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Greeting to all,

My first day on this forum, I own two JD tractors: a 1996 445 AWS and a 2008 X724 AWS. They are very similar tractors actually, both with Kawasaki engines, both AWS, both with 60/62" decks. Both are hard workers when they are properly operating.

My problem lately has been with my X724 intermittently blowing the 15 Amp fuse labeled F2 (not the main fuse F3, which is 30 A), second down from the top of the fuse block. When this fuse blows, the tractor appears completely dead, no instrument panel lights at all and no starter. I bought a fuse circuit analyzer, but it seems that whenever I plug into the fuse receptacle, the instrument panel comes on and appears normal. When I turn off the key and replace with a 15 A fuse, the tractor may initially come to life and start only to blow the 15 A fuse very soon after, again. I have a large collection of blown 15 A fuses now, if anyone is interested. I am hesitant to move this machine very far from my barn only to have to push it back in.

I have inspected the wiring on both sides as good as I can, and jiggled and wiggled it around, but nothing changes. It may start and run for a few minutes, but then another fuse blows. I have temporarily replaced the 15 A fuse with both a 30 A and a 35 A, and both of those blow just as quickly, so the short circuit seems pretty solid when it occurs. But, it's not there all the time, which makes it more difficult (at least for me)

I have the service manual, and have looked at the schematic, but it seems that after current passes through the key switch, it goes many, many places.

Does anyone have any experience similar to this, or can you offer any advice/pointers for running this thing down?

Wade

P.S. Have any of you ever used a fuse circuit analyzer? The probe fits into the fuse holder socket, but you must insert a fuse of that size into the side of the probe. Will a short in the circuit also cause that fuse to blow, making the tester useless?

:welcome:

I don't have a circuit diagram for your mower but if you want to scan it and post I can assist you walking through the wiring.
You are correct. A fuse that blows quickly is a dead short and generally it will be a pinched wire or scuffed wire.
The short will be somewhere between the fuse & ground so the general way I go about it is to remove or electrically bypass everything that is downstream of the fuse, 1 item at a time

Hi bertsmobile1,

Thanks for your kind offer to help me run down this problem. I hear your words "generally it will be a pinched wire", and I am going to give it a good looking over with a strong light to start with, maybe I'll find something obvious.

I finally managed to upload a picture of the X724 electrical schematic, it's attached I'm hoping.

Best regards,
Wade

bertsmobile1 said:

:welcome:

I don't have a circuit diagram for your mower but if you want to scan it and post I can assist you walking through the wiring.
You are correct. A fuse that blows quickly is a dead short and generally it will be a pinched wire or scuffed wire.
The short will be somewhere between the fuse & ground so the general way I go about it is to remove or electrically bypass everything that is downstream of the fuse, 1 item at a time

Click to expand...

Wherever wire loom touches frame including where it is attached from factory is good place to start.