JD ZTrak 915B will not start. Asking for help to find resources

Missouri Lad · Apr 7, 2018

When you have the PTO on (the PTO knob pulled up), you setting on the seat and no brake pedal pushed down, you will have a PTO clutch noise at the rear which is where the PTO clutch is located under the engine...that is normal.

Where was the mouse nest located? Was it at the PTO switch...or Ignition switch? There may be another mouse nest under the engine cowl, where mice love to make a mess of things. Also, the seat switch may be broken...one wire has lost contact to the switch.

There is a fuse one this model (as some have), and it is located on the left side back at the engine side. Check to see if it's blown.

beenthere · Apr 7, 2018

Mouse poison is the only good answer I've found for keeping them out of my engines and equipment.

Ingerdeere · Apr 8, 2018

Check the tightness of the nuts on the selanoid posts. A couple times a year my JD zero turn just won't start after a water break. Tightening the selanoid nuts has been the solution. Good luck.

sennister · Apr 8, 2018

I have a Z950R which is the same platform just a few more options and the bigger Kawasaki. All the safeties should be the same that would prevent a start situation. I don't have the service manual yet because mine is still under warranty. So I can't run through a full diag for you.

Anyhow look at the hour meter. There is an LED that should flash a code if there is an issue when the ignition is switched on. Count the number of blinks. Then fold the seat forward to the maintenance position, and on the fender on the side where the control panel is and you should see a data plate with a chart that deciphers all the flash codes into what the issue is.

Also if you don't have the owner's manual handy, you can view it online. It will have basic details.

OMTCU36879

Under Section 75 they have the chart with the codes that I am talking about. For instance the Real-time codes. For some reason it says Z900M and Z900R Series. Those are the ones powered by Kawasaki. The B and now E are Kohler powered. Maybe the ECU that provides the diagnostic codes to the Hour Meter is only a Kawasaki thing. Seems odd because this is mostly things that would be in the safety interlocks of the tractor and not have anything to do with what engine it has.

The main things I have had that caused something like this is forgetting my parking brake, lever control lever position or PTO switch. The PTO switch is easy to forget on the R version because they have a PTO kill button on one of the control sticks. This just opens trips the PTO Safety Interlock and then to turn the PTO back on I have to reach over to the control panel, turn it off and back on. On the B/E/M unless you shut down the machine with the PTO still on it is the only way you would have the issue unless the switch is bad.

jcu007 · Apr 8, 2018

I checked the fuse and it was good. As for the led code, of course all models except dad痴 turns out to have it. I checked the seat switch with a continuity tester and it痴 good. I知 at the point where I知 about to throw in the towel and a probably a couple of hundred dollars and take it to the dealer. Hopefully nothing that bad, but we値l see. I appreciate the ideas and suggestions from everyone!

sennister · Apr 8, 2018

jcu007 said:
I checked the fuse and it was good. As for the led code, of course all models except dadç—´ turns out to have it. I checked the seat switch with a continuity tester and itç—´ good. IçŸ¥ at the point where IçŸ¥ about to throw in the towel and a probably a couple of hundred dollars and take it to the dealer. Hopefully nothing that bad, but weå€¤l see. I appreciate the ideas and suggestions from everyone!

Does it crank and not start or does it do nothing?

jcu007 · Apr 8, 2018

Well just had a friend who does tractor work stop by. He looked for about fifteen minutes and then just disconnected the ignition switch and reconnected it. That did it. Said the switch is probably on its way out. Next stop: EBay. Thanks again for all the suggestions!

Missouri Lad · Apr 9, 2018

John Deere is going have to "stop" shopping the China markets for electrical parts for their equipment. We here in America still can make the "better and lasting " parts.

sennister · Apr 9, 2018

Out of curiosity what does your key look like? When I bought mine the salesman looked at the key and said they used to ship with a key that has a boot over it. He tried to find one but they didn't have any. I think I bought one off Amazon. The key hole faces up so without a boot debris and moisture can get in there and in theory cause it to fail sooner.