Ouch... maybe watch before you purchase a Mahindra.

[Sawyer Rob]

You guys are making me feel older and older and older. Back in the day pop traded for an old Case 800 series row crop tractor with a bad solenoid. We used a long screwdriver for quite some time starting that tractor up before plowing. Wonder how I ever survived these 57 years without all of these safety devices?

True story!

These days, this generation HAS TO HAVE a built in "babysitter" into everything they touch!! lol

It keeps them from having to take the time to THINK, before they act!!

SR

 

[SedonaDave]

True story!

These days, this generation HAS TO HAVE a built in "babysitter" into everything they touch!! lol

It keeps them from having to take the time to THINK, before they act!!

SR

So would our quality of life be better if we never improved any product?....I hear what your saying, but as we, evolve I do hope we use our knowledge to make things, and the quality of life better.

It sounds more like a inconvenience over safety.....we have guards on electric saws because so many people lopped off fingers.....Should we have never worried about prevention?...Should building not have fire sprinklers?

 

[MrWhippy]

Well, I will say my Workmaster 55 had problems with the Neutral safety switch not working correctly, causing a no start situation. After one warranty replacement, when it happened again, I bypassed it. All plugs are intact and anyone who wants to buy a new switch and hook it up again, but I simply made a bypass wire. Never another problem.

IME, on vehicles, it's best to leave as much of the original harness as possible. It's hard to cut the wire longer again.

 

[k0ua]

Here are some thoughts on Lance's no start situation and diagnosis of his Mahindra:

I will try to make this brief (those that know me, know how much that hurts me)

While the video is not entirely clear on exactly how Lance got the starter solenoid to pull up, I got the impression that he ran that black wire directly from the starter terminal on the key switch to the starter solenoid. Unless it was designed to work that way AND I am quite certain it was not, I can see some potential problem ahead.

The starter solenoids of tractors of this size will draw a fair amount of current themselves. Maybe close to 20 amps or so. I doubt the keyswitch contacts were rated for that. I could be wrong, and I don't have his tractors schematic at hand to confirm, but this is what I think.

I think that his tractor likely has a starter relay that is supposed to supply the current to the starter solenoid and have contacts rated to support this load. The starter relay coil would be energized by the key switch thru the two safety switches on the PTO and the Range selector which he wired around that did not solve his problem.

Since I believe (but cannot prove without having specs and a schematic) that the key switch contacts are not rated to deliver the current the starter solenoid will draw through repeated applications, I believe that Lance will continue to have no start problems because of burned contacts on the key switch.

I also believe that while it is up to individual to decide if they wish to keep the safety switches intact, I will point out that one of our members about a year ago was severely injured when he started his tractor with a screwdriver and the tractor ran over him and hit a wall.

Who among us when we are tired hasn't overlooked a safety procedure (like double checking the tractor is not in gear and the brake is set) when we do something like start the tractor while standing on the ground or with a screwdriver. These things are fine to do for diagnostics, and we all do them, but you must realize you are taking a risk, and to double, and even triple check the parameters you are overriding.

Just like when someone hands you an "empty" firearm that they have checked. It is still a good idea for you to check it yourself before you pull the trigger. And even then keep the muzzle in a safe direction so that nothing would be destroyed if it did fire.

There is no substitute for using the scientific method when troubleshooting and having the proper equipment (a voltmeter and the wiring diagram of the tractor) in this case. And finding the actual fault and rectifying it instead of a workaround hack. Or using the field expediant to get you going, then take the time later to actually find the fault the proper way.

Those are my thoughts, and I hope I did not get too verbose or preachy, and maybe it will help someone else.

James in Branson, been fixing broken crap for over 50 years.

 

[ovrszd]

Always thought that was called an 8x2. It is what my Romanian built Long had in it. Same unsynchronized tranny.

That's how I've always heard them called. My Ford is 8x4. Kubota is 12x12.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

So would our quality of life be better if we never improved any product?....I hear what your saying, but as we, evolve I do hope we use our knowledge to make things, and the quality of life better.

SO, you think plugging up all our equipment <life> with the "baby sitter" BS is "improved" and is "making the quality of life better" ??

ALL I can say to that is, YIKES!!!!

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That's how I've always heard them called. My Ford is 8x4. Kubota is 12x12.

Go over to the Wheel Horse forum, and ask them about their "8 speed" tractor!

SR

 

[MrWhippy]

Here are some thoughts on Lance's no start situation and diagnosis of his Mahindra:

I will try to make this brief (those that know me, know how much that hurts me)

While the video is not entirely clear on exactly how Lance got the starter solenoid to pull up, I got the impression that he ran that black wire directly from the starter terminal on the key switch to the starter solenoid. Unless it was designed to work that way AND I am quite certain it was not, I can see some potential problem ahead.

The starter solenoids of tractors of this size will draw a fair amount of current themselves. Maybe close to 20 amps or so. I doubt the keyswitch contacts were rated for that. I could be wrong, and I don't have his tractors schematic at hand to confirm, but this is what I think.

I think that his tractor likely has a starter relay

James in Branson, been fixing broken crap for over 50 years.

I agree. The fact that he has more than 3 wires connected to the starter and a fuse makes me think there's a relay around there that actually energizes the solenoid. Also agree that the key switch is likely not rated to the amperage that he's running through there now. (At least he ran 12 ga to the solenoid).

 

[lilranch2001]

So would our quality of life be better if we never improved any product?....I hear what your saying, but as we, evolve I do hope we use our knowledge to make things, and the quality of life better.

It sounds more like a inconvenience over safety.....we have guards on electric saws because so many people lopped off fingers.....Should we have never worried about prevention?...Should building not have fire sprinklers?

As far as my mind thinking.....
I feel it is not always better
When I got my 8N in 1994, that tractor was over 40 years old
I loved that tractor, it was capable and fun, and it is probably out there somewhere still running

Do you really think most of todays tractors will be running much past 20 years old?
When all these electronics begin to fail and there are no replacements available, all of these tractors are going to be only good for scrap iron

 

[k0ua]

As far as my mind thinking.....
I feel it is not always better
When I got my 8N in 1994, that tractor was over 40 years old
I loved that tractor, it was capable and fun, and it is probably out there somewhere still running

Do you really think most of todays tractors will be running much past 20 years old?
When all these electronics begin to fail and there are no replacements available, all of these tractors are going to be only good for scrap iron

OR, there will be a new cottage industry springing up. Building and supply 3 party aftermarket modules to keep that not so old iron running!. Never underestimate the desire to make a buck. When one door closes, another door opens.