782 help

stryker290 · Mar 18, 2010

Recently was given a 1981 782. Wouldn't start when I got it so I had the local shop pick it up and get it running. They put a carb kit on it, plugs and fuel filter. Ran great when I got it back, only problem was the ignition key was really worn. Had to bump it 4 or 5 times to get it to start. I went out and got a new ignition switch for it, I've put a few of these in different tractors i've owned before, didn't seem complicated. Unhooked the battery, removed the wiring harness on back of switch and replaced it. Now it won't start. I get lights and I hear the hourmeter clicking so there both working, but there is absolutely nothing when i turn it to start the tractor. I put the original ignition switch back in thinking I might have gotten a bad switch but alas its doing the same thing. I get lights/hourmeter but nothing when I try to start it. All wires on connector look right, don't see anything pulled out, tried tapping on the solonoid and starter but I still get nothing. Any help on this would be appreciated. $60 an hour at the shop is a bit salty, would like to try to fix this myself.

highboy1975 · Mar 18, 2010

seems odd to have it just go like that. i would try jumping the starter itself, and make sure it isnt just a coincidence. is the solenoid clicking when you turn to the start pos? did you clean the connections on the ignition harness yet? im gona jump out on a limb and bet on the solenoid. take a set of jumper cables and run the battery straight to the positive terminal on the starter and see if it spins. if the starter still spins, that will tell you it has to be the solenoid or bad connections.

stryker290 · Mar 18, 2010

Tks for the info, there isn't any sound from the solonoid when i turn the key. I checked the letters on the new switch to make sure they match the old one also. Not quite sure how to get a cable to the starter, it's in a real bad spot underneath the motor. Think I have about an inch opening where I can barely see it. I can borrow a tester from a friend if necessary, maybe I can try to see if the solonoid is gettin juice?

Bob_Bainbridge · Mar 18, 2010

I usually retrace everything I've done when troubleshooting. Sometimes it just a coincidence that something fails unrelated to the original problem. I had the A/C evaporator replaced on my Saturn, which involved removing half the interior of the car. I picked up the car and the alternator quit on the way home. Had to be connected with something they did - right? Wrong - it just decided to bite the dust at that time.
You disconnected the battery. Double check the cables and connectors. A bad, loose, or corroded cable can cause all kinds of starting problems. Check the voltage to the starter solenoid when turning the key if you can reach the terminal. If you have voltage it's probably the solenoid. If you don't perhaps you missed a wire somewhere.

Bob B.

magicalj · Mar 19, 2010

Sounds to me like you might have one of several problems. The basics: Besure that your brake petal is down. They will not crank unless that is down. Next. make sure that your PTO switch is off. Once again, they will not start with the PTO on. If that doesn't help, I would guess that you have a safetly switch problem. Check the brake petal switch first and make sure that it is being depressed. The little "flapper" can break causing it not to engage. If that isn't the issue, then I would make a jumper wire with a spade terminal on each end and jump the safetly switches to see if you can loacate the problem. First unplug the brake petal switch and jump it and see if it starts. If it doesn't, it might be a bad PTO switch. To test, look on the back of it, there should be two plugs. One is a three prong, and the other is a two prong. Pull the two prong plug off and use your jumper wire to jump the two wires and see if it starts. If that doesn't work, come back here and see if we can figure something else out.

AJ