Can't be this hard

hardcrab · Aug 24, 2007

Hi all- I was mowing yesterday and had to shut down the tractor for a few minutes. Went to restart, and the idiot lights would come on but the starter wouldn't turn over. Like if the neutral safety switch was on. Got to looking and saw I had forgotten to take the PTO out of gear. I figure there is likely a safety switch for that too, so tried to disengage the PTO. Lever was really tight, and tractor still wont start. Lever would go to the disengage position, but not sure it was really disengaged. I tried spinning the mower blades by hand a few rev's to disengage the PTO- still wont start. Took panel apart to get to key ignition switch and tried jumping contacts- no luck. Traced wires back and found NSS and was able to ensure the switch was open. Looked at solenoid to try to jump contacts, and saw a sticker put there just for what I was up to- "do not attempt to jump solenoid contacts, do not bypass NSS", etc. Next I chased the NSS wires to a plug type connector near the shift lever. Disconnected the plug- still no start. Then, got a peice of wire and shorted together 2 of the wire contacts in the plug leading to the starter--- STARTS!!! So... question is.... if I have a mental lapse and shut down again with the PTO on, how can the safety switch be "unswitched" after shut down? I assume the PTW must be turning to disengage, and the tractor must be running? Kind of a hassle to have to take everything apart to get started again. Maybe this was just a fluke? Any ideas appreciated- thanks

daTeacha · Aug 24, 2007

This was on the TC29, right? I really can't think of anything you didn't do, but a couple of WAGs might be: Did you spin the blades both ways? Did you try taking the PTO shaft off to make sure there was no stress on the system? Did you move the PTO lever a couple more times after moving the blades? Were you in the seat, tranny in neutral, and all the other normal starting precautions taken? Might it have been something other than the PTO that you overlooked in your frustration? I'm at a loss, but someone here probably can help you out. I can't imagine you're the first person to do this.

hardcrab · Aug 24, 2007

Yeah, I turned the blades several revs both directions, pushed the PTO lever up and down a bunch, did disconnect the PTO shaft and spun it- it would turn easily one direction but wouldnt turn the other way- dont know if thats normal when its out of gear or not. I guess I could spin the blades backwards due to the one way clutch on the shaft. Best I can figure is the PTO was not out of gear, and the tractor must be running to get it out, but I dont know.

thanks for the reply

TrippleT · Aug 24, 2007

Did you look underneath the tractor to see if there were any wires unplugged? I have had that happen a few times with my 33.
Or did I miss that? After reviewing your post it seemed to indicate that you may have.

hardcrab · Aug 25, 2007

Nothing found unpluged. The only way I was able to finally get it started was by unplugging the safety switch wire leading to the solinoid and shorting 2 of the leads together. After it started, I pluged it back in and it works like normal now. I dunno.

JerryG · Aug 25, 2007

Sounds like you had a switch stuck. Hopefully it was a one time thing.

BarnStangz · Sep 1, 2007

Any status on this. I have the same issue with my TC34DA. I've jumped the starter and my tractor will start. But if I turn off my key and try to re-start it... nada... I have to use my jumper wire again.
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Was this a one time thing with you after you jumped the starter... does your tractor work fine now? I have a call in with my service guy and they are going to come out and take a look at it. I'll report back if I hear any thing and I'll also post it on a thread that I posted. Thanks.

Max

BizDoc · Sep 1, 2007

This may or may not be of any value in these cases. But, I had a similar experience with my NH TC21D. I had to rock the tractor, while in the seat, and I would get clicks that were trying to start the engine and then after enought times I would get it just right and it would start. After several times of trial and error I traced it to the seat switch. I took it to the NH dealer and they were familiar with the problem, replaced a safety switch, apparently there are two of them, and I did not have the issue again. They seemed to know right away so I assume this must be a somewhat common problem. Although as I said this may or may not be related to your issues, just sounds familiar.

BarnStangz · Sep 2, 2007

BizDoc said:
This may or may not be of any value in these cases. But, I had a similar experience with my NH TC21D. I had to rock the tractor, while in the seat, and I would get clicks that were trying to start the engine and then after enought times I would get it just right and it would start. After several times of trial and error I traced it to the seat switch. I took it to the NH dealer and they were familiar with the problem, replaced a safety switch, apparently there are two of them, and I did not have the issue again. They seemed to know right away so I assume this must be a somewhat common problem. Although as I said this may or may not be related to your issues, just sounds familiar.

I CAN NOT STAND that stupid safety switch. That was the fisrt thing to "go" when I got my TC34DA. It was pretty easy to by-pass it, at least for the switch on my tractor. I'm sure that CNH uses different ones here and there...

M.

Soundguy · Sep 4, 2007

Might be time for a new ignitin switch if it isn't one of the interlock switches acting up.. etc..

soundguy

maxfior said:
Any status on this. I have the same issue with my TC34DA. I've jumped the starter and my tractor will start. But if I turn off my key and try to re-start it... nada... I have to use my jumper wire again.
---
Was this a one time thing with you after you jumped the starter... does your tractor work fine now? I have a call in with my service guy and they are going to come out and take a look at it. I'll report back if I hear any thing and I'll also post it on a thread that I posted. Thanks.

Max