CK30 stalled while mowing and now won't start. Advice, please!

[DOCatRU]

Thanks for the clarification.

I did jump between the two large screw terminals with a screwdriver the first time.

I ordered a replacement starter from eBay yesterday....I'll go out and test jumping the starter from the spade terminal to the positive battery screw on the starter after I finish canning 7 qts of tomato sauce.

Does this mean that one of the safety switches could still be defective?

 

[DOCatRU]

OK, Ritcheyvs:

I just jumped the starter from the spade terminal on the solenoid to the positive screw terminal on the starter motor and the tractor started and ran. When we shut it off, it would not start from the key.

Does this mean, that I still have a bad solenoid?

Thanks in advance.

David

The ignition

 

[ritcheyvs]

OK, Ritcheyvs:

I just jumped the starter from the spade terminal on the solenoid to the positive screw terminal on the starter motor and the tractor started and ran. When we shut it off, it would not start from the key.

Does this mean, that I still have a bad solenoid?

Thanks in advance.

David

The ignition

This means your starter and solenoid are OK. Maybe you can cancel the eBay order? This does not surprise me; I don't recall reading about many (any?) starter failures.

I hate to just swap parts, but (based on reported failures) the most common causes are the key switch (squirt WD40 in the key hole) and the starter relay on the firewall. The clutch safety switch could also be a problem but I don't recall that being reported here and you already checked it.

View attachment CK30_WM_10_Electric.pdf

This is a link to download a schematic that should be the start system for your tractor. We know power is getting to the key switch because other other things work when you turn the switch to ON (right?). We know the starter works when 12v is applied to the spade terminal. so the problem can only be the key switch, the relay, the clutch safety switch, or the wires that connect them. Surprisingly, I have not read of many wire problems. You already tested the clutch switch. If the WD40 in th keyhole doesn't fix it, swap connectors between the starter relay and the identical stop solenoid relay and see if the starter works. If you don't have a stop solenoid relay (earlier CKs did not) take the old starter relay to an auto parts store and get a replacement; should be about $10 or so.

 

[DOCatRU]

Thanks, ritcheyvs.

I swapped the two identical relays on the firewall. No luck.

I squirted WD 40 in the ignition switch and cycled it...no luck.

I'll pull the panel and access the ignition switch. I'll turn the switch on, then see if I can hot wire the starter.

The search goes on.

Thanks again.

David

 

[LouNY]

With your key switch held in the crank position do you have 12 volts on the small "s" on the starter solenoid?

 

[ritcheyvs]

Any chance something snagged some wires on the underside?

 

[DOCatRU]

I'll check that. I have a multi meter.

Can you specify what the small "s" on the starter solenoid is?

 

[DOCatRU]

I'll check around for wires underneath the tractor, but when it stalled and couldn't be restarted I was only mowing about 6" tall grass. The tractor stalled because the mower scalped some dirt as I topped a hill.

 

[LouNY]

I'll check that. I have a multi meter.

Can you specify what the small "s" on the starter solenoid is?

That was off the electrical diagram posted,
it would be the small wire going to the solenoid. Sorry

 

[ritcheyvs]

Here's another thought. There may be a fuse in The Wire that goes to power the relay contacts. And the simplified diagram may have omitted that fuse. I am away from my computer right now so I cannot check the bigger schematic diagram. but it would be a good idea to check your fuses and make sure none are blown.