I ran my tractor into a snowbank, was going to get off and check it out and shifted it into neutral. Every time I got off the seat, it started to kill, like it wasn't in neutral. Then I got off and let it kill. I checked out and shoveled a couple of minutes, went back into the seat and it wouldn't crank or turn over at all. I got the ignition light and clicks like the glow plugs were working but it wouldn't crank over. No thing would make it crank (and I adjusted and readjusted things for a long time. It seems it won't go into neutral. I towed it back to my house. Now what?
GC1705 Will not Start!
- Thread starter rider7767
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MF RED in MT
Veteran Member
ckuehn, welcome to TBN.
The problem you are describing sounds like the neutral safety switch under the seat (at least that's correct for my tractor).
Maybe on your newer tractor there might be another switch under the tractor someplace for the shifter lever to be in neutral that you should look for.
I would first raise the seat and function check that switch, and if it's working properly, then search for another safety switch that the tractor would only start if in neutral.
Could you add more information about running into the snowbank, front/rear/rightside/leftside of the tractor, and the size/hardness of the snowbank.
Hope this helps you,
KC
Langanobob
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2007
- Messages
- 411
- Location
- Reno, NV
- Tractor
- AC HD6G, Ancient Kubota HK5 Mini Excavator, MF GC1720
I was plowing in deep snow and had the same problem. The starter wouldn稚 crank. Problem turned out to be snow packed around a safety switch located underneath the tractor on the left side. Took awhile to figure it out but everything was fine once I cleared the snow out of the switch.
Honestly, we got nailed by so much snow that the snowbank was just one I kind of slid into. It wasn't hard or anything. I was stuck about six times today, so I don't think it is anything that damaged it. It is just so weird that I expected it to just kill and then I would be able to start it again. We did tow it back into our yard, so if it wasn't in neutral, would the tires have turned to tow it backwards? I thought of the switch under the seat, but I can't really see why that would have been activated. I did do a lot of slipping and maneuvering to rock out of the snowbank. I will check for the safety switch, but I'm not really sure what I am looking for. The snow on the right side of the tractor was up to the cab door though.
MF RED in MT
Veteran Member
Like langanobob says, I would first clear out all of the snow packed under the tractor and see if that might expose your problem.
KC
Well, I can't find anything and the snow is gone and it still doesn't work. Then I got to thinking, it can't be the seat because I was having trouble before I ever got off the seat, I =should have been able to leave the tractor on when it was in neutral and get out, however, it is like it never even went into neutral. I tried to get off the seat and it started killing, so I sat back down and it was running fine, then I shifted out and hack into neutral again and it did the same thing.Could there be some issue in the gear box?
First, make sure all the levers are in the right place. And, the PTO is off. Move them, and reset or re-center all of them. It's easy to bump one, and think it's in the right place, but it isn't.
Next, you can check all the fuses. Not all of them are always in the fuse box, some are close by in the wires.
Then, it is still most likely still one of the safety switches.
I would start with the neutral safety switch.
Some are normally open, and some are normally closed.
You have to find all of them, disconnect them one at a time, and try to start it. Then, jump the switch wires, with a short jumper or paper clip, and try it again.
Almost all the levers have safety switches on them.
If you get a schematic, you can see if it's normally open or closed, and what has a safety switch.
If none of that seems to be the problem, we have seen a wire break off the the back of the ignition switch on earlier models, as well as some ground strap failures.
Next, you can check all the fuses. Not all of them are always in the fuse box, some are close by in the wires.
Then, it is still most likely still one of the safety switches.
I would start with the neutral safety switch.
Some are normally open, and some are normally closed.
You have to find all of them, disconnect them one at a time, and try to start it. Then, jump the switch wires, with a short jumper or paper clip, and try it again.
Almost all the levers have safety switches on them.
If you get a schematic, you can see if it's normally open or closed, and what has a safety switch.
If none of that seems to be the problem, we have seen a wire break off the the back of the ignition switch on earlier models, as well as some ground strap failures.
AxleHub
Elite Member
ckuen,
You should be able to start the tractor without sitting on the seat if you have the brake on and locked down - and the lever in neutral - and you not in the seat. If you can't - it isn't about the seat switch at all. Running into a snowbank could have forced something crooked or an object of some sort in to an area - like the d.i.f. switch or one of the engagement levers. So by starting with brake locked on and in neutral - that answers a bunch of questions quickly - if you CAN't start it with brake locked on and in neutral - you've pinpointed a number of things it isn't and I'd be looking around the brake undercarriage area or near the underside of neutral shift area to start with.
axle-and-hub
You should be able to start the tractor without sitting on the seat if you have the brake on and locked down - and the lever in neutral - and you not in the seat. If you can't - it isn't about the seat switch at all. Running into a snowbank could have forced something crooked or an object of some sort in to an area - like the d.i.f. switch or one of the engagement levers. So by starting with brake locked on and in neutral - that answers a bunch of questions quickly - if you CAN't start it with brake locked on and in neutral - you've pinpointed a number of things it isn't and I'd be looking around the brake undercarriage area or near the underside of neutral shift area to start with.
axle-and-hub
GeneV
Elite Member
It doesn't even crank? If it cranks but don't start, I'd suggest checking that the fuel filter shutoff wasn't pushed to off by the snowbank you plowed into.
Thank you everyone for all of your help with this. I even called a tech guy with my local Massey Shop. He said it was most likely a safety switch also. My son-in-law came out and found that the safety switch on the PTO was sticky and dirty and it must have been stuck in the wrong position. This was one I hadn't even seen before with a button on it. And it is fixed, although i may replace that switch if it gives me any more problems.