Is my engine seized?

[Gaiter]

Mowed the grass three weeks ago, tractor ran fine. No smoke, no knocking, parked it afterward and shut it down. Today it won't crank. Battery is good with load tester, also connected battery charger and used 125 amp starting function. Getting good headlights and strong starter bump, but no crank. Checked oil and nothing showing on dipstick. Dumped in two quarts to bring level to half a dipstick. Should I try a new starter? What should I do next? Thanks for any and all suggestions. BTW --it's a 35HP diesel Branson

 

[4570Man]

I wouldn’t think 2 quarts low would seize it but maybe it did. Try turning it with a breaker bar.

 

[LouNY]

gear or hydrostat?
If gear leave fuel shut off and put it in high gear and try and rock it back and forth see if the engine will turn over.
If its hydro get out your long breaker bar and locate the bolt holding the balancer on the crank and try and turn it.

 

[Roadworthy]

Does the engine turn over with the starter? You can put a wrench on the end of the crankshaft and see if you can rotate it by hand. That will tell if it's seized.

 

[K5lwq]

I agree that is unlikely 2 quarts low would cause engine failure. How many hours on the machine?

I would check the safety switches. I would start with the PTO switch first as you were mowing on your last use. Maybe you just forgot to turn PTO switch to off?

 

[CobyRupert]

What does a good bump mean? Are you getting voltage through the solenoid to the starter when trying to start?

So many, many times here, a “weak starter” is often from a bad battery ground connection to frame. It’s easy to have a connection where the voltage looks ok, and connection can conduct enough electricity for small loads, but connection is not good enough to conduct the large amperage of starter.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I would check the safety switches. I would start with the PTO switch first as you were mowing on your last use. Maybe you just forgot to turn PTO switch to off?

This was my first thought.

 

[Gaiter]

Gentlemen. Those are all excellent suggestions. Thank you so much. I'm so upset about it, I can't think straight. It must have developed an oil leak because I know I checked it within the last two or three months and it was full as usual. LouNY that's a great idea except I first must get the FEL off the ground to be able to move the tractor. I can chain my dually truck to it and have the wife pull forward slightly while I watch to see if things turn. That may even be what it takes to break it free. I'll post back with results. The PTO is mechanical and it is disengaged, but I didn't think of it until you mentioned it K5lwq. Only 550hrs. on the machine. I'll check for switches too when I get back into tomorrow. Roadworthy and 4570Man, if all else fails I'll figure out how to fit a bar onto the crank, but the engine compartment doesn't seem very roomy, so hopefully it doesn't come to that. Thank you all for giving be such sound advice.

 

[4570Man]

If it’s a gear tractor the pulling it a little in the highest gear is probably the easiest plan. But as deep as tractors are geared I wouldn’t be surprised if the wheels just skidded. And I second or third that a bad battery connection is a likely problem source. I’ve seen plenty of people chasing their tail changing starters and batteries for what was really a bad connection somewhere.

 

[Richard]

If it’s a gear tractor the pulling it a little in the highest gear is probably the easiest plan. But as deep as tractors are geared I wouldn’t be surprised if the wheels just skidded. And I second or third that a bad battery connection is a likely problem source. I’ve seen plenty of people chasing their tail changing starters and batteries for what was really a bad connection somewhere.

Just so it's said.... we've got an IH 444. Long story short, it turned out the fuel pump had died....but prior to knowing that we lashed it up behind my industrial backhoe and tried to pull start it. Put it in high gear and the wheels turned fine, cranking the engine over to no avail. Figured out the fuel pump, fixed it and ran like a champ again.