My wife was using the 4300, stopped to pick up something, and the engine died before she got back on the tractor. She turned the key but it made no cranking or any other sounds. I checked the battery, it seems fine (the lights and flashers work). The idiot lights do not light up when the key is turned on, which is not normal. (Even when the safety switches prevent start up, those lights shine). Any ideas where to start unraveling this mystery? Thanks!
JD4300 starting problem
- Thread starter kak
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pat32rf
Veteran Member
Sounds to me like the key switch itself. If the innards are cooked you won't get power to the fuel solenoid (why it quit) and also you loose power to the safety light portion.
I replaced mine at about 2000hours....(of course the plug could have fallen off the back of it)
I replaced mine at about 2000hours....(of course the plug could have fallen off the back of it)
Egon
Epic Contributor
Fuses and relays checked?
pat32rf
Veteran Member
You could pull the key switch and see if it smells like burnt bakelite....look for heat distortion/discolouration on the plug going to it as well.
tlbuser
Veteran Member
Check the PTO(s) switches/levers.
Just Bill
Silver Member
Hello
I would start by checking all of the battery connections both at the battery and at the starter and frame.
A connection that is not tight or a little corrosion will drive you nuts when chasing a problem.
Good luck, I hope its simple to find.
I would start by checking all of the battery connections both at the battery and at the starter and frame.
A connection that is not tight or a little corrosion will drive you nuts when chasing a problem.
Good luck, I hope its simple to find.
rekees4300
Elite Member
In the troubleshooting section of my 4300 owners manual it says the following:
IF STARTER WILL NOT WORK.
CHECK:
Loose or corroded battery connections.
Blown fuse.
Low battery output - check electrolyte level.
Neutral start switch faulty or not adjusted properly - See your John Deere Dealer.
Key switch or starter faulty - See you John Deere Dealer.
Gear shift lever in gear.
PTO engaged.
I had a problem with the neutral switch. Tractor would not start unless I kicked the side of the forward or reverse paddles. Took it to the dealer and they didn't fix it! The neutral switch is located under the tractor by the paddles. There's a small metal wheel that presses the switch. Couldn't figure out how to adjust the wheel or switch, so I put a small band clamp around the wheel to make its circumference slightly larger and that solved the problem. Not an elegant solution but the 4300 has started flawlessly ever since then (4 years ago).
IF STARTER WILL NOT WORK.
CHECK:
Loose or corroded battery connections.
Blown fuse.
Low battery output - check electrolyte level.
Neutral start switch faulty or not adjusted properly - See your John Deere Dealer.
Key switch or starter faulty - See you John Deere Dealer.
Gear shift lever in gear.
PTO engaged.
I had a problem with the neutral switch. Tractor would not start unless I kicked the side of the forward or reverse paddles. Took it to the dealer and they didn't fix it!
The neutral switch is located under the tractor by the paddles. There's a small metal wheel that presses the switch. Couldn't figure out how to adjust the wheel or switch, so I put a small band clamp around the wheel to make its circumference slightly larger and that solved the problem. Not an elegant solution but the 4300 has started flawlessly ever since then (4 years ago).I took the ignition switch to the dealer Saturday morning (July 3rd) and it tested ok. They said "good luck." I didn't get back to it until today, and I rechecked the fuses with magnifying lenses and the 30A starter fuse is blown. I tried a new 30A fuse and the dash lights lit up as normal. Turned the key to the "start" position and blew the fuse!
What do I look for now? Thanks for the input!
--Karl
What do I look for now? Thanks for the input!
--Karl
rekees4300
Elite Member
Here's a thread about a 4720 with similar problem. It may be helpful? Personally, I would call the dealer and tell him you didn't have "good luck" then ask him to come and pickup the tractor and not bring it back until it's fixed! That's what a dealer is suppose to do.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/142532-4720-keeps-blowing-ignition-fuse.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/142532-4720-keeps-blowing-ignition-fuse.html
pat32rf
Veteran Member
My JD book has 200pages of electrical, but I can't find fuse sizes to pinpoint a 30 amp fuse. Would it be the F1 fuse that feeds the key switch and start relay or the F5 fuse, (which is also in the circuit somewhere)
Egon
Epic Contributor
Pull the cable/wires off the starter and see if the fuse still blows. If it doesn't start looking at the starter.
RoyJackson
Rest in Peace
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You've been looking for an ignition switch/ignition circuit problem, but the tractor died when your wife got off the seat. If you haven't yet, I suggest you jumper that seat switch and see if it starts. Sounds like the seat switch did exactly what it was supposed to, but it's not resetting.
The facia lights not coming on might be a separate problem altogether.
radiowaves88
New member
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- John Deere 110
Since you have no dash warning lights along with the no start situation, I would check for a main accessory feed from the battery or starter battery stud. If you have a repair manual for the tractor, it should have a wiring diagram you could use to trace the accessory feed.
We cleaned the battery terminals, removed-cleaned-reinstalled the neutral cable connection to the engine and the fuse quit blowing. This would be encouraging, but the engine still will not crank. I replaced the ignition switch, but still no cranking. I went to take off the starter to have it tested, damaged it so that I had to replace it, but still no cranking. Tried to jump start with my pickup just in case it was a weak battery situation, but still no cranking.
Next step is probably to test all the safety switches: seat, neutral, and pto. How do I do this? I can remove the wire harness, and "jump" the wires with a short piece of 12ga romex. But is this the right way? Thanks for the input!
--Karl
Next step is probably to test all the safety switches: seat, neutral, and pto. How do I do this? I can remove the wire harness, and "jump" the wires with a short piece of 12ga romex. But is this the right way? Thanks for the input!
--Karl
She was off of the tractor a few minutes before the engine died. It would then not crank, even when she and then I sat on the seat and tried to start the engine. I discovered the blown starter fuse, which I don't understand. I did clean the battery terminals and the neutral cable connection, but that doesn't seem to me to be the cause of the blown fuse. That's when I tried changing the ignition switch, having no effect. Then I thought I'd get the starter checked, but ruined it in the process. So I was forced to put in a new starter. It still doesn't crank.
--Karl
pat32rf
Veteran Member
Have you tried jumping directly to the starter terminal from the tractor battery? The starter should engage and spin, even with all the safety switches open. It won't start however because the fuel solenoid won't be open (key off). Then put the jumper cable on the terminal that comes from the battery and run a short jumper to the coil of the start solenoid to prove that it is OK.
Quite often a major problem like this has a very simple cause. That's what makes them so hard to track down.
Are you sure that the key switch fuse is the ONLY one that's blown? It goes on to feed a bunch of other smaller fuses....
Quite often a major problem like this has a very simple cause. That's what makes them so hard to track down.
Are you sure that the key switch fuse is the ONLY one that's blown? It goes on to feed a bunch of other smaller fuses....
