216 John Deere

   / 216 John Deere #1  

Blaneypark

Silver Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2012
Messages
154
Location
Charlevoix Mi
Tractor
JD 790, JD4100,JD318,JD216 Grasshopper 322D,Wright 52 Stander
I have an JD 216 mower that I keep at my cabin. It has run great through the years with no trouble. Last week went to use it and tried to start it and nothing. Checked the battary and it was good,also charged it. Cleaned the batt. posts and all good. When you turn the key to start and move the shift lever back and forth in the netural position I just get a clicking sound. Never had any starter problems with the tractor. I'm thinking a bad netural saftey switch. What are your thoughts?? Thanks
 
   / 216 John Deere #2  
I'm not familiar with that model but generally speaking a clicking sound can be coming from the starter solenoid switch. Locate the switch and see if it is what is making the noise. If it is you may either have a bad switch or not enough voltage reaching the switch to activate it. This can be a bad battery or a bad connection somewhere between the battery and the switch.

Mike.
 
   / 216 John Deere #3  
unplug weir from safety switch and jump across the 2 terminals with small peace of weir /paper clip, you could make a sires of jumper weirs with small butt connector kit , but this will check your N switch.:cool:
 
   / 216 John Deere #4  
I have an JD 216 mower that I keep at my cabin. It has run great through the years with no trouble. Last week went to use it and tried to start it and nothing. Checked the battary and it was good,also charged it. Cleaned the batt. posts and all good. When you turn the key to start and move the shift lever back and forth in the netural position I just get a clicking sound. Never had any starter problems with the tractor. I'm thinking a bad netural saftey switch. What are your thoughts?? Thanks


Hello Blaneypark
There are Three safetly switches in your John Deere wiring harness. One at the shift lever Neutral Position, One under the seat and another at the PTO lever lock out. I would suggest you check all three by crossing them with a solid wire make Sure the Tractor is in neutral before trying to start it. If it start's with a safety swicth crossed you haver a bad connection and or Bad switch. Another issue it could be is slight corrosion at the Plug in's in the wiring harness. Get some Di-Electric grease from a Local auto Part's store they sell it in small squeeze packet's and hit all of the wiring harness connector's with it. These machines are subject to a lot of Vibration and due to the age of them they sometimes need a little help at the connectors. The use of Di-Electric Grease will ensure a good connection. I hope this helps.
 
   / 216 John Deere #5  
That or solinoid is bad
 
   / 216 John Deere #6  
Solenoid is not getting enough juice, or bad. Battery box needs removed to access. By moving the shift lever your hitting a good spot on the safety switch and by this time it could be the problem
 
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