2016 max 26 hst won’t start

[ADKMax26]

Just wondering if anyone out there has had this issue before. I have a max 26 xl hst (mid mount pto and backhoe) that won’t start sometimes. Sometimes I can get it started with multiple attempts but today I had no such luck. When it doesn’t start I have no lights on the cluster at all when turning the key to the glow plug position. When you start to turn the key to the glow plug position you can hear what sounds like a relay click in under the hood. I believe it is the two by the nkg ignition module. When it doesn’t start I can always hear the click and also have hazard lights. I have cleaned the battery terminals and posts when this problem started a month or two ago. I have called the dealer and they recommend changing out the terminals. They say they have changed a bunch but also said my problem seemed a bit weird. This past Saturday it started fine but it was about 35 degrees today it is more like 15. I do not think it is a safety switch since you still seem to at least get lights and the glow plug when they are out of place. Ii have check the fuses with a fluke multimeter measuring for ohms. I only have 144 hours and it was bought used with 82 hours on it when I received it. Thank you in advance for any input.

 

[RNeumann]

Seems this one pops up every so often. I’d do a search here. I think their is a lot of info for this issue.

 

[ADKMax26]

I have but didn’t find anything with the same characteristics. Most at least try to turn over, have absolutely no power, or at least have dash lights. Supposed to warm up in a few days and will try to change the terminals. I found some bolt ons hopefully it will at least tell me if this fixes the issue. Has anyone had any luck with fluid film on the terminals preventing oxidation?

 

[ADKMax26]

Deleted double post

 

[johnsonauto]

Check / clean your battery cable connections, specifically take a good look at the wire that comes off the positive cable that is your main feed.

 

[Jabonee]

Re: 2016 max 26 hst won稚 start

Check the mega fuse and holder. Should be 30 0r 50 amp. Located by starter or beside radiator. Also have had wiring harness issues with max and e max's. connections are crimped not soldered. :thumbsup:

 

[s219]

Gosh, yes, this has been brought up before and it also affected my neighbor's Max 28. I believe it is a connector in the wiring harness, maybe one that feeds various relays, which gets wet and corrodes. I honestly forgot the details but do some searching on TBN and it may turn up. Dealers should be aware of it.

 

[mnscruff]

sorry so late, but my max 26xl did this very same thing, what I found was the battery ground cable came loose on the frame rail. I cleaned it up, added a dab of thread locker to the hold down bolt, tightened and now she fires every time.

 

[ADKMax26]

I have been putting the tractor in my small attached garage lately. I separated all the connections I could find and left them for a few days to dry out then added dielectric grease to both sides of the connections and also the backsides of the connectors. I am probably going to roll into this adding 2 sets of lights, relays and switches into the mix. I will leave a way to separate all of that though so I don’t end up multiplying my problem. Right now I plan on just to tie to constant power and not accessory power. I have sourced a secondary 4 spot fuse panel. I bought a amp wiring kit from crutchfield for supply side wiring. I also have changed my battery terminals out. I found a clamp style positive terminal with separate output terminals for better troubleshooting later. I used dielectric grease on my terminals too. I will probably do a separate post with all the details on the lighting project. So far everything has been firing fine but the garage doesn’t get cold enough for a real test. Going to keep it inside until I get my lighting project done and the weather is right for a test outside. I will try to update the post after the testing of cold temp starts is done.

 

[tmcj]

Re: 2016 max 26 hst won稚 start

This tractor is also notorious for a few other things that will prevent starting also. The wire for the seat safety switch often gets pinched or broken under the swivel seat linkage. There are also several other switches that have to work properly. One for the clutch, one for the HST directional pedals, and one for each of the PTO levers. Sometimes they just need wiggled a bit, adjusted, or I've even had one of the PTO switches fall out of place. If it doesn't seem to be a fuse or obvious wire issue, check the safety switches. :thumbsup:

 

[ADKMax26]

I had thought about it and the dealer Logan’s in Copenhagen, NY recommend I check them to. I went through and checked them when it didn’t start. I also tested them out of position (faulted) when the tractor was starting. I found (I could be wrong here) if anyone of them was faulted the tractor’s fuel pump and dash lights still would come on when the key was in the middle position. They seem to only prevent the tractor from turning over and starting. I do appreciate everyone’s feed back and help so far. I am usually not one to post on forums although everyone I have talk about my issue seemed to think it was pretty weird. I figured if it seems to have a bunch of people stumped and I did not see the same exact post here this post may help someone in the future. Again I may have missed another post exactly like this one but I don’t think so. This forum has been great with lots of information and advice. I do appreciate all of the input and ideas. I am looking forward to rolling the tractor out of my garage and testing what I have done so far. Right now we have a winter storm coming today so I am keeping it inside so it will start. Also our temps have been on the cold side (-18 the other morning).

