Mahindra 5500 won't start

[kmart]

I am in desperate need of help!!! My Mahindra 5500 has sat for about 3weeks & now I can't get it to start. It won't turn over even when trying to jump start it with the battery cables. I have read a couple of posts about safety switches to check & also trying to start it by taking a wire from the solenoid to the starter but I am unfamiliar with this on a tractor. I've shorted a lawnmower from the solenoid to the starter to get it cranked so I assume it is the same concept. Is the solenoid located close to the starter? Is it the small round part that the positive battery cable goes to & is right on the starter? I've checked the only safety switch I know about on the PTO engagement lever & it is back but may not be any good. How do I check it?

When I first thought it was my battery, I charged my battery & put it back in my tractor & it didn't turn over but I could hear the starter(bendix I assume) trying to throw out to start it. There was a clicking or gear turning sound. So, I thought my battery was bad but had it checked out at Interstate battery & they said the battery was good to go.

I am not much of a mechanic but I need all the help I can get please. I need to pull up some trees for firewood & can't without my tractor handy.

Thanks for all the help in advance.

 

[Redneck in training]

There is a possibility that the teeth of the gear on starter motor are exactly lined up with the teeth on the fly wheel preventing the starter solenoid closing contact for the motor. You can short the big cable to the solenoid coil and see what happens. Make sure the brake is set and gearbox in neutral so you don't get run over if it starts.
I am not specifically familiar with your tractor but most tractors have safety interlocks on PTO, Neutral and some also on seat switch and brake. There is usually light on the dash that blinks (might be labeled CHECK) if all interlocks are not in right position before start.
In fact the grounding of starter and/or engine is the first thing you should check. There should be strip connecting the engine body or starter to some point on the frame. Also check the tractor end of the battery ground and the battery end as well. You can do simple test to determine if there is power going to the starter solenoid. Connect 12V light bulb between the solenoid screw and ground. Then place the such way that you see it from the tractor and turn the key to start position. If the light bulb turns on the problem is in starter or its grounding.

 

[Sportsman762]

Another possible problem is that the battery has a bad cell. The lights would work but when the starter would try to engage nothing would happen.

 

[kmart]

I hooked my battery charger up to it this morning again just to try that & I actually got the tractor started. The starter spun over for quite a few seconds before it finally caught on & turned over. I let it run for a while & moved the tractor & then turned it off. Tried to crank it back up & the starter just clicked & clicked. I think it is more than likely the starter. sounds like the bendix is kicking out & trying to spin but it won't catch.
Should I just try to take the starter off & mount it again to see if that works before replacing the starter?

Thanks for the help.

 

[jimmysisson]

Before you go fixing the starter, take the battery in for a load test. How many hours on your rig?
Jim

 

[kmart]

Guys, I'm back for more help. I had the battery checked & it is good. I took the starter off & had it tested. Nothing wrong with the starter. I installed the starter this morning & shorted across the solenoid posts & my tractor cranked up. I then tried to crank it with the key & nothing but a clicking noise. It doesn't sound like the starter clicking but could it be the alternator? Or could it be one of these safety switches? I'm trying to re-charge the battery now to get it back up to the correct voltage & I will try it again. What about a fuse somewhere?

 

[Tx Jim]

The tractors non starter engagement is probably low amperage on the solenoid excitement wire(S terminal on solenoid) A simple solution could be addition of an auxiliary relay in the start circuit such as JD utilized on some utility model tractors.

 

[kmart]

Tx Jim,

Thanks for the information. I don't know if I am that mechanically inclined to attempt this. I charged my battery again & this morning I shorted across the solenoid to crank the tractor. I let it run for about 1hr to see if that would help but after killing the power, I tried to crank it with the ignition & still had the clicking & it does sound like the starter. I think the starter doesn't have enough power going to it to turn it over like you are saying Tx Jim.
Is there anyway for me to easily rectify this situation?

 

[SPYDERLK]

It seems the hi amperage contacts in your solenoid are bad/dirty/pitted. Try repetitive key turns --- click-click-click for a couple minutes. Be patient. Maybe even have someone tap on it at the same time. ... If one of the clicks gives you a crank its the solenoid. Replace.
larry

 

[kmart]

SPYDERLK,

Thanks for the reply. That sounds exactly like what is wrong. I'll try that & see what she does.