JD 650 will not start

[JD Green]

I have a 1984 JD 650 the battery is good and I can not get it started. How do i tell if it is a bad safety switch. I have had this problem on & off for the last two years. It will not even turn over. It frustrating
Dave

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:
Need some more info to go on.
On & off...does that mean you have done something that fixes it in the past two years? if so, what was it?
Battery is good. How do you know that for sure? (not doubting you, but would like to know).
Which 'safety switch' are you wondering about?
When you turn the key to 'on', do you hear anything? If you do, then when you turn the key to 'start', do you hear anything?
Are the battery cables clean (cleaned and reinstalled recently) ?

 

[JD Green]

:welcome:
Need some more info to go on.
On & off...does that mean you have done something that fixes it in the past two years? if so, what was it?
Battery is good. How do you know that for sure? (not doubting you, but would like to know).
Which 'safety switch' are you wondering about?
When you turn the key to 'on', do you hear anything? If you do, then when you turn the key to 'start', do you hear anything?
Are the battery cables clean (cleaned and reinstalled recently) ?

Yes I had the battery checked at walmart. they said it was putting out 700 Amps. I cleaned the cables & battery post good. Last year I had a guy work on it and he cleaned one of the wires on the starter, (not the one leading to the battery). It started right up, except when he went to drop it off it did the same thing. He disconnected it and re connected it and it started. I checked that and it looks good. When i turn the key the only thing that happens is the lights on the dash light up and I hear a click under the dash. I tried jumping it with my van and put another battery in from my truck. Last summer once in a while I could not get it started. sometimes jumping it with my truck. I read in an earler post something about a safety switch under the dash ? Can some one discribe what it looks like? Im only guessing that is what is wrong. 3 years ago the PTO saftey switch was replaced. I do not think it would be that yet. How do I tell? Thanks for your help
Dave

 

[beenthere]

JD
There are not many switches, and here is a list of them from jdparts. You can look them up too on jdparts.com to see where they are located. Somewhat self explanatory, but if working intermittent, could be a problem for you.

 

[rundogs]

Could be your starter contacts.Take the cover off of the triangular box on top of your starter,pull the plunger and see if the contact connected to the battery cable has a round burnt out spot on it.May need to replace the contact.

 

[trusteve]

john deere 650 wont crank start without jump... I have replaced battery and battery cables but still in order to get it started I have to jump it off. When I get it started I disconnected the battery and it continued to run... So does that rule out alternator?

 

[Rock knocker]

john deere 650 wont crank start without jump... I have replaced battery and battery cables but still in order to get it started I have to jump it off. When I get it started I disconnected the battery and it continued to run... So does that rule out alternator?

No, your machine runs entirely mechanically. The electrical system is there only to run the lights, starter and timer. If it has a new battery, and that did not affect your problems, your cables could be bad.

 

[trusteve]

No, your machine runs entirely mechanically. The electrical system is there only to run the lights, starter and timer. If it has a new battery, and that did not affect your problems, your cables could be bad.

I replaced the battery ends and cables... what else could be preventing it from starting? it fires right up once jumper cables are applied...

 

[joecdeere]

sounds like a bad ground to me, check and re-clean where the ground cable attaches to the tractor itself

 

[trusteve]

sounds like a bad ground to me, check and re-clean where the ground cable attaches to the tractor itself

Tried that already even scrubbed the area... but no luck...