a 70 tomorrow.

One other sympton I have noticed and it's gotten worse. The forward speed is not steady. Slows down and speeds up. Getting worse too.

It had the Lombardini originally Marty and it blew. Factory swap with a Kubota.

Quote from: MartyParsons on June 23, 2008, 07:04:14 PM
You said you have neither up or down so you would think you would not loose all four solenoids.

Made the correction on that up top you probably just missed it. Thanks for the responese. Curious what you think about the forward speed variation.
The oil is all in Texas, but the dipsticks are in D.C.

MartyParsons

I would say it was the pot or veriable speed control. Sorry I missed the forward feed vs the up down.
Marty
"A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty." -Winston Churchill

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