Ford 5000 gas engine tractor won't start

[loribt]

I am getting ready to bale my hay and now my Ford 5000 gas engine tractor won't start, won't even turn over. I have checked the battery and it is fully charged and the lights are good and bright and my dash lights work, but when I turn the ignition switch I don't get any clicking or any sound at all. I have checked the wiring and can't find anything wrong there. The starter is OK as is the generator. I've tried two different ignition switches and two different solenoids. I cross jumped the solenoid and it will start that way and it will pull-start by popping the clutch. At first I thought it was in the high-low safety switch because it would start when I worked the lever back and forth but now that doesn't do anything to get it started so I'm not sure. (It is a 8-speed manual, 4 high and 4 low). Is there a way of by-passing the safety switch? Any suggestions or ideas would sure be appreciated here.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I'm not as familiar with the 5000 as I am with the 2,3,4000 models.
On those the neutral safety switch is a pesky business and fail frequently.
There are two wires coming out of the tranny top cover. They connect to two wires coming down from under the dash. Disconnect them and hook the two from under the dash together. See if that works.
Careful though. That safety switch is there for a reason.

 

[loribt]

Thanks...I will try that tomorrow morning and let you know if it works. Do you think it could possibly be the coil if it isn't in the neutral switch? I haven't checked the coil yet, but I did go and buy an digital multimeter.

 

[Ultradog MN]

The starting circuit and ignition circuit are two different animals. Your stated problem is that it wont turn over so checking the coil wont help you.
Remember also to clean any corrosion off the terminals. Both ends of the battery cables and any spade clips and connections in the wiring. Remove them one at a time and clean them with a small wire brush. Then reinstall.

 

[Soundguy]

ditto what UD said.

troubleshoot starter circuit first.

many times you can hold key to start and pul the range shifter thruu H N L a couple times and find a sweet spot to get hr to spin over.

if no luck there and jumping htem 2 wires don't help. get your meter or test lamp and see if the wire coming from the key has 12v going to theat NS switch. it leaves the NS switch and goes to the solenoid. which is the next palce to test, if there IS power coming from the key and the bypassing NS switch..e tc.

as mentioned.. be carefull during this test.