Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Patti on March 30, 2009, 03:44:22 pm
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Hi,
We're at the end of our tether. Can anyone help? Our HM Spitefire 3.2 has battery problems ie it doesn't charge it. We've replaced the alternator, regulator and battery. It still does not charge. The Briggs and Stratton guy doesn't know what's wrong with it and everyone we ask is flummoxed. Now I'm appealing to the experts - you. Can anyone help?
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Hi there,
Check for loose/ disconected wiring from alternator to regulator/rectifier. Although mine is not the spitfire 3.2 but a Crossfire 4.4 I had same problem and found it to be that.
regards Tony
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Call Hydramaster. They really are a very helpful bunch and I'm sure they will point you in the right direction.
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Already called HM. This machine has had battery probs from the start - 4 yrs ago. Seemed to be sorted with a replacement alternator but then it started again. It's had 3 alternators in it now. Craig's given instructions on how to test voltages. Can test it all except red wire coming from alternator. Haven't tested that because one probe on red wire...where do you stick the other?
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Sounds like it is the voltage regulator to me
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No it's not that because it's just been replaced.
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What area are you from Patti?
Reason I ask is because there is a guy on here in Newbury way that is very good with truckmounts.
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Haven't tested that because one probe on red wire...where do you stick the other?
p
if it 12v dc the other probe goes to ground ( the engine block should do it)
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How long do the batteries last before going flat?.
Its a long shot but my steamway used to go through batteries really quickly and it was thought to be a charging problem.
Moved it outside the unit and hasent needed changing since. Heat from the engine was sapping the batteries after a month or two.
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Didn’t know BS air cooled used alternators, thought they used an ingenious system called a magneto, would have thought red would be live, but so can black, earth to earth should not be a problem. Have you considered having the battery tested? From the start do you mean new machine?
could be an earthing problem
Len
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Hi Patti
This is not going to solve your problem, but many years ago I had a spitfire 4.0 amongst other TMs I owned at the time. Like yourself, we went thro' a period of possibly 12 months whereby the battery just did not charge on the 4.0 and just continued to go flat. We checked & changed just about everything, including replacing the battery 3 or 4 times and spoke to everyone we thought could solve the problem, including HM. We were never able to solve the problem and in the end decided to carry a spare 'charged up battery' with us on the van. The charged battery would run for a couple of days if I remember correctly, and would then simply change over batteries (2 mins), carry on and recharge the flat battery when I got home. This was the easiest way out in the end.
This never happened to any other TMs I owned, but I have heard of other spitfire owners having this problem!
Best of luck anyway
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Thank you everyone for replying to me.
Joe, we live in north wales. Not sure how far newbury is from here but would appreciate his number, anyway.
Paul. Thank you for your help in telling me where to put the probe.
We've had the TM from new, 4 yrs ago from HM. It had battery charging probs from day one but we had the alternator replaced and everything seemed okay for awhile and then suddenly, a few months ago, it started again.
To give you an idea of how long the battery lasts. We did a job today that took 2 hours, when we got home the battery - which is brand new - was half discharged. We had our other battery tested and that was all right. At the moment we take a spare battery to each job and then come home and charge up the battery we've used. It's just a hassle we can do without.
Having a TM makes carpet cleaning so much easier but the probs we've had with this one is enough to put me off for life :'(
Tomorrow we're going to follow every inch of the wiring just in case somewhere there is a little break because that's the only thing we can think of now.
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Hi Patti
The guy I was thinking of is Dave Ingram.
Dont know his number - someone else might pm it you, but he does frequent this forum on occasions.
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i couldn't find a shorting wire on the tm once but for some reason or the other turned the motor on in the dark, saw the problem straight away, lit up like a firework but couldn't see it in the daylight!!
colin
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Patti it may be an earth problem! You say that the rectifier has been replaced but they are known for blowing if they have a bad earth.
Run the machine up and check the power coming out of it, the voltage should increase with the revs. If it doesn't i would say it is duff. get another new one and run an earth wire straight to the battery from the casing of the rectifier.
