The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Has anyone tried one of these:

http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/p ... ategory/30

It looks a useful way of isolating the battery when the tractor is not going to be used for a day or two.

Also if both battery terminals had one, it might make removing the battery even quicker.

Bensdexta wrote:
Also if both battery terminals had one, it might make removing the battery even quicker.

Quicker than what! 10 seconds
You've just rebuilt your Dexta, presumably with new battery cables and terminals, so should be very easy to remove your battery terminals.
Kiwi Kev

I have a set of quick release terminals on an MF35 but they have nearly dropped to bits in less than 6 months. would be better putting a proper isolation key in the earth lead.
Regards,
John

Kiwi Kev wrote:Quicker than what! 10 seconds

Ah but it takes me more than 10s to find my spanner!

So no votes for this?

try it! would save taking the terminal on and off wearing the posts down over time.

A related question:

Does your 'ignition' key inhibit your tractor's lights?

According to the Dexta wiring diag, the light switch should be wired to the battery side of the 'ignition' switch, so lights work with or without the ignition switched on. Thus there is a risk of the lights being inadvertently left on or switched on, eg by a child.

If we wire the light switch on the output side of the ignition switch, then it wouldn't be possible to park with the lights on without having the key in and ignition switched on; however how often would we want to park by the roadside at night?

Of course one could wire as per the wiring diag, but fit a separate battery isolator switch to overcome the fiddlers.

How is your tractor wired?

Ben, if there was anything that I've learnt about not so new machinery is always have a Cresent or a 13mm spanner handy.You will be suprised at how quick you can disconnect the battery when it catchs fire from an electrical malfunction... TSG?

I have found that the isolators with the green knob tend to break! I bought a couple with a black knob off the internet which appear to be a better buy.

I have one fitted on my Dexta, to isolate the battery you only have to slacken the screw which can be done without lifting the bonnet!

Gerald

Tubal Cain wrote:I have found that the isolators with the green knob tend to break! I bought a couple with a black knob off the internet which appear to be a better buy.
I have one fitted on my Dexta, to isolate the battery you only have to slacken the screw which can be done without lifting the bonnet!

Ahha a positive vote!
So isolation can be done in less than 10s!
Thanks for the green knob warning. Now to find one with a black knob...

This is an example of what I have bought
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BATTERY-DISCO ... 35c0e02744

Gerald

I have these isolators fitted to quite a few items I maintain at the heritage centre including:

Sanderson Teleporter 2 telehandler
Leyland Constructor 2 lorry
Petrol chipper (big one).
Benford dumper
My class 108 DMU (one per car)

They all work very well (cant recall what colour the screw handle is though),

I also remove them and lock them away as a further deterant/obstruction to the equipment being messed with.

So yes, they get my vote.

I rewired mine when I put it back together so the key operates everything

I have bought one the same as tubal cain, do I have to solder the earth wire into it ?

Brian Cox wrote:I have bought one the same as tubal cain, do I have to solder the earth wire into it ?

Why would you want to solder anything? Isn't the male post on the isolator the same shape/dimensions as the battery post?

Surely you just clamp the cable onto the post on the isolator, instead of onto the battery post.

Oh dear. I'm a great big silly old Hector, to coin a phrase from an old kids tv prog. called Hectors House.
Seriously though, thank you very much Bensdexta, why did I not realise that myself? so easy
Brian Cox

Let us know how you get on with it.

Does it get your vote?

success! but had to hacksaw a bit off original connector as it wouldn't tighten up. now ok