I also had an electrical problem with my Ford 165 LGT. At first the battery wasn't strong enough to crank the starter with enough power to start, it was getting spark and turned over the starter so I assumed it was alright. Replaced the battery and it started with no problem. However the battery wasn't charging, spoke to someone with far more mechanical aptitude who said the meter never works after a while from all the vibration. That wasn't the case either. I took all the electrical connections apart, cleaned the contacts, reassembled everything, charged the battery and it has been fine ever since. it seems to have been a bad ground wire, the tractor wasn't started and sat for over 10 yrs. before it was needed again.
Jim G., June 2010