engine trouble

[J_J]

Just maybe the oil pickup is above the level of the oil when on a slope. If so, disable the sender or short the wires together, whatever signal the engine needs to start. You might simulate a slope on the ramp on a trailer. Jack up the rear of the trailer if you have to.

You want a slope, have someone bring out several loads of dirt.

[Gravy]

Originally Posted by J_J

Just maybe the oil pickup is above the level of the oil when on a slope.

This could also apply to the fuel pickup. It might just be sucking wind. Putting a couple of gallons of fuel in the tank would answer that question.

[ksimolo]

the oil and fuel pickups do not address that when it cools down, it starts.

Ken

[woodlandfarms]

I think someone died on or around my PT. It is the ghost that keeps messing with the machine... Only answer I can figure.

I think Irwin is right. Going to drive it up on some logs and turn it off... see if I can get an answer...

[Charlie_Iliff]

An interesting research project. Did someone with a bizarre sense of humor die in Tazewell when PTs were being designed?

A suggestion from the blue: maybe what you are experiencing is not from the slope but just from the heat. The contribution of the slope is that engine temps go up when you're working harder.
For years, my 1845 would not start when really hot. It acted as if the battery had died. I thought I had it licked when I installed a solenoid at the starter to make sure it got nearly full battery voltage to the starter solenoid. After a period of seeming success, the problem reoccurred. I found that the PTO switch sometimes didn't properly carry current to the starter circuit when the switch was off but the machine hot. That also got me a respite, but the problem reoccurred. Somewhere along the line, I found that when the starter switch didn't start it, I could light it off by crossing the hot lead to the solenoid with my Gerber tool. Made sparks, of course, but only a little discoloration on the pliers.
When the failures got more frequent recently, I ran a new wire directly from the starter switch to my added starter solenoid, bypassing all the interlocks. I haven't had the problem since doing that, but given past experience, will not swear it is cured. (I do have to check carefully not to start with the PTO engaged or the treadle off center.)
The fuel solenoid circuit may need similar treatment on yours.

[woodlandfarms]

Great ideas charlie.

Now this goes to all you slope mower guys. I saw in the ad that PT has an engine kill feature when you get off the seat.

Mine does not. Stand up, sit down, kneel, my PT continues to run.

I looked at an old wiring chart (my PT is supposedly 2002, right Ken?) and I see no kill feature.

So, maybe this is the culprit, or part of it....

Hmmm... now that I think about it.. probably not.. But anyone have a diagram or a description of how this is wired?

Carl

[wasabi]

you know guys, one of the reason I enjoy TBN so much is the dry wit and occasional banter.

JJ is still dreaming about a PT manual and now you want a wiring schematic? ROFL

[Charlie_Iliff]

Originally Posted by wasabi

you know guys, one of the reason I enjoy TBN so much is the dry wit and occasional banter.

JJ is still dreaming about a PT manual and now you want a wiring schematic? ROFL

Aha. Gotcha - I have a diagram for the 1845-1850, which was/is included in the manual. It's not a pure schematic, and has a page for the dash panel and another for the engine bay. It takes some staring and head scratching, but isn't bad, although production wire color might vary slightly from the diagram. The junction strip under the front console panel and the one inside the engine compartment junction box make really pretty good test contact points, but none of that convenience helps to diagnose an intermittent problem when it isn't happening.
Sedgewood, did you post the diagram on your site?

[ksimolo]

Our seat kill switches were bypassed. Somewhere, I have the one from my seat when i replaced it unless i sent it to you with the other seat parts. So it was there but bypassed in the small metal box on the back of the seat.

Ken

[J_J]

Not dreaming at all, for I know what the company stands for. Just sell them a machine, and have them, meaning us , beg for part numbers, and then add enough parts to meet the parts min, and have only one person that knows anything about how something works. I just like to stick-em every once in a while. To tell you the truth, I don't think they ever did have a factory manual for their products. Anybody ever seen one. I have seen one of their owner manuals, and it looks like a 4 th generation copy of a third copy.

I asked for a part the other day, and was told we have lots of parts, go and measure the one you have, meaning the Hydroback cable. They had one close by a couple of inches. Why don't they have the part number, and go to the bin and pull the cable, sounds easy, but I have never been to the factory. I found out that other people make that Hydroback cable, and much cheaper. I have already been thinking about another treadle/pedal design for my 1445, similar to the heel/toe pedal on the Kubota. You all do know what the Hydroback setup is supposed to do. In case you don't, it is a balance spring setup with a spring inside of another spring, and the purpose is to center the fwd/rev lever on the VSP pump, but that is only as good as the cable freely sliding in the cable sheath.

Just for instance, I have a 4 in thick manual for my Case skid loader that cover the machine from front to back and beyond, plus owners manual.