Hooked up battery wrong - now what?

[1suffolkmare]

Well I messed up and hooked up the battery backward on my 184. I will give a little of the blame to the previous owner who swapped out the battery cables and color-coded them backwards. Regardless, I put in the new battery with the poles reversed and started the tractor. It ran for maybe 30 seconds. Cut off. I tried again and all kinds of smoke came boiling out from under the hood. I jumped off and quickly unhooked the battery. As far as I can see, the single wire from the alternator has melted all its coating off. I'm going to have to pull the steering wheel to see where the other end goes to...I assume it's the solenoid. Obviously I have to replace that wire. What else should I be expecting to need to replace? Stupid me, I thought if I had hooked the battery cables up wrong, nothing would happen when I tried to crank it. WRONG!

[ajhbike]

Take a breath, I (and maybe a few others) have done equal to or worse. I once checked the positive terminal to ground and melted 1/2 the wiring!!!When you are done kicking yourself, start systematically to deal with the wiring

[Gary Dotson]

And you’ll likely be replacing the alternator.

[Eugene]

I'm going to have to pull the steering wheel to see where the other end goes to...I assume it's the solenoid.

Remove the hood and check. I think removing the gas tank will allow you to get to all the under dash wiring.

[1suffolkmare]

Well it looks like I should push her back to the barn before tearing more parts off. I'll let yall know how it turns out.

[outdoors4evr]

No need to pull the tank on the 184. Off goes the side panels though!

[1suffolkmare]

Thanks for the info. I'm glad I don't have to pull off the tank.

[comdiver]

You may want to take the alternator and have it tested. A shop that rebuilds alternators and starters can test it and maybe rebuild it. A lot of the chain auto parts places like AutoZone test for free and if you needs a new one can sell you a rebuilt or new one.

[SONNY]

alt. MAY have survived but VERY doubtful since the diode set in them is so sensitive to reverse current so have it checked to see if it did fry it too or not.
I think you can see most of the wiring behind the dash by taking the side panels off but the tank is not hard to get out and might give more work room if you need it.
I dont think my 184 even has side panels on it. never got to mess with it much since I got it.

[1suffolkmare]

I pulled the steering wheel and dash panel. Looks like the wire from the alternator that melted connects to the amp meter. Also I fried the wire that exits the amp meter and goes into the wiring harness. The plastic wiring clip has a big melt through it too. [img]

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[tst]

it got toasty

[1suffolkmare]

I did notice that the two fuses that are wired into that connection have NOT blown. I'm hoping that may be a good omen for the other components.

[Don McCombs]

I think it would have been better for you if they HAD blown.

[SONNY]

better check for WHY the fuses didnt blow!!! Thats not right since they should have blown and saved the wires!!!

[Gary Dotson]

The fuses didn’t blow because their circuits were not energized. The alternator is the only polarity sensitive item on that tractor. None of the other circuits really care which way the battery is connected.