Key is Dead

EddieWalker · Jun 5, 2016

Recently I've had the exact same thing happen to me with my backhoe and my riding mower. I started it up just fine, moved it to a different area, then it wouldn't start. No clicking sound, nothing. The first time I figured it was a fuse that had blown, but I couldn't find any that where bad. I checked the voltage at the starter and had well over 12 volts. It didn't make sense to me, but I had just finished replacing a hydraulic hose that required removing the battery to get to it. The battery sat outside for a few days in the rain, so maybe it needed cleaning. I took off the cables, sanded everything nice and shiny, and it started right up. It's been perfect ever since doing that.

Yesterday I started my riding mower, moved it closer to my air hose to blow out the radiator, and then it wouldn't start again. I took off the cables, sanded everything shiny, and it fired right up.

I don't know why the battery terminals all of a sudden stop transmitting power right after working just fine, but just in case it happens to somebody else, I thought I'd share this in case it might help.

k0ua · Jun 5, 2016

Eddie do you recoat all connections in a good corrosion fighting grease? I have used No-Ox-Id for over 30 years. I have never had a problem with any vehicle's connections I have treated with it. I have never bought any, I have just used the left over quantities in the jars and tubes the manufacture sent along for the commercial backup batteries I installed for 21 of those years. Good stuff, I swear by it.

JRobyn · Jun 5, 2016

I use this stuff on our Polaris Ranger EV with 8 batteries (and on other stuff).

Amazon.com: NOCO NCP2 CB14S 4 Oz Brush-On Battery Corrosion Preventative: Automotive

Works terrific. A little messy, but better than gobs of Vaseline.

MF283 · Jun 5, 2016

My JD 5303 did the same thing, working on a truck & haven't had time to look to hard at the tractor. I did clean the cables, post & ground connections, NOTHING.
I called & talked to JD service manager at the dealership, said it sounded like a fuse, i had looked at all of them as well. Battery, starter, fuse box all amp'd good.
I'll go back over everything tomorrow, hopin it's simple.

Ronnie

k0ua · Jun 5, 2016

MF283 said:
My JD 5303 did the same thing, working on a truck & haven't had time to look to hard at the tractor. I did clean the cables, post & ground connections, NOTHING.
I called & talked to JD service manager at the dealership, said it sounded like a fuse, i had looked at all of them as well. Battery, starter, fuse box all amp'd good.
I'll go back over everything tomorrow, hopin it's simple.

Ronnie

Did you check the inline main fuse? It will not be in the fuse box.

stuckmotor · Jun 5, 2016

Last winter my MF wouldn't respond to the key at all. The PTO safety switch was stuck.

4570Man · Jun 6, 2016

Currently I am having the same problem in my Kubota F2560 and John Deere F525. I had the same problem on my Cub Cadet last year. It would start if you jumped across the starter with a screw driver. It turned out the safety that requires the brake to be depress bad. I suspect there is a safety bad on the JD, but the Kubota doesn't have any safety's on it. If I jump across the starter with a screw driver on the Kubota it will start. I can't get to the starter on the JD to try this.

MacLawn · Jun 6, 2016

Also, check the ground cable from battery to tractor. Clean it good too.

westcliffe01 · Jun 6, 2016

I had a somewhat similar problem with the riding mower. However on digging into it, every connection of the starter switch was corroded to heck (the posts on the switch are tin plated steel, and the tin is long gone). All of the safety switches were open circuit too. A new ignition switch and spade terminals for the wiring got it going, but I had to bypass all the safety interlocks.... The ex wife did leave it outside uncovered for 2 years and that kind of treatment can be hard on anything...

ultrarunner · Jun 6, 2016

My neighbor had a Winnebago that would drive him crazy... started cold no problem every time.

It would not start hot... had to be towed in several times and spent a lot of money on things like batteries, starter, ignition components...

I was there one morning and he had just come back from filling it up... and I asked him to start it... I was about 16 at the time... it would not start.

I took a jumper cable from the negative to the starter bolt and it fired right up...

Poor ground... added a Model A Ford ground strap from the battery to the engine block and never had that problem again... made me look good too!