No start.

[Ohio RK24]

Well guy's here's the story, Last time I started my RK24 was 4 day's ago and everything was as normal, after moving the tractor into its new home ( a Heavy Duty Sheltertech SP 18x20x11) along with a couple of attachments as well as my zero turn mower. This evening I went out to start the tractor and upon turning the key absolutely zero response, no lights indicators glow plugs not even a click, my immediate thoughts are bad battery or seat safety switch but lacking time to get into it tonight I thought I would throw it out to those ore learned than myself.
I will say that the last number of times that I have used it were for short duration tasks ( 10-15 min at best ) some of this in colder weather, it's hard to believe that I could have a bad battery in a tractor that is only eight months old but I guess it could have been old warehouse stalk.
Well thats my story and I will leave it with you.
Thanks for listening (reading).

 

[MF RED in MT]

Hi Ohio RK24,

Rest assured it's probably a safety switch somewhere, 99% of the time this is what it is.

Check the voltage of your battery.

Read your manual, and verify all of the levers are in the correct position (sometimes there's a glitch when it seems there in the correct position) and verify their function.

My 2009 MF probably has a far less amount of safety switches than any 2019 tractor.

My neighbors new Kubota has got him worried a time or two with your same problem, part of learning about a new tractor.

Maybe others with your model of tractor can be helpful about your tractors safety switches.

Good luck, KC

 

[Ohio RK24]

Thanks much I will check the items you mentioned, maybe I missed something.

 

[MF RED in MT]

Thanks much I will check the items you mentioned, maybe I missed something.

New tractor working just great, park it and shut it off, go to use the new tractor later it does not start or even click, click, click, and yes it happens a lot...

It does happen with newer tractors that the owners do not have much familiarization with, heck it happened to me when my tractor was new 11 years ago.

KC

 

[Qapla]

Do you leave the key in the tractor when parked? If so, is it possible you inadvertently left it turned to the "on" position when you got off? This could cause the battery to die even though the "Last time [you] started [your] RK24 was 4 day's ago and everything was as normal" - since 4 days is more than enough t kill a battery.

Since there is "absolutely zero response, no lights indicators glow plugs not even a click", the first thing I would check would be to see if the battery is reading 12 volts - what you describe does sound like a dead battery.

If it is not the battery, most likely a safety switch.

 

[Ohio RK24]

I appreciate your help and as to your question I never leave keys in the ignition but I understand the question I will check the battery and go from there, if it is not the battery I will investigate safety switches. As to the subject of safety switches I figured that I would start with seat switch and work my way down, the owners manual isn't much help in tracking these switches down but I assume that there has to be a safety switch at each of the following locations - seat, PTO ,brake and transmission Ido know that there is not a seatbelt safety switch so I can eliminate that.
Thanks again for the input.

 

[markie61]

On the RK55, the dash lights up even if a safety switch is open (most commonly the brake pedal not being latched to parking position - it has to engaged to turn the engine over). If the RK24 is similarly wired and the dash does not light up when keyed to "on", they I agree it's something related to the battery. Had a similar gremlin with my ZTR this summer - turned out there was a thin film of that whitish corrosion between the positive battery post and the connector. The battery, was 7 months old, tested 13volts, and no corrosion was visible, so I went through everything (starter, relays, connection, ignition switch, etc.) trying to figure it out. Finally disconnected the battery and - voila - saw the problem. Wire-brushed the posts and connector - she started right up!

On New Year's Day, my NH had a lit dash but wouldn't turn over. Pulled the dash side cover to re-seat the relays since the glow cycle wasn't engaging either and found a nest - not mice, but something with very stinky, liquid poop that had dripped on all the relays. Re-seated and rearranged the relays and it still wouldn't start although the glow cycle now works. Turns out the brake pedal was engage on it's last "tooth" of the lock and after 20 years/2500 hours, wasn't depressed far enough to close the safety switch. 2nd tooth: started right up.

For me, I find the parts manuals more helpful than service/owner's manuals when tracking down wiring gremlins. Your parts manual is here https://www.rktractors.com/pdf/parts/RK24H.pdf and the electrical section begins about page 137.

 

[Ohio RK24]

All whom leaned toward a battery issue take one big step forward and be recognized for your advanced trouble shooting skills, indeed it turned out to be a very dead battery, my assumption is that over the past couple of months I Have only ran it for short durations of time which has probably been insufficient to properly recharge the battery.
Again my hat is off to you all for eagerness to help out a newbie, it's a beautiful thing.

 

[Qapla]

Since you have been using it "for short durations of time", how much of that time has been spent with your foot on the brake?

While your foot is on the brake your brake lights are on and that puts extra demand on a battery that is not getting sufficient recharging with the short run time.

You may want to invest in a battery maintainer - a solar charger doesn't use any household power to keep your battery up.

 

[Ohio RK24]

Probably to much brake as you stated and yes indeed a battery tender is in order.
Thanks.