Hi I'm new here and this is my first post. Currently I'm having a rough time. I purchased an old (1988) Case 1818 skid steer about 2 weeks ago. I got it home and put it in the shop. The next morning I went out, started it and cleared snow for a couple hours. I was really pleased with it's performance.
The other day I went out to start it and it wouldn't fire up. It turned over but refused to fire. So I checked the fuel and everything was ok. Actually I topped off the tank with about 3 gals. I checked the fuel filter and it had fuel in it. So before I started ripping into the fuel system I figured I'd check some of the electric/ignition wiring and started by removing the condenser. I did a continuity test using a DVOM. When the condensor was out of the machine it showed no continuity between the end of the wire and condenser case. Then I put the condenser back in the machine and tested it with the DVOM. It showed continuity between the end of the condenser wire and the case.
My next test was going to be a test of the coil. But before starting that I went ahead and pulled the plug wire off the spark plug and put a spark plug in to check for spark. And the result was no spark. I had the key on and was jumping it across the solenoid on the starter. I was about to quit when I notice it sparked and just about that point backfired and darn near blew my arm off. I'd been crouched down in front of the exhaust when she fired and it blew flames and black soot all over my arm. I even received a bit of a burn on my arm. But the arm doesn't bother me as much as the tinnitus in my ears.
But to keep going. I went up to check the switch, thinking maybe there was a wire shorted across the back of it. But after pulling the cap off the under side of the overhead dash and removing several cubic yards of mouse nest. It was about that time I noticed I had no juice coming up to the switch. The gauges were dead and a check with the DVOM showed no current through the wires coming up to the switch.
After spending some time scratching my head, removing the seat and poking around in several dark corners I came to the conclusion I wasn't going to find a fuse box or see any fusible links in the hot wires going to the switch. And that's where my question lies. Is there a fuse box somewhere hidden on the machine I'm not seeing, or a fusible link in line on one of the hot wire's to the switch? I'm baffled about where to go next and I really can't afford a service manual at this time. I'm hoping someone on this forum could help me.
The other day I went out to start it and it wouldn't fire up. It turned over but refused to fire. So I checked the fuel and everything was ok. Actually I topped off the tank with about 3 gals. I checked the fuel filter and it had fuel in it. So before I started ripping into the fuel system I figured I'd check some of the electric/ignition wiring and started by removing the condenser. I did a continuity test using a DVOM. When the condensor was out of the machine it showed no continuity between the end of the wire and condenser case. Then I put the condenser back in the machine and tested it with the DVOM. It showed continuity between the end of the condenser wire and the case.
My next test was going to be a test of the coil. But before starting that I went ahead and pulled the plug wire off the spark plug and put a spark plug in to check for spark. And the result was no spark. I had the key on and was jumping it across the solenoid on the starter. I was about to quit when I notice it sparked and just about that point backfired and darn near blew my arm off. I'd been crouched down in front of the exhaust when she fired and it blew flames and black soot all over my arm. I even received a bit of a burn on my arm. But the arm doesn't bother me as much as the tinnitus in my ears.
But to keep going. I went up to check the switch, thinking maybe there was a wire shorted across the back of it. But after pulling the cap off the under side of the overhead dash and removing several cubic yards of mouse nest. It was about that time I noticed I had no juice coming up to the switch. The gauges were dead and a check with the DVOM showed no current through the wires coming up to the switch.
After spending some time scratching my head, removing the seat and poking around in several dark corners I came to the conclusion I wasn't going to find a fuse box or see any fusible links in the hot wires going to the switch. And that's where my question lies. Is there a fuse box somewhere hidden on the machine I'm not seeing, or a fusible link in line on one of the hot wire's to the switch? I'm baffled about where to go next and I really can't afford a service manual at this time. I'm hoping someone on this forum could help me.