3016 Gear won't start

[Pa Pa Jack]

I was cutting some firewood today. I felled a rather small tree I wanted out of the way. I tried to turn the tractor around to hook up the chains to pull the tree out into the open to cut up. All I got, at first, was the dash lights, but nothing happened. No sound of the starter engaging, nothing. Then suddenly I couldn't even get the dash to light up. I checked the fuses and the battery but they were fine. Made sure everything was set up right as far as being in neutral, no PTO turned on, brake engaged and clutch held in. Still had no power. After checking things out for a while, I suddenly had power back on the dash but it still would not start. I went and got the truck and tried to jump it thinking maybe the battery was just bad. It still acted the same and then the power to the dash went out again. I have been using the tractor almost every day for small chores for the past two weeks and have had zero problems. I'm stumped. I had already started the tractor in the first place and drove it back to the area, it had been running not 20 minutes earlier.

Any ideas?

 

[jefwyn]

I found a lot of corrosion on my battery terminals, I cleaned them up before I had a problem. There was a thread about this issue. One of the guys positive terminals was almost completely rotted away. Did you notice any corrosion issues on yours? I'm not a mechanic, so that's all I got. Hope that helps, but if not someone on here will be able to help. Good luck.

 

[Pa Pa Jack]

I think that was my post about the positive terminal completely corroded apart. That was about a year ago. I repaired it and it seems OK now. I wonder if it could have corroded back into the wiring beyond the connector? I just replaced the connector.

I checked and my post was on 5/22/12. So it hasn't been that long. I will have to double check the terminal connector tomorrow. Anyone have any idea how long the entire cable is? It might be better to just replace it completely.

 

[jefwyn]

I think that was my post about the positive terminal completely corroded apart. That was about a year ago. I repaired it and it seems OK now. I wonder if it could have corroded back into the wiring beyond the connector? I just replaced the connector.

I checked and my post was on 5/22/12. So it hasn't been that long. I will have to double check the terminal connector tomorrow. Anyone have any idea how long the entire cable is? It might be better to just replace it completely.

Well thank you then. That thread enticed me to check mine out and I caught them before they got to bad.

 

[AchingBack]

Well thank you then. That thread enticed me to check mine out and I caught them before they got to bad.

Thus the saying: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

In addition, I recommend the use of a float charger.

 

[MrChris]

This past week I replaced the positive connector due to corrosion. Additionally, I pulled the battery and cleaned up the rust that was developing in the battery box under the battery. Repainted and top coated with a line-x type truck bed spray. Put felt pads under terminals and sprayed with the red anti corrossion protection spray. Will see how this holds up.

 

[Pa Pa Jack]

I replaced the positive cable and still no go. The dash lights work steadily now but no power to the starter it seems. I hear a static like sound under the hood when the key is simply turned on, but cannot determine where it is coming from. Bad time to be hard of hearing. The sound starts as soon as the dkey is turned on and quits instantly when the key is turned off. Gues I'll have to call the dealer Monday.

 

[George2615]

The static sound you hear is probably the fuel pump. Did you accidentally engage a PTO lever or some other switch that would interrupt the starter from cranking?

 

[Pa Pa Jack]

I have checked everything I can think of that may interrupt the circuit. I can find nothing wrong.

The static sound you hear is probably the fuel pump. Did you accidentally engage a PTO lever or some other switch that would interrupt the starter from cranking?

 

[George2615]

Since you've already had corrosion problems it may be a corrosion problem with the wiring to the ignition switch. The 3016 model isn't that old since the 16 series replaced my 15 series. I guess your dealer will have to check it out.

 

[Pa Pa Jack]

Finally. I had replaced the bad cable and still could not get it started. I kept checking and noticed that the arm that operates the safety switch on the PTO was just barely touching the switch. I bent the arm to make more poitive contact and VIOLA!!!! it started. This was a lot of work because of a very cheaply made cable. I am really disappointed that Mahindra would cut corners on something so basic. I love my tractor but really have concerns now about the quality of other more important components. I guess time will tell. thank each of you for the help and encouragement.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Do you have 12 volts on the positive cable at the starter. If you do, make sure the tractor is in neutral and then jump the power from the positive terminal on the starter to the small wire on the solonoid, the one with the flat spade, disconnect the wire from it and jump power to it. If the starter turns over then you have ruled out the starter as the problem. Then take the wire that you disconnected, attach a grounded test light to it, and have someone hold the switch in the start position then start bypassing safety switches and wiggling wires, when that test light comes on you have located your problem. Maybe you have already done some of this, but I hope this helps.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

I'm Sorry, I didn't see that you had found the problem. I'm glad it is running.