970 Ignition "dead"?

EdZachary · Mar 21, 2016

A couple of months ago I went to start my 970. Turned on the ignition, the indicator lamps lit up as they should, and I heard the fuel solenoid kick in. So far, everything happy. When I turned the key to Start, there was a click and everything went dead.
Turned off the ignition. Turned it back on and no lights, no fuel solenoid kick-in. Nothing.
Futzed around with tracing from battery to ignition switch. All OK so far. But didn't have time to start dismantling to get to the seat switch and the other switches.
Couple of weeks ago, I went to take another look. Turned on the ignition and got the indicator lamps on, solenoid kick-in, fuel gauge rising. Hit Start and again a click and all goes dead.

I don't think the fault is in the seat switch, neutral switch, or PTO switch due to everything seeming to go dead. I don't think a faulty switch would cause that to happen.

Still have power from battery to ignition switch (and out).

Any ideas why hitting Start would make things go (and stay) dead?

beenthere · Mar 21, 2016

My first guess, is need a new battery
But first check and clean all the connections to the battery.

EdZachary · Mar 22, 2016

Has a brand new battery (and it is good). Checked and cleaned the connections when I put the battery in. There IS power getting through the ignition switch and fuse box.

joecdeere · Mar 22, 2016

Take the ground cable to frame connection APART and clean it good again, sounds like you're still loosing ground connection.

Billrog · Mar 22, 2016

A short in the starter causing a time delay fuse to pop ?

chriswheeler · Mar 22, 2016

Same thing just happened to mine. After looking at things a little while, I found that the ground wire connection that connects to the frame of the tractor didn't have a good contact. This wire is bolted to the frame along the front right wheel under the tractor. ( just follow the wire ) Just unbolted the wire, cleaned and greased the contact end of the wire, all works just fine with a 10 year old battery. It sure could be lots of other things on yours, but if it's easy, don't put more into it than needed. Good luck, PS = don't forget to get the battery terminals and wire ends good and clean.
Chris

EdZachary · Mar 24, 2016

Thanks for the responses, guys. I'll clean the ground cable connection and keep you posted. Should be pretty easy to get to. The connection is behind the grille, about an inch behind and to the side of the battery.

chriswheeler · Mar 25, 2016

A easy way to troubleshoot the battery connection ends is just to take a set of jumper cables and go from the ground terminal on the battery to a good ground on the engine. ( you need to have a good clean battery connection at the terminal ) Try it again. Same with the positive terminal to the positive terminal of the starter. Lots of times with a bad terminal end the 12.5 volts will be present, but still not have good enough of a connection to carry the full load of the starter. Food for thought.
Chris

EdZachary · Mar 29, 2016

Joe and Chris got me pointed in the right direction. To get at the ground connection to the frame, the battery had to come out. Took a good look at the cable ends and they had gotten a bit sub-par. They are the "leadless" type. A chunk was missing out of the bottom of the ground cable connector. The positive connector was broken back in the plastic cover. The connector was being held on by the stiffness of the metal.

Two new cable ends and she starts like a champ.

Thanks again, guys!