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Minneapolis Moline Tractors Discussion Forum
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Slow Cranking ZTU

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1944 MM ZTU

05-29-2005 07:25:22




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I've got a ZTU that seems to slowly loose its battery charge. I got it running last weekend and put it away for the week and went back down south to work for the week. Came back up this weekend and found that it will crank, but slowly. One thing that i've noticed is that it has always cranked very slowly. Good starting tractor if it doesn't sit though. Can anyone help me pinpoint the area of trouble on the tractor? The starter, generator, and distributor have all been rebuilt, back around 5 or so yrs ago when the tractor was restored. I put a 12V battery in the ZAU yesterday just to get it running (no generator), and boy did that start great. I would like to stick with the 6V battery in the ZTU, if possible. Can anybody advise me on this? Or is the ZTU just a slow cranking tractor?

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dlp

05-31-2005 18:27:20




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 Re: Slow Cranking ZTU in reply to 1944 MM ZTU, 05-29-2005 07:25:22  
Could the contacts in your voltage regulator be stuck together? This can cause one to drain off. Unhook it sometime to find out. My guess is that when it has set for awhile, battery voltage drops, then cranks real slow because the starter is taking all the juice & not giving the ignition enough to fire on. One quick way to check is to run a wire from the battery straight to the coil & then crank. Some systems had a terminal on the solenoid that would direct voltage straight up to the coil when starting to reduce voltage drop.

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Aaron

05-29-2005 20:49:42




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 Re: Slow Cranking ZTU in reply to 1944 MM ZTU, 05-29-2005 07:25:22  
To second what Jerry said in a previous post, do not use anything smaller than a 2/0 (pronounced two ott) battery cable. No matter what the color of tractor, a 2/0 cable is much better than anything smaller. If nothing else, as always, make sure your cable connections are clean. These are the first two suggestions we give to our customers at the dealership when they are working on the older 6 volt systems. Good luck

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1944 MM ZTU

05-29-2005 22:07:48




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 Re: Slow Cranking ZTU in reply to Aaron, 05-29-2005 20:49:42  
Thanks!

I'm not sure what size the negative battery cable is. I think I bought it at an auto parts store as a universal cable in a clear boxed package. Or I might have bought it at a farm store, not sure. The ground is a normal ground strap. Connections are clean. Cranks decent and starts good after tractor has ran.



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Aaron

05-30-2005 06:17:24




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 Re: Slow Cranking ZTU in reply to 1944 MM ZTU, 05-29-2005 22:07:48  
I found out the same thing when I started on my first tractor, as far as a "typical" auto parts store cables. There simply are not many 6 volt applications as compared to the 12 volt, so virtually all "auto parts store" cables, unless specifically noted or requested will work great for 12 volt applications but very marginable on your 6 volt applications. Although I am only 29, its just one of those growing pains I learned when playing with the "oldies but goodies."

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1944 MM ZTU

05-30-2005 10:23:48




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 Re: Slow Cranking ZTU in reply to Aaron, 05-30-2005 06:17:24  
I went to start the tractor today and it started right up, well within a few seconds after I remembered to turn the gas on. Had the DVOM hooked up to it. Haven't noticed a real drain at all, so far. It charged as high as 7.3V and got down as low as just below 5 volts while cranking (had the throttle at idle position so it had to crank excessively. I found out that I didn't buy a new cable from the starter switch to the battery, it's just one that we had here. Don't know if that could cause a problem or not. Don't know what to think the problem is. Starts good now and the battery isn't draining or dropping voltage quickly when the tractor is shut off. Maybe it drains down more over time?

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1944 MM ZTU

05-29-2005 15:42:03




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 Re: Slow Cranking ZTU in reply to 1944 MM ZTU, 05-29-2005 07:25:22  
I got it running today. Left the charger sit on 6V 10A for at least an hr and got it started when I came back. Maybe see if it starts tomorrow, or else it will be another week or two.



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Brian(MN)

05-29-2005 07:54:19




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 Re: Slow Cranking ZTU in reply to 1944 MM ZTU, 05-29-2005 07:25:22  
I have a '45 ZTU that has always cranked slowly. It starts right up so I have not done anything to it. I have a friend who has a '39 ZTU and he put an 8 volt battery in it, says it cranks over pretty good now.
Brian(MN)



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Jerry Cent. Mi.

05-29-2005 11:53:29




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 Re: Slow Cranking ZTU in reply to Brian(MN), 05-29-2005 07:54:19  
A six volt system need larger cables than a twelve volt system. You might need heaver cables.



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