R4047 periodic loss of all power while starting?

akraven · Apr 3, 2021

Never has any problem while driving. It might have sat for a bit or just been turned off but when you go to start it there is no power to anything Battery is fully charged and if shorted across solenoid terminals it will start. Then magically at some point it will allow starting. I am wondering it is a safety that is starting to fail. The only safety I am aware of is the one on the clutch. Since the manual is short on schematics is there anything anyone can think of? Thanks for any help anyone can offer!!!
PS I live in Alaska and until this year never had anything like it when cold previously. Now it is the 30's in the daytime and it only happens occasionally.

K5lwq · Apr 5, 2021

Sounds like a bad ground to me. I would check all the ground connections.

akraven · Apr 6, 2021

I thought of that K5lwq but if it was just a ground wouldn't it also die while it was operating from vibration?

K5lwq · Apr 6, 2021

Not necessarily. I am thinking it is a bad connection, possibly corrosion or paint creating the issue. Not a loose wire. When the weak connection gets hot or warm it works. Again just where I would start.

uphere · Apr 6, 2021

Sounds like a problem I had on my 4041 which was the clutch safety but it was 10 years ago and at my age I can't remember yesterday very well? At the time we changed the clutch switch (which was $40Cdn) but also the ignition switch which was for a different problem if I recall.

akraven · Apr 8, 2021

K5lwq you win the prize. I has some time today and did a little checking. Hidden under the ground to frame was some rust and it was slightly loose. Just enough to barely turn it when pulling against the cable. Took it off and cleaned the area and put on some rust preventer (still allowing contact) and put it all together. Works great. I sure thought in my mind it would have cut out while vibrating. Oh well learn something knew all the time. Thanks!