Battery lead melting

[Jasper]

Klf 300 half way across the field it cut out as I was getting off smoke was coming from under the seat got the seat off and the negative battery lead was on fire it’s burnt all the plastic off the lead and melted the battery terminal I turned the key off quick but it made no difference luckily I had a screw driver so got the lead off it was sparking at the terminal while I was doing this where do I need to start looking thanks

 

[Nearly]

shorts and rubbed insulation?
@TripleSix

 

[TripleSix]

The only thing that would make the negative lead melt like that would be a dead short between the positive lead and the frame

 

[Jasper]

shorts and rubbed insulation?
@TripleSix

Thanks for the quick reply I’ve been looking all afternoon and taping things up but i couldn’t see any bare wires and I’m concerned about using it in case it goes up in smoke do I need to get someone with a tester thanks

 

[box]

I'd be having a close look at the starter circuit, because that's probably the only circuit that can cause a meltdown as it isn't fused.

If everything checks out fine from what you can see, start it up, drive it and see what happens.

 

[KennyO]

You should fit an isolator switch so you can break the circuit easily.

 

[DrWazzock]

Starter solenoid / starter fault possibly. Had similar on my JD combine. Or as said positive battery lead shorting to frame. Can be difficult to see where as they blacken where they short so doesn’t look much different to the black insulation in a dark place.

 

[ACEngineering]

As above starter solenoid probably stuck in and burn out starter and wiring.