RobertBrown
Elite Member
I have an intermittent starting issue with this machine as of late. I hoping for some help in solving this problem, maybe someone has tracked it down before.
The problems started weekend before last when the tractor would not start, nothing would turn or even click in. I put my meter on the battery and there was only 10 vdc so I removed it and put it on the 10 amp charger for an hour and then on the 2 amp for about 26 hours. The voltage was up to 12.5 but the charger indicated it was not fully charged, looking at the LED lights on the trickle charger. I put the battery in the tractor and could not get the machine to crank, nothing. I did not have time to work on it, so the next day I read the voltage....10.5 vdc....bad battery.
Took the battery to NAPA and had them test it and it was toast, so I replaced it. The battery was in the tractor when I bought it so I don't know how old it was but I owned the tractor for over 5 years. I also replaced the ground strap with a new ground cable as the old strap was really corroded.
The new battery started the tractor fine....once. Pulled the machine out of the garage and put the mower on it, shut it off and went back about an hour later and nothing. I removed the neutral switch on the column shifter and tested it. It tested OK but I had my doubts.
I thought I had a bad neutral switch as I could get the tractor to start but only after I played with the shifter while holding the key.
Now I can't get anything to turn or even click no matter how I move things, but I still have continuity through the switch when the tractor is in neutral.
I have checked both neutral safety switches and they are both functional or have continuity.
I'm thinking I need to test the starter solenoid.
What is the best way to test this conclusively?
Thanks for your help.
The problems started weekend before last when the tractor would not start, nothing would turn or even click in. I put my meter on the battery and there was only 10 vdc so I removed it and put it on the 10 amp charger for an hour and then on the 2 amp for about 26 hours. The voltage was up to 12.5 but the charger indicated it was not fully charged, looking at the LED lights on the trickle charger. I put the battery in the tractor and could not get the machine to crank, nothing. I did not have time to work on it, so the next day I read the voltage....10.5 vdc....bad battery.
Took the battery to NAPA and had them test it and it was toast, so I replaced it. The battery was in the tractor when I bought it so I don't know how old it was but I owned the tractor for over 5 years. I also replaced the ground strap with a new ground cable as the old strap was really corroded.
The new battery started the tractor fine....once. Pulled the machine out of the garage and put the mower on it, shut it off and went back about an hour later and nothing. I removed the neutral switch on the column shifter and tested it. It tested OK but I had my doubts.
I thought I had a bad neutral switch as I could get the tractor to start but only after I played with the shifter while holding the key.
Now I can't get anything to turn or even click no matter how I move things, but I still have continuity through the switch when the tractor is in neutral.
I have checked both neutral safety switches and they are both functional or have continuity.
I'm thinking I need to test the starter solenoid.
What is the best way to test this conclusively?
Thanks for your help.