John Deere X485 Lawn Tractor

Orange Bulldog · Mar 21, 2020

I an new to the site so bear with me; I have a 2004 JD X485 tractor that the pto will not operate. I have changed PTO switch, bypassed the brake switch, and bypassed the RIO switch.
The PTO solenoid switch works as I put 12 volts directly to it and it works. The PTO worked fine as long as I kept the juice directly to it. I have worked on this machine for 3 weeks and pulling what little hair I have left out.
Any ideas or suggestions?

Kish318420 · Mar 21, 2020

Then you have a (broken connector or misaligned tabs in the connector), located down around the area of the PTO itself.

Peter 315 · Mar 21, 2020

You should start at the switch for power and work your way to the pto clutch , Maybe a broken wire or bad connector ....

beenthere · Mar 21, 2020

Orange Bulldog
:welcome: to TBN

Took some time to post up the electrical schematics for the X485.. total of 4 and the read left to right from 1 - 4. May give you something to follow when tracking down the problem.
Not in order, but won't let me move them to be in order.

Zebrafive · Mar 22, 2020

From the diagrams posted by beenthere in post #4, look a the last diagram he posted. Find S5 PTO/RIP Switch.

Which wire/terminal on S5 are you connecting 12volts?
You should be on terminal 2 the blue wire number 750. If this is correct, then no power is getting to the switch.

You say you bypassed the brake and RIO switch. You did not say if you bypassed the seat switch, if not do that. If still no power to the S5 PTO/RIP Switch, the interlock module is bad.

Orange Bulldog · Mar 22, 2020

I also bypassed the seat switch. I also replaced the PTO\RIO switch. I am getting power to this switch.

Orange Bulldog · Mar 22, 2020

When it dries up a little bit here in East Texas, I will get back on this mower. No cover, just a tarp to keep machine dry.

Richard001 · Mar 22, 2020

Orange Bulldog said:
When it dries up a little bit here in East Texas, I will get back on this mower. No cover, just a tarp to keep machine dry.

This alone could be part of the problem. Electronic circuit boards that do not have a conformal coating on them tend to not always work when it is very humid, especially if they are covered with dirt or dust. The dust/dirt absorbs the humidity and can cause electronics to go haywire sometimes.

If some of the recommended options don't work, just remove the board from the machine, clean it with a little spray cleaner an hose off with clean water, then thoroughly dry it in your oven at about 100 degrees.

Richard

Orange Bulldog · Mar 28, 2020

As a lat resort I ordered and changed out the Ignition Interlock Module and still no power to solenoid.

Zebrafive · Mar 29, 2020

Orange Bulldog said:
I also bypassed the seat switch. I also replaced the PTO\RIO switch. I am getting power to this switch.

Orange Bulldog said:
As a lat resort I ordered and changed out the Ignition Interlock Module and still no power to solenoid.

If you are getting power to the PTO/RIO switch, no need to replace the interlock board. I only recommended replacing this board if NO power to the PTO/RIO switch.

With the PTO/RIO switch ON, do you have power out on the terminal 3 blue wire #755?

Orange Bulldog · Mar 29, 2020

Yes I do have power out of 755.

Orange Bulldog · Mar 29, 2020

Zebrafive said:
If you are getting power to the PTO/RIO switch, no need to replace the interlock board. I only recommended replacing this board if NO power to the PTO/RIO switch.

With the PTO/RIO switch ON, do you have power out on the terminal 3 blue wire #755?

I do have power out of Blue 755.

Orange Bulldog · Mar 29, 2020

Whole new problem!!!! Got the PTO working now can't get fire to the starter. I am sure that it is the RIO switch but can't get my head around it.

beenthere · Mar 29, 2020

Interested in how or what you did to get the PTO working.. do you know?

Orange Bulldog · Mar 29, 2020

beenthere said:
Interested in how or what you did to get the PTO working.. do you know?

I returned to the brake switch and moved my jumper to between the yellow wire and the blue wire, it started working but when I turned off power it would not start. Nothing!

Kish318420 · Mar 30, 2020

Where is S5 RIO located? Doesen't it have to be where it can see the machine is in reverse (reverse pedal/linkage/transmission). The normal PTO/RIP (S5) switch being up on the dash right side just the hydraulic controls. Or do I have those two confused in location? One of the switches has to see the reverse pedal being activated. At least as I understand the safety switches checkout test. I see that is S5 (PTO active) (switch closed) is pulled up then the engine will not crank/start with brake or parking brake not set (brake switch closed). So I think you down to the PTO/RIP switch on the dash or the S4 switch down in the machine. Not having the TM to get the location of S4 is needed

Operating

Orange Bulldog · Mar 30, 2020

Kish318420 said:
Where is S5 RIO located? Doesen't it have to be where it can see the machine is in reverse (reverse pedal/linkage/transmission). The normal PTO/RIP (S5) switch being up on the dash right side just the hydraulic controls. Or do I have those two confused in location? One of the switches has to see the reverse pedal being activated. At least as I understand the safety switches checkout test. I see that is S5 (PTO active) (switch closed) is pulled up then the engine will not crank/start with brake or parking brake set (brake switch closed). So I think you down to the PTO/RIP switch on the dash or the S4 switch down in the machine. Not having the TM to get the location of S4 is needed

Operating

RIO switch is located on the inside of frame on right side of mower. It is activated (or deactivated) by the movement of reverse pedal.

Zebrafive · Mar 30, 2020

Orange Bulldog said:
I returned to the brake switch and moved my jumper to between the yellow wire and the blue wire, it started working but when I turned off power it would not start. Nothing!

Then Brake switch is where I would look for the No Start of the engine.

Kish318420 · Mar 30, 2020

Yes, again check operation with VOM set on continuity (black (negative) wire on the common of the switch), the red would move to either of the other for tabs, move pedal see if switch closes or opens (On Analog meter - the needle moves from 0 to infinite or vice versa)(Digital meter - the digital goes from 0 to Open or a 1). The brake switch is double ganged, so there are actually two switches stacked. There are configured as Double Pole - Single throw (So a single movement trips both of the switch elemnts)

Zebrafive · Mar 31, 2020

For NO START

Trace power from the Ignition Module though the brake switch, then through the PTO/RIO switch, back to the Ignition module.

In the steps below, correct any problem before going to the next step.
To do this:
Key ON. On the Ignition Module find the wire connector closest to the two fuses. It will have cavities for two rows of terminals. One row of four, one row of three. In the row of four, find the yellow wire. Check for voltage.
If you have voltage at the yellow wire, check the brake switch for voltage at the same yellow wire.
Lock brake pedal down. At the brake switch find the terminal with two purple wires. Check for voltage.
At the PTO/RIO switch, find the purple wire. Check for voltage.
PTO/RIO switch OFF. Find the pink/black wire. There are two, one will be with a blue wire, one will be alone. You want the one that is alone. Check for voltage.
Back at the Ignition Module, In the same connector as the yellow wire, and also in the same four terminal row, find the pink/black wire. Check for voltage.

If everything checks OK, brake switch and PTO/RIO switch are not the cause of no start.

Report your findings.

Also is no start, engines does not "crank/turn w/starter" or engine cranks, but does not start? Please clarify.