New Holland TS125a Won't Turn Over

[SLHADLE]

My son used my New Holland TS125a for some field work and forgot to turn the key completely off when he parked it. He left the key in the "accessory" position. (It's very easy to do on this tractor.) Anyway, I went to start it 2 days later and, of course, the battery was dead. I attempted to jump it with no success. So, I charged the battery over night and tried again.
This time the dash lights came on but nothing from the starter. I made sure all gear shifters we're in neutral, the shuttle shifter was in neutral, park brake set and clutch fully depressed. Again, nothing from the starter.
I found the ignition relay was bad and replaced it. This time, when I tried to start it, there was nothing. Not even dash lights.
I found a blown fuse, but that still didn't fix the problem. I did find a bad connection at the starter and repaired that and also cleaned and tightened the battery cables. But still no luck.
Yesterday, I checked the clutch switch. It checked good with my meter. I even tried shorting the starter terminals, the starter engaged and spun with plenty of power.
The starter relay is good as well.
I am at a complete loss for what I am missing. If you have any suggestions, I am open to any and all ideas.

Sorry this is such a long post.

 

[Jerry/MT]

My son used my New Holland TS125a for some field work and forgot to turn the key completely off when he parked it. He left the key in the "accessory" position. (It's very easy to do on this tractor.) Anyway, I went to start it 2 days later and, of course, the battery was dead. I attempted to jump it with no success. So, I charged the battery over night and tried again.
This time the dash lights came on but nothing from the starter. I made sure all gear shifters we're in neutral, the shuttle shifter was in neutral, park brake set and clutch fully depressed. Again, nothing from the starter.
I found the ignition relay was bad and replaced it. This time, when I tried to start it, there was nothing. Not even dash lights.
I found a blown fuse, but that still didn't fix the problem. I did find a bad connection at the starter and repaired that and also cleaned and tightened the battery cables. But still no luck.
Yesterday, I checked the clutch switch. It checked good with my meter. I even tried shorting the starter terminals, the starter engaged and spun with plenty of power.
The starter relay is good as well.
I am at a complete loss for what I am missing. If you have any suggestions, I am open to any and all ideas.

Sorry this is such a long post.

Did you make sure the PTO lever was in the OFF position?

 

[SLHADLE]

Did you make sure the PTO lever was in the OFF position?

Several times.

 

[SLHADLE]

How would I test the ignition switch?

 

[TractorTech]

Does the starter relay click? Do you have 12v on the solenoid wire when swutch is turned to start?
Are your battery clamp to cable end clean from acid?

 

[SLHADLE]

It's been a while since I posted. So, here is an update.
I found the transmission shuttle switch was bad. After replacing it, the starter now clicks once when I try to start the tractor.
I removed the starter and tested it on the bench. When I connect it to a battery it engages and spins. When I put it back in the tractor, it only clicks once and does not spin.
I verified the engine was not locked up by spinning the harmonic balancer on the front.
Is it possible that my starter is just that week?
I tried jumping it from my truck as well. Same issue.
In short, I've gone from nothing to the starter solenoid engages but doesn't spin the motor.
Yes, all connections are clean and tight.
Any more ideas?
Thanks.

 

[LouNY]

Is this your starter?

Have you carefully applied battery power from the large terminal on the solenoid to the small flag terminal?
Preferably using a remote starter switch such as this;

Carefully as the tractor could move when started, any jumper wire would also work just not as easily.

 

[LouNY]

Many of these tractors have a "one shot" relay in the starting system.
If you fail to start for some reason and backoff on the starter switch you have to return it completely to the off position
before you can try to crank again using the key switch.

 

[SLHADLE]

That is my starter. I have " jumpered" it. The solenoid engages but doesn't spin the engine. I removed the starter and tried it on the bench. All seems to work fine on the bench. I'm wondering if the starter could just be weak.
My system is indeed a "one shot" type. I have to turn the key off after each attempt.

 

[TractorTech]

The starter sounds like it is weak if you jumped the starter spade terminal. More correct, the solenoid may be weak to the point that the solenoid engages the starter gear, but not enough to make contact with the internal motor connection in the solenoid. Or, the contact points are burned enough to carry current to motor on the bench, but not on the tractor.

You could conduct the on tractor test as before, but also, with a battery jumper cable, apply power to the lower heavy lug on the starter to verify it is indeed the solenoid.

