B3200 HST stops running intermittently

[wcampbell47]

Tractor is a year and four months old with 510 hours on it. 400 hour service performed. Oil touches transmission dipstick. Well maybe I need to confirm that. Running tractor pressing HST forward pedal. Occasionally the tractor starts to die - let off the HST pedal it comes back to RPM. Today it stopped running. I checked fuses which are Ok. Wiggled the HST pedals. No joy. I came back to it 6 hours later and it started and ran long enough for me to put it on the trailer to take home. Killed it with the switch.

Any ideas?

 

[namesray]

maybe try changing the fuel filter. my b7800 acted like I was slipping off the seat briefly activating the seat safety kill switch, but I was not off the seat at all, the rpms would bog right down. I would stop all movement and functions and rpms woulkd come right back. changed fuel filter and back to normal, no problem. good luck with your problem.

 

[KU Gator]

I had the same thing happen and it was the seat switch. I think moisture and dust gets in there so it doesn't make good contact so it trys to shut down when the HST pedal is pushed but regains rpm if you get off the pedal fast enough. Try flipping the seat forward and push that switch a bunch of times. Compressed air might help or contact cleaner from an electronic shop. I had the dealer change mine when it was in there just before going out of warrenty.

 

[azbinder]

Try moving the seat forward slightly so that you are sitting back in the seat a little more, therefor putting a little more weight in the seat. What you are describing sounds like seat switch is loosing contact.

 

[texasjohn]

This kind of symptom discussed in detail here http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/275075-l-3400-will-only-idle.html

Worth a detailed read.

Summary...some sensor or cable connection is giving problem

 

[azbinder]

TJ, I read through the above forum. That issue was a fuel related issue. The OP stated that as soon as he released the FnR pedal, the engine would come back up. This would me to believe that there is a connection problem with the seat switch in the '"OPS" operator presence system. It is designed so that if you are holding the FnR pedal down and come off of the seat, it will shut the engine down.

 

[Egon]

After checking the fuel supply start on all the electrical connections and shutoff's. clean them up and use dielectric grease on them. Also check for chafed wife's.

This includes both ends of the battery cables.

It's a pain but a process that should be gone through on a scheduled basis. ( easy to talk but harder to comply)

 

[texasjohn]

The symptom described is typical of stop solenoid actuation. If momentary, then engine will cut out then catch and run. If actuation persists for a moment longer, engine shuts down completely for lack of fuel, which is what stop solenoid does. Several sensors, either besause of faulty wiring connection or faulty sensor, can cause stop solenoid actuation. These include seat sensor, speed sensor and others. I had a case where speed sensor connection electrically was poor although it appeared to be well connected. This allowed engine to start, run properly, enter a "limp" mode where HST pedal could VERY slightly be depressed and achieve forward/reverse creeping motion yet die if more speed desired. Letting off of the pedal would allow engine to catch and continue creeping if done as soon as engine began to sputter. I drove my 5030HSTC a mile back to the house, took days of hunting fuel issues, ultimately reseated speed sensor connector at the sensor and instantly resolved the issue.

That's my experience, your sensory experience may vary.

Egon, would you kindly elaborate on how "chafed wife's" result in the intermittent failures being discussed? :confused3: More to the point, all TBN would be grateful for a solution to this under reported but surely vexing problem.:drink:

TJ, I read through the above forum. That issue was a fuel related issue. The OP stated that as soon as he released the FnR pedal, the engine would come back up. This would me to believe that there is a connection problem with the seat switch in the '"OPS" operator presence system. It is designed so that if you are holding the FnR pedal down and come off of the seat, it will shut the engine down.

 

[Egon]

< chafed wife >

Oh dear, old eyes, iPad and increased senility lead to another embarrassing situation!

 

[CanuckPT]

< chafed wife >

Oh dear, old eyes, iPad and increased senility lead to another embarrassing situation!

I thought the chafed wife may have vandalized the tractor...... just sayin!!! :laughing:

 

[Egon]

The may have been a little subconscious working. SHMBO is on the third week of a broken ankle wiyh no walking cast!

 

[wcampbell47]

In that 6 hour interval I went home and trailered the B7510 to the job site to finish up. Grabbed a can of computer grade electronic connection cleaner and sprayed all the switches I could find and the ignition key as well. Ran the B3200 all day today with no symptoms. Pulled a heavy roller too. Leaning toward a dirty safety switch.

 

[texasjohn]

Glad you are rolling again.

 

[David Devuono]

I will have to try that as well. I am so used to driving my old Massey around standing up that I forget on my B3200 and it will stall. Most times I sit down and it will restart but sometimes I have to go for a walk and come back in 10 minutes and it starts right up. So its my actions causing it to stop as normal, but the tractors action that keeps it from restarting for several minutes. No ammount of playing with the switches on the seat (2) or the PTO levers helps, just patience. This thing must have a timer to help train one into keeping seated.

 

[KU Gator]

David - Sounds like the seat switch is doing what it is designed to do, i.e. when you stand up while moving or with the PTO engaged, the tractor shuts down. But the tractor should then re-start even if you aren't in the seat assuming the PTO is off. But if the HST pedal is not re-centering to the neutral position, that will keep the tractor from re-starting. Try tapping the HST pedal to make sure it is centered the next time it does not start. The B2920 I have has a grease fitting where the HST pedal pivots that needs to be greased once in a while so it will re-center.

 

[wcampbell47]

David - Sounds like the seat switch is doing what it is designed to do, i.e. when you stand up while moving or with the PTO engaged, the tractor shuts down. But the tractor should then re-start even if you aren't in the seat assuming the PTO is off. But if the HST pedal is not re-centering to the neutral position, that will keep the tractor from re-starting. Try tapping the HST pedal to make sure it is centered the next time it does not start. The B2920 I have has a grease fitting where the HST pedal pivots that needs to be greased once in a while so it will re-center.

Agreed the tractor should restart if a safety switch has shut it down. Good to know about the grease fitting. Last week I noticed my tractor wanted to creep forward when I took my foot off the HST pedal.

 

[wcampbell47]

I will have to try that as well. I am so used to driving my old Massey around standing up that I forget on my B3200 and it will stall. Most times I sit down and it will restart but sometimes I have to go for a walk and come back in 10 minutes and it starts right up. So its my actions causing it to stop as normal, but the tractors action that keeps it from restarting for several minutes. No ammount of playing with the switches on the seat (2) or the PTO levers helps, just patience. This thing must have a timer to help train one into keeping seated.

Yesterday the tractor worked well for about an hour moving dirt. I noticed a wave of heat coming from the engine back around me, so much so that I checked the temp guage which was normal. A few minutes later she quit running. Sprayed and jiggled pedals and levers to no avail. I turned the key all the way over to the start position and noticed that I did not hear the solenoid on the fuel pump click. Starter did not engage.

A cold front came through. I went back to it before dark and when I turned the key on I listened for the solenoid. I heard it activate. It started. So heat affects a safety switch to the point the fuel solenoid doesn't activate and the starter doesn't turn. On my B7510 the starter would turn the motor over when the "computer" went out on it. I think the device that is being affected by heat is located in the housing just below the steering wheel. At this time I don't think it is the seat switch so much as I think it is the "computer" going bad.