Is that 'sposed to happen?

pacodiablo · June 14, 2003

I got a new battery for the MTD and filled the acid, let it sit, etc... So later I put it in and while screwing the positive cable to the terminal, sparks go flying. I don't think I did any damage, but I don't think this is normal...any insight?

Huntaholic · June 14, 2003

sounds like a direct short to me. That, or you hooked it up backwards, OR and I have seen this ONCE, the terminals were marked wrong!

pacodiablo · June 14, 2003

I figured it was a short.

I am a novice, so could you explain what a direct short is?

HillHound · June 14, 2003

Paco if some sparks just came off the contact between the battery post/termnal and your positive cable when they touched that's normal. I really doubt it did any damage.

Did the motor start ok after you installed the new battery? I think the worst damage you could do is blow a fuse if there are any or at the worst fry the solenoid (which will cost about $15 for a new one). Once I fried a solenoid on an old lawn tractor I owned. The battery was dead and I tried to start it with a battery charger.

WEFs99 · June 14, 2003

I got a new battery for the MTD and filled the acid, let it sit, etc... So later I put it in and while screwing the positive cable to the terminal, sparks go flying. I don't think I did any damage, but I don't think this is normal...any insight?

You said "while screwing the positve cable to the terminal". That says the terminal and cable were already connected and now being tightened. Where did the spark come from? Is it possible the wrench hit the frame? It is best to install the positive cable first so that any accidental bumping into ground won't cause a short. A short circuit is when the current from the battery takes a short cut from the hot wire (positive) to the negative (ground) side of the battery. For example: The positive wire going to your headlights rubs against the frame and wears down to bare wire. The electricity in the wire now has a "short" cut back to the negative side of the battery and since it is bypassing the load (the headlight) it can create a big spark and blow the fuse.

pacodiablo · June 14, 2003

Must have hit the frame, that is what I think now. The tractor did start up after I let the battery charge.

General Lee 01 · June 14, 2003

buying $900 junk tractors and "spare parts", makin' sparks while changing batteries, and using the word "Sposed"in a sentence?

Guess what paco, YOU'RE A REDNECK NOW!

The SPEEDY · June 14, 2003

Thats what I was thinking.

pacodiablo · June 14, 2003

buying $900 junk tractors and "spare parts", makin' sparks while changing batteries, and using the word "Sposed"in a sentence?

Guess what paco, YOU'RE A REDNECK NOW!

This one I got for $250. Yeah, I guess I am a redneck, LOL.

SxViper · June 15, 2003

All I can think of is Jeff Foxworthy now... rofl... You might be a redneck if...

pacodiablo · June 15, 2003

BTW - The old f**ker ran today. Then 10 minutes later it ran out of gas. LOL.

HillHound · June 15, 2003

...well he's got the Skynard logo under his name, he's messing around with old busted motors so what next??

An old one-eyed black & tan coon dog in the passenger side of your truck?

A few empty beer cans in the bed?

How 'bout a bumper sticker that says "Eat More Possum!"

The SPEEDY · June 15, 2003

...well he's got the Skynard logo under his name, he's messing around with old busted motors so what next??

An old one-eyed black & tan coon dog in the passenger side of your truck?

A few empty beer cans in the bed?

How 'bout a bumper sticker that says "Eat More Possum!"

Or redneck pin stipe on the side of his truck.

SxViper · June 15, 2003

No he needs a mailbox made out of parts from a mustage GT...

pacodiablo · June 15, 2003

An old one-eyed black & tan coon dog in the passenger side of your truck?

Holy d**n dude, my family in Alabama has one. He is not a coon dog but he scares the s**t out of some people...the kids in the area call him 'ol one eye. That dog loves it when I come down there...he knows it means extra food!