 

[ADKMax26]

The last try did not work. It got cold enough one day that the tractor wouldn’t start inside the attached garage. I pulled the key switch out of the dash and while holding it in my hand and trying it a few times it finally started to show lights. I am still leaning towards the relays. I removed the switch completely and took it inside for a few weeks while I was running wires and installing switches for work lights. I am hoping that letting it heat up and hopefully drying out fixes the issue. Thinking of adding a volt meter into the dash in line with the key switch to always monitor the switch and the batteries voltage.

 

[Carmyne]

Re: 2016 max 26 hst won稚 start

what was the final conclusion? I'm having the exact same problem. Thanks in advance, Brian

 

[ADKMax26]

Re: 2016 max 26 hst won稚 start

what was the final conclusion? I'm having the exact same problem. Thanks in advance, Brian

I should have reposted forgive me on that. I went to the dealer to look at a tractor that we purchased at work and while there the young mechanic said that he has seen the relays in question freeze up. Here is a link to a post with a wiring diagram.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...387749-max-26xl-electrical-diagrams-wire.html

I believe that my issue was with the "load relay" which I believe is the left one under the hood while looking at the fire wall. You should be able to switch the two of them around. I would pull the main fuse or the negative battery cable before doing so though. In theory I believe switching the two would give you dash light but the tractor may not start since if the relay is bad the safety circuit would not be satisfied. I believe the relays are like $14 dollars a piece or so. They should pull straight up. I used a small pick set from harbor freight to pull them hence pulling the fuse or disconnecting the battery. I have changed mine but the temperature has not dropped enough for the issue to pop back up with me. So you have no dash lights as well? I would also check out the battery cables. I have had issues with mine a few times also. Good news for me is most of my connections now have dielectric grease in them after troubleshooting issues. If your tractor isn't more than two years old I would call the dealer to see if the issue is covered. I believe it is bumper to bumper for 2 years. Mine was older at the time the issue popped up.

 

[Carmyne]

Re: 2016 max 26 hst won稚 start

Thanks for the quick reply. Mine turned out to be a bit more simple. I went through everything I could think of, cleaning battery terminals, safety switches, fuses, etc.
And on roughly the 400th time i turned the key with little hope of anything the lights popped on. Realizing if i pulled back slightly on the key after i turned it the lights would come on I figured it had to be in the ignition wiring. I took off the dash and found a huge mouse nest and sure enough one of the wires had broken off at the crimp connection. I haven't heard of this issue before (and I've done a lot of reading on the starting issues) but worth a look if you've tried everything else. Thank you again

 

[Molalla1]

Re: 2016 max 26 hst won稚 start

Thanks for the quick reply. Mine turned out to be a bit more simple. I went through everything I could think of, cleaning battery terminals, safety switches, fuses, etc.
And on roughly the 400th time i turned the key with little hope of anything the lights popped on. Realizing if i pulled back slightly on the key after i turned it the lights would come on I figured it had to be in the ignition wiring. I took off the dash and found a huge mouse nest and sure enough one of the wires had broken off at the crimp connection. I haven't heard of this issue before (and I've done a lot of reading on the starting issues) but worth a look if you've tried everything else. Thank you again

I hate those meeces to pieces . . . . so says Huckleberry Hound . . . :drink:

 

[AchingBack]

Re: 2016 max 26 hst won稚 start

Thanks for the quick reply. Mine turned out to be a bit more simple. I went through everything I could think of, cleaning battery terminals, safety switches, fuses, etc.
And on roughly the 400th time i turned the key with little hope of anything the lights popped on. Realizing if i pulled back slightly on the key after i turned it the lights would come on I figured it had to be in the ignition wiring. I took off the dash and found a huge mouse nest and sure enough one of the wires had broken off at the crimp connection. I haven't heard of this issue before (and I've done a lot of reading on the starting issues) but worth a look if you've tried everything else. Thank you again

In 14 years of ownership, I've never had a problem with mice chewing wires because I always leave my hood up while parked in the shed.