Well, this wasn't a repair.. but it was dumb.. Feburary, I had just finished the refurb of my 2n.. had it nice and painted up shiny.. and took it to a show. Got to the show, and killed the battery trying to start it, in frustration, I reaced up to turn the key off and pull it out only to find out that I had never turned the ignition key actually 'on'. Ok.. so i got a jump, and got her started and backed her off the trailer. This 2n has a 3 wire alternator conversion, and I use a momentary toggle switch to excite the alternator ( previous owner had alread drilled the hole in the dash.. so I used that method as well.. though a diode would have prevented the problem I'm about to tell you about.. ). Ok.. so I've just had it jumped.. I back it off the trailer.. and forget to excite the alternator.. I let it run 10 minutes to 'charge' and then it stalls out from a dead battery.. as I had never excited it....Ok.. one more jump.. key on, started.. excited.. and then it was fine the rest of the day... figures... Here's another story.. not dumb.. just lazy.. I don't carry my N keys with me.. but rather have them hangin in my den in this tractor themed key box. It never fails that I would need a tractor to do something, and have to run in to get a key. Since i keep an aligator clipped wire in my 8n tool box for diagnostics, I got inthe habit of just jumpering around the key switch whenever I needed to use the tractor, instead of running up to the house and back for a key.. It got to the point that I just left the aligator clip wire hanging clipped together around the steering column for use 'when/as needed' . A buddy was by the other day and noticed the wire and asked what it was for.. I paused for a moment and then said 'spare key'.. we both got a good laugh out of that one.. Soundguy
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