(ET) blown fuse, replaced, but no power

[Michael S Briggs <msbriggs alberti unh edu>]

I resolved my other issues (for the most part, will post on those later), 
and took the E15 out to mow the yard today. I mowed most of the yard with 
the original blades, then stopped for a brake, and swapped the Gator 
Blades back on while charging the tractor back up (didn't need it, but I 
figured I might as well recharge while I was swapping the blades). When 
mowing our front yard with the Gator Blades, everything was going fine for 
the first 5-10 minutes, then all of a sudden power cut out completely, and 
I noticed a wisp of smoke coming up from around the forward/reverse lever 
on the dash.
	Hopped off, checked the fuses, and sure enough the 20 amp control 
fuse was blown. I don't have any handy at the moment (will pick some 
spares up when I head out to the store shortly), so for the moment I just 
replaced it with the 20 amp headlight fuse, since they're apparently both 
20 amp quick blow fuses.
	Re-engaged the power disconnect, but still nothing - the fuel 
gauge meter isn't budging from the far left (empty), so apparently there's 
still something in the main circuit that's blown.
	From looking at the diagrams in the Service Manual, the Fusible 
link seems like it could be a possibility (blown) - but I can't find it 
anywhere in the tractor. Where the heck is it? According to the schematic, 
it should be between the upper battery (the one at the most positive end 
of the chain) and the power disconnect - but that battery is directly 
connected to the power disconnect (I of course connected everything, but 
it seemed apparent that that battery should go there, since there were 
only two battery cables coming into the front battery area, one that goes 
back to the rear battery area, and this one that goes to the power 
disconnect).
	So, where is the fusible link? And does it seem like it could be 
the problem? Due to the wisp of smoke, it seems like something else other 
than just that one fuse must have blown, since those fuses are contained 
(the link inside can blow, but smoke doens't come out of the glass).
        Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Mike

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Michael S. Briggs
UNH Physics Department
(603) 862-2828
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