Need help with JD4100 starting

[Jon E]

Yesterday I was out moving some firewood and brush with my 4100HST compact. The tractor had recently (2 months ago?) been completely gone through, a lot of new parts, electrical system check, fuses, all that, it had been running and starting perfectly. It has a nearly new Optima Yellow sealed gel battery.

Normally I will put the tractor tranny in neutral, lock the parking brake, leave the machine in low idle, and get off in order to load the bucket with firewood, change implements or whatever requires minimal time off the seat. Better than turning the machine off and on all the time.

This time I put it in neutral, got off the machine and it stalled. Usually that means I was an idiot and didn't check to make sure it was in neutral. This time, I was sure, and I checked. I wiggled the tranny lever and it was in neutral, so I turned the key. Nothing. Lights came on, full battery power, but it will not even click, turn over, nothing. I think that it has to be something related to the deadman switch under the seat, or whatever link there is between the transmission and the electrical system.

I need help. I have to troubleshoot this myself.

 

[Don87]

I would disable the seat safety switch first, then check for a safety switch at the gearshift next.

 

[TreePointer]

I've been through this twice with a JD 4600. All electricals check out just fine, but battery cables go bad under their insulation. To test for this, do the following:

1. Leave pos (red) battery cable connected to battery and other end on starter bolt. Use a good jumper cable to make the same connection from pos terminal to starter bolt. Try to start.

2. Disconnect jumper cable from tractor and battery. Repeat the same test for the neg (black) cable. Try to start.

Link:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...rating/239677-john-deere-4600-wont-start.html

 

[beenthere]

Also, be sure that the PTO switch is off (that is if the mower deck is off) as sometimes that can be inadvertently on (including the mid-PTO)

But I also agree with the jumper on the seat switch, at least to check it out. My jumper stays in all the time. I'm off and on the tractor a lot with it running. And I'm not about to go through umpteen moves other than set the parking brake just to get off.

 

[coloradotrout]

This happens to me every year or two. Where is the safety sw on the gearbox? On the seat -- if I pull mine up, it allows the PTO to run. I suspect it's the gearbox sw, but not sure where to find it.