Need Help - Won't start

[CentralNC]

Gentlemen -

I need some advice. My TC35A (~180 hrs) is not starting. All the lights come on when I insert the key, but the engine won't turn over. It just thumps when I turn the key. It is as the PTO is still engaged (safety switch) or the tractor is still in gear. The engine just won't turn over.

I recently had to replace the plunge sensor for the pto that senses when the pto is engaged. I don't believe this is the problem as the pto light on the dash is not engaged. The end-result is the same.....tractor simply won't turn over. I was thinking it might be the safety switch in the seat or some other sensor that I can't find. I am not certain how to test these circuits.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

thank you,
Jamie

 

[99SVT]

if you want to test the seat switch... just unplug it, and use a jumper wire to connect the two wires in the plug. This will take the seat switch out of the picture.

 

[dave1949]

Can you describe the 'thump' a little. Like a solenoid engaging?

See jinman's jumper post for testing seat switch.

Double check the PTO plunge sensor and associated wiring over carefully. It's often the case the last thing we messed with is causing the problem.

Dave.

 

[DocHeb]

Is the PTO light on? Is the battery near-dead? If so recharge the battery and check Fuse #2.

 

[farmacist]

check your emergency brake switch under your left foot and be sure both wires are clean and in place..it is easy for those 2 wires to get corroded or pulled out by brush. Good luck

 

[DJ54]

I'm thinking if it's "thumping" like the starter is trying, then it wouldn't be a safety switch issue. I would think it wouldn't do anything...

Sounds more like a loose connection somewhere. Maybe a battery ground connection is either loose, or corroded. Low battery, like mentioned above..

Are the lights bright..?? Headlights..?? Maybe turn the headlights on, and see if when starting, they go dim, or out. Usually an easy way of a tell tale sign of a weak ground, or low battery. Easy to do if you're in a garage, or building where you can see the lights reflect off a wall, and see that happen from the seat. Or have someone watch as you do this...

 

[jinman]

Here is my routine:

1. Engage/disengage the PTO lever and watch for the light to come on and go out. If it does that, then fuse #2 is not blown.

2. Pull up on your parking brake lever and watch the parking brake light come on and go off as normal. Go ahead and depress the brake pedals and set the parking brake while observing the light stays on. If the light is working, then the seat switch is not an issue as long as the gear shift is in neutral.

3. Move the gear shifter and range levers through neutral while holding the ignition switch at the start position. If the sensing switch is just out of adjustment, moving through neutral will normally trigger the starter. I'm far more familiar with an HST tractor than yours, so this may or may not be true for the gear transmission.

4. If none of the above works and the lights stay on while you try to start, then you may have a loose connection at the starter. Try to identify if the clunk you hear is in the starter. It could be that you are unlucky enough to have a bad starter and this is the sound you are hearing.

 

[CentralNC]

I got it fixed guys. Thanks for all the advice. I tried all of your suggestions and it was a loose wire that had to have been pulled loose when I was cutting some very high brush. I hate troubleshooting electrical issues. Your advice was much appreciated!!

 

[dave1949]

Good job. Glad to hear you are going again.

 

[The Haymaker]

The 2220 gas the same vulnerability, but the pto light comes on.