 

[alexpops]

How old is the battery in the tractor? Have you load tested the battery to see if it'll put out the amps needed? even the cheap HF carbon pile load testers will give you a decent view of the output capability. wet cell or sealed battery? If wet, hydrometer tested each cell? topped off electrolyte? Are you bench testing with the same battery as in the tractor? What kind of amps are you pulling when trying to start in the tractor? On the bench? Do you have a good spare battery you can try in the tractor? (even if your just temporarily using jumper cables with the battery from your bench test -- eliminate the existing tractor battery from the equation) Jumping from another vehicle through a bad battery isn't enough, since a shorted cell can take all the input juice. If your wires are good/clean connections/tight and the starter works with a different battery, you could have warped plates/internal short in the battery. I've gone through 5 batteries, an alternator and 3 starters in different vehicles after flooding drained batteries or shorted starter windings/solenoids & froze up the bearings on an alternator after Ian. Assuming all worked fine before your son left the key on, I'd bet the battery is shot.

 

[K5lwq]

I checked the clutch switch. It checked good with my meter. I even tried shorting the starter terminals, the starter engaged and spun with plenty of power.

That is my starter. I have " jumpered" it. The solenoid engages but doesn't spin the engine

In your opening post you stated it spun with plenty of power but now it just clicks. Was the starter on the bench when it spun with plenty of power?

 

[SLHADLE]

Thanks for the replies.
The first time I jumpered the starter was on the tractor. It did spin good that one time. After having repaired the other issues in the starting circuit, it will not turn the engine over.
I do not have the equipment needed to load test the tractor battery. It is a wet cell battery. I did check the fluid levels in the battery. But I have not tested it with a hydrometer. I bench tested the starter with a different battery.

 

[alexpops]

Try disconnecting the existing tractor battery & running your bench test battery either in its place or via jumper cables to the tractor cables. (put a rag or plastic sheet under the positive so any movement doesn't give you a major short) If she starts, your tractor battery is shot. Don't know what all you disconnected in the wiring, but that would be the next area to check if the new (proven) battery won't kick her over at the key.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Just because a battery is charged does not mean it carries a load. Load test the battery. When you know the battery is good, you can find the problem. If you don't know if battery is good, you can replace 50 things and it still won't crank over. I've seen the ends of cables crystallized and cause this very problem. I don't think your son caused the problem, he just helped it show up sooner.

I am not advising you do my reckless activities. I love them old metal clothes hangers. I straighten one and leave 4" straight and wrap the rest around a 1/2" rod, leaving 4" on other end. Add two vise grips, and I gots me a loading tester. I have had one battery blow up in my life, but it was not from the load tester, It was from a charger. So if you have a home made toaster coil and a voltmeter, you have a load tester. Your meter will still read voltage with the coil connected to both terminals. When you have battery charged and connect coil, it should glow red and light up the darkest night so you can read a newspaper. It should hold voltage and slowly creep down to 12. If it kinda glows and voltage drops quickly, not good. Some seemingly good batteries will drop to 6 v right after connecting the apparatus, not good. I could do a whole write up on saving batteries, so I will, just don't have the time right now.

I had a battery that I put in a tractor at a farm. The owner knew that battery had been laying in the pasture over four years. My little method does work.

 

[alexpops]

Another easy check of the battery condition ... open the fill caps & hook up your charger at 40 amps or so. Look inside the cells & see if one of them is bubbling more than the others. All will bubble slightly, but if one is boiling & the rest are releasing Don Ho bubbles, the boiler is your bad cell ... replace the battery.

 

[SLHADLE]

Thanks for all the replies. Great advice indeed. I especially love the homemade load tester.
I will test the battery soon and let you know what I discover.

 

[SLHADLE]

I know it's been a while. But here's the latest.
I took the battery and had it checked. It is good. I had the starter rebuilt, so it is good
I also replaced the battery terminal.
She now cranks, well, she turns over. Now I can't get her to fire.
I disconnected each injector 1 at a time and used the primer pump to ensure I have fuel to each injector. She still won't start. If I spray a small amount of starter fluid she starts right up but only for a second. I even had my son-in-law pump the primer while I tried to start it. No luck.
Any suggestions?

 

[Harry in Ky]

Consult a pump shop. Make sure you get the pump numbers and have them handy when you call.

 

[LouNY]

Some how you have gotten quite the can of worms on that NH.
It sounds like your fuel shutoff solenoid isn't working properly now.