What's that black box for?

That black box that has been collecting dust on your shelf is an ACE Diagnostic Display Tool (Toro Part# 85-4750).  This (in my opinion) is the most underutilized tool in an Equipment Managers tool box.   

ACE Tool 

The ACE Tool first made its appearance in 1989 with Toro's 580-D.  Toro needed a way to troubleshoot the "brain" of the tractor. This tool allows us to test all of our input switches, the controller, the wiring, and the outputs, all in a matter of seconds without ever leaving the seat or pulling out an electrical schematic.  Sound like it may be time to blow the dust off of it yet?

Lets take a scenario in which the tractor will not crank.  The first thing I would do is find the loopback connector and plug in the ACE tool.  Now I can test the most common of issues.  Does the neutral switch work?  Move the pedal and watch the light go on and off, yep the neutral switch works.  Does the seat switch work?  Sit down and check the light, yep that one works. Turn the key to crank, and no light? You have just narrowed the issue down to the key switch or the wiring to the controller.

Loopback Connector 

This is something that can be done in the field without any other special tools, or test equipment. Of course there are times where you will need a good multimeter and a schematic, but why jump to that if there is an easier way?

Those of you familiar with the tool may have noticed I have not mentioned the overlay that is used with the ACE tool.  This is a plastic sheet that tells you what each light means when it goes off and on.  It is specific to each model number.  For the example above, I did not need the overlay.  all I was checking was inputs.  When we get a little deeper into troubleshooting, we will want to test what the controller is telling the machine to do and that is when knowing what each light means will help us.

*Do not let not having the correct overlay keep you from using the tool!

ACE Overlay

The best advice I can give someone trying to use the ACE Tool for the first time, is just plug it in and try it.  Once the lights come on, start flipping switches (inputs) and see what the tool does.  You will get the hang of it very quickly.  Press the toggle input-output button and find out what the controller is telling the machine to do.  Do you having a flashing output light? there is a fault in that circuit, check that output.

Not all of Toro's machines have the ability to use the ACE Tool.  Some of the machines that work with this are- 580-D, Reelmaster Fairway units, & Groundsmaster 4000 series units with switches to lift the decks.

*As a side note- If you have a leak detector on your fairway unit.  You need to be using this tool when you fill your machines hydraulic tank to ensure it works properly.

Some of the other units use a Standard Control Module with built in diagnostic lights.  I will cover this in an upcoming post.