4110: Stop washing it???

[Dougster]

Recently, my 2004 4110 has developed a bad habit of not starting after being pressure-washed or even rinsed off with a garden hose. Now I know that a lot of you folks are going to write back and tell me to simply stop washing it... ...but I do prefer a clean machine!

Almost every time I wash it now, it refuses to start or even give a good click of the ignition key until everything is bone dry again. Then it starts up fine just like nothing ever happened... and continues to start just fine until the next wash.

What is going kaput or shorting out or maybe dirty/corroded here: The ignition switch? The starter solenoid? One of the permissive switches? Possibly even the alternator, battery or the starter itself???

Help!

Dougster

 

[Deleted member 41266]

Obviously, you have some moisture in your electrics. When I was last poking around under the 7520 bonnet checking out a headlight problem, I saw that the fusebox and the relay box are not tightly sealed. It would be easy for some water spray to get in there and dampen 'em. Same maybe for the panel switches. That should short something out--especially a relay--and you'll get a no start until they're dry.

Moisture in your ignition wires could do this, too.

Next time you wash, take a hair drier to you fuses and relays and see.

 

[bindian]

Obviously, you have some moisture in your electrics. When I was last poking around under the 7520 bonnet checking out a headlight problem, I saw that the fusebox and the relay box are not tightly sealed. It would be easy for some water spray to get in there and dampen 'em. Same maybe for the panel switches. That should short something out--especially a relay--and you'll get a no start until they're dry.

Moisture in your ignition wires could do this, too.

Next time you wash, take a hair drier to you fuses and relays and see.

Dougster,
How about just using a water hose with a spray nozzle (it's all I use) and keep the spray away from the hood, side panels, and instrument panel. No pressure washer. But you will use more water and it takes more time when you have been playing in the mud.
hugs, Brandi

 

[xlr82v2]

Next time you wash it, wash one area, then check to see if it starts... If it does, then you know that wasn't causing the problem... isolate the problem by process of elimination.

If you are using a pressure washer, be sure to re-grease all of your FEL/BH pivot points, etc... basically the whole tractor. That high pressure water can get in there and then be trapped by the grease, if it doesn't completely remove the grease in some areas.

Pressure washers are baaaaad... But they sure work wonderfully

Brandi had the best advice for the sake of your machine since you want to keep a clean machine for your business...

 

[coffeeman]

Recently, my 2004 4110 has developed a bad habit of not starting after being pressure-washed or even rinsed off with a garden hose. Now I know that a lot of you folks are going to write back and tell me to simply stop washing it... ...but I do prefer a clean machine!
Dougster

Have you ever had it in a heavy rain storm? If that shuts her down it might be a really good idea to find the problem.

Cheers

 

[Dougster]

Obviously, you have some moisture in your electrics. When I was last poking around under the 7520 bonnet checking out a headlight problem, I saw that the fusebox and the relay box are not tightly sealed. It would be easy for some water spray to get in there and dampen 'em. Same maybe for the panel switches. That should short something out--especially a relay--and you'll get a no start until they're dry. Moisture in your ignition wires could do this, too. Next time you wash, take a hair drier to you fuses and relays and see.

I didn't think that water alone could cause a short that would, in turn, stop the Red Beast from starting or even giving me the infamous "click" when I turn the key (i.e., indicating power available). You may be right... maybe the Red Beast needs its own hair dryer!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, How about just using a water hose with a spray nozzle (it's all I use) and keep the spray away from the hood, side panels, and instrument panel. No pressure washer. But you will use more water and it takes more time when you have been playing in the mud.
hugs, Brandi

It makes no difference whether I use the pressure washer or the plain old hose nozzle. Lately, a wet Red Beast is a Red Beast that doesn't start until it is all dried out. And as far as not washing the hood, sides and instrument panel... that where at least half the dirt & dust collects! Half the time I decide to wash it... it's because I can no longer read the dang instruments!!!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Next time you wash it, wash one area, then check to see if it starts... If it does, then you know that wasn't causing the problem... isolate the problem by process of elimination.

Excellent advice! I'll do exactly that... checking the ignition key for the "click" after hosing down each and every area.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Have you ever had it in a heavy rain storm? If that shuts her down it might be a really good idea to find the problem.
Cheers

Right in the standard terms and conditions of my contract: "For safety reasons, no work (other than emergency work) is performed in the rain."

Besides, once it is running, it stays running! God bless diesel engines!

Dougster

 

[Georgia Boy]

Leave it running when you wash it and when you get to the short you will know it.

 

[Dougster]

Leave it running when you wash it and when you get to the short you will know it.

Nope. Once it is running, it stays running.

Dougster

 

[xlr82v2]

Dougster,

If it's just dust you're washing off, you could also use compressed air to clean the tractor off with... but that doesn't work so well with mud

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, If it's just dust you're washing off, you could also use compressed air to clean the tractor off with... but that doesn't work so well with mud

It is mostly dust (especially lately with almost no rain around), but a leaf blower alone won't do the trick and shop-type compressed air is simply not available on most of my jobsites. Water, however, is almost always somewhere nearby.

But this kinda misses the point. I really do need to find out what is causing mere water to stop the Red Beast from starting. This is no big deal for one and two day jobs where washdown is done after the fact back at home... but it is a real embarrassment when washdown is required at a client's location... and then I need to spend 30 minutes or more drying everything bone dry before it will start again.

Dougster

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Doug,
When your tractor doesn't start, does the engine not turn over or does it turn over and not start.

 

[Dougster]

Doug, When your tractor doesn't start, does the engine not turn over or does it turn over and not start.

When the tractor is soaking wet after a good wash... and I insert and turn the key... I get absolutely nothing. No clicks, no turnover... no nothing.

30 +/- minutes later after I have dried everything out, it starts up just like brand new... and continues to do so until the next wash.

Dougster

 

[shvl73]

With no noise at all, I'd be inclined to look closely at the safety switches. My hydro has one on the brake. Does yours have one on the clutch, PTO, or seat?

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Doug,
First check and clean your battery cables on both ends and see what that does. I would clean all of the connections on the starter solonoid. Try that and let us know what happens.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

When the tractor is soaking wet after a good wash... and I insert and turn the key... I get absolutely nothing. No clicks, no turnover... no nothing.

30 +/- minutes later after I have dried everything out, it starts up just like brand new... and continues to do so until the next wash.

Dougster

Dougster I am cleaning up my old crawler and 300 as well and I pressure washed them. Guess what? Neither of them run now. So far I have pulled the dist on the crawler and it needed many parts replaced from age and water. Don't know on the 300 yet. They both turn over though, just no 6 volt positive sparky

 

[xlr82v2]

It is mostly dust (especially lately with almost no rain around), but a leaf blower alone won't do the trick and shop-type compressed air is simply not available on most of my jobsites. Water, however, is almost always somewhere nearby.

Dougster

I see... I was thinking that you were doing all your washing at home...

I can see that it would be kind of embarrasing when/if your tool doesn't come to life and perform as expected

 

[Dougster]

With no noise at all, I'd be inclined to look closely at the safety switches. My hydro has one on the brake. Does yours have one on the clutch, PTO, or seat?

Clutch and PTO for sure... Seat? I'm not so sure. But like you, my first suspicion is those permissive switches... and, in particular, the PTO push-button switch.

Dougster