Don't think it is a magneto problem as i don't think the engine would run if that was faulty!
Cheers Goron
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I've got a simular problem so I'm going to Oxford to sort it out, bought one of those double sized batteries which lasts about 3 or 4 day and then needs charging again.
Shaun
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Thank you, Joe.
Thank you, Carpet Knights. Will try it tomorrow and see what happens.
Shaun, can you let me know how you get on?
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Hi patti
ok its not a tm problem its an electric problem. So you need a electric expert first rather than a tm expert. The most common fault as staed is the earth wire. Do you have a multi meter, if so set it on ohms, that the n with tails and place one end on battery earth (-) and the other where the earth strap bolts to the engine/chasis/wherever. what the reading it should be 0, or close to it. whilst doing this wiggle the earth strap to see if the reading moves.
Also are you ging to ccdo someone there may help, lots of cc's/tmers in one place,
Also I would recommend joing tmers, not sure if I am allow to say that on here, but hopefully someone will understand you are in need of help. On tmers you find this problem and many other fond and cured by other tmers on the forum.
good luck
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Have you tried going to a camper van garage , they can fit a charger that charges your tm battery from your van.
So you never have to charge your tm battery
Pat Cloverclean
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Patti
Try a bloke called Glynn Waterworth, you will find him on Truckmount forum
Good luck
Daryl
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I have the same with my Spitfire now and again, they only have a trickle charge on them, I have a cab heater for the winter so that drained the battery, so I carry a set of jumper leads to start it with.
Next winter I am having a caravan charger fitted, my man is a proper auto electrician and is fittng me a charger so the TM battery is charged up as I drive around.
Only cost £30 or so.
Murky
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Murky, Are you saying the Spitfire will only trickle charge the battery anyway?
If you have a connection from the van into the battery wouldn't it damage the charging system in the truckmount because it says in the Spitefire manula that you're not supposed to jump start the truckmount from the van battery.
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Patti.
What i have fitted to my van is what they call a split charge relay what it does is when you are running around in you van any extra current not required by your van then diverts to your spare battery or in your case spitfire battery i use mine for lighting in winter in the back of the van. As Murky said same as used when towing a caravan to keep the 12v fridge and battery topped up while traveling to your destination.
Cheers Tony
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Thanks Tony spot on.
When I bought mine 2nd hand I found jump leads from the in back laying under drivers seat when asked what they were for (with a worried frown) they said you will need them now and again. And I did. It was flat now and again. Not often, and I hadnt left the ignition on!!!!!!!!!
Actually didnt know you arent supposed to jump it.Oops.
Murky
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Didn't get my problem fixed as the service centre couldn't do it as they didn't have what was needed, my 427 is under warranty so it'll be quicker to go to a Briggs dealer closer to home, apparently they think it is the alternator and a coil isn't working properly but all I can do is go to the Briggs pace get it identified and then go back and when they have the piece in so a non productive day yeaterday really >:(
Shaun
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Still no deal with TM. Going to see a guy tomorrow who is supposed to know about Briggs and Stratton engines.
Already been to an official B&S place but they did a load of work, presented me with a fat bill, which I'm not paying, and the TM was no better. Also, going to investigate this split relay you are talking about.
Hardly using TM at moment cos fed up of swapping batteries. Thank goodness for our trusty fleet of Extracta machines :) (if only those guys did TMs).
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Madening isn't it?! I'm going to the CCDO on Monday and Chris from Alltec says he's going to have a look for me so I can identify what the exact problem is apparently he used to be a head guy at Briggs who are in Peterbrough.
Fingers crossed I'll keep you posted apparently it could be the alternator or the magneto.
Shaun
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Shaun
So the wife is throwing out the coil. ;D ;)
Len 8)
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:o :o :o :o :o
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Hope not :o more kids NO WAY!
Shaun
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Your right about Chris he did work for Briggs, he is very good with TM's they now service them all at Altech.
Patti what you actually need is an Auto Electrician to go through the whole thing, thats what my bloke is who installed the cab heater.
Not been a prob since.
Murky