231S turns over but will not start just died while running

MrBushhog · Jul 12, 2019

231S 500hrs
the other saturday i was mowing with rotary cutter. after about 5 min the engine just stopped like i turned the key off. took several attempts to get it going and went on cutting. sunday tractor cranked right up and finished mowing parked it when done. monday tractor will not start, turns over fine. tractor is somewhat new to me as i am used to the regular 231. anyone have any tricks or obvious things i can try before i take to a shop? i feel that its a electrical issue.

cglaser104 · Jul 12, 2019

MrBushhog said:
231S 500hrs
the other saturday i was mowing with rotary cutter. after about 5 min the engine just stopped like i turned the key off. took several attempts to get it going and went on cutting. sunday tractor cranked right up and finished mowing parked it when done. monday tractor will not start, turns over fine. tractor is somewhat new to me as i am used to the regular 231. anyone have any tricks or obvious things i can try before i take to a shop? i feel that its a electrical issue.

Electrical is a fare guess. Is there any loss of power/jittery operations/sputtering that precedes it? Any sort of clue that something's coming at all?

/pine · Jul 12, 2019

Check for lose wires etc. on all the safety switches etc., etc...check the wire leading to the fuel shut off solenoid for shorts...look for chewed wires...
good luck...

MrBushhog · Jul 15, 2019

cglaser104 said:
Electrical is a fare guess. Is there any loss of power/jittery operations/sputtering that precedes it? Any sort of clue that something's coming at all?

no warning at all just died

MrBushhog · Jul 15, 2019

/pine said:
Check for lose wires etc. on all the safety switches etc., etc...check the wire leading to the fuel shut off solenoid for shorts...look for chewed wires...
good luck...

checked safety switches well the best i could since i had no tools, i feel you are on the right path on the fuel shut off solenoid. any tips or places to find more info about it.

MrBushhog · Jul 16, 2019

update.... thanks for helping
got tractor to run by a hot wire to solenoid but thats the only way. has two wires going to the solenoid, a red wire and black wire, on one if them has 12 volts with key in run position and start position. still will not run with the connector pluged in. going to try and trace down the wires tomorrow.