starting problem

carroll ertel · Mar 4, 2015

I have a 5205 J.D. tractor. When i went to start it today i turned the key and got nothing . There were no gauge lights , no clicking , no preheater sound , nothing. when i turned the light switch on i got all lights and the console lit up fine , even the directionals worked fine. Could i have a bad fusible link and if so where is it and how can i tell?

ThomasH · Mar 5, 2015

I do not have experience with that specific model, but you might consider buying a service manual if you plan on trying to do repairs. There is really no substitute for the information that can be found in one.

With most tractors, this is typically a battery cable or connection. I would start by measuring voltage at the motor block and starter large post with the key engaged. If it's less than 10 volts, this is a battery cable problem.

jimmysisson · Mar 5, 2015

PTO still engaged?

Jim

JD5210 · Mar 5, 2015

Have you looked at all the fuses? Check all of them as I have read in the past that the operators manual and the fuse box do not always agree on the 5205. The instrument lights and clicking which I assume you mean fuel solenoid are on different fuses

If the fusible link was bad nothing would be working, but could not hurt to get a volt meter out and check. Note this will be LIVE even if the key is off.

carroll ertel · Mar 5, 2015

As soon as it stops snowing i will check the fuses and what i meant to say is not the clicking but the hissing of the glow plugs. The op. manual is not clear to me on the location of the fuse panel but it appears to me to be below the steering wheel . Is that correct ?

JD5210 · Mar 5, 2015

Here is a link to the operators manual. The fuses are located under the key switch panel. Focus in on the 30 amp fuses. F6-30 amp-Key Switch, Starting Circuit, PTO Warning Circuit, Seat Switch, PTO Switch. The tech manual shows this fuse is also for the intake air heater.

http://manuals.deere.com/omview/OMRE72817_19/?tM=FR

In looking at the operators manual and JD parts look under heater, intake air. I do not think you have glow plugs, but instead an Intake Air Heater System. I wonder what the hissing. For now focus on getting it started.

John Deere - Parts Catalog

carroll ertel · Mar 7, 2015

Here is an update on what i have found. I found the fuse box and there were two 30amp. fuses blown. One was the F1 key switch , the other was the F7 work light relay. I replaced these two and turned the key to start . The engine started , ran for about 20 seconds and quit. I checked the fuses , both were blown again . I replaced them and turned the key to run only and both blew again. I was attempting to take the starter out of the mix by turning the key to run only, hoping to eliminate some of the possibilities . I then tried to check continuity on the key switch itself and found in the off position there were no complete circuits on any of the pins. in the run position i got a couple of extra complete circuits where there should not have been. I would like to be sure i have a bad key switch that is causing the shorts before i spend the money (which i don't have ) on a new switch. I would appreciate any and all conjecture and comments you guys have.

skyhook · Mar 8, 2015

Mark the wires on the switch so you put them back on the same pin.
Then remove your switch and re-check the pins like you did before, this time use "continuity" on the multimeter.
Whats important here is that you "locate" the B+ pin, (battery voltage),this pin will always have power to it,
check all the other pins against that one, turn the key on etc and continue your checks.
This will eliminate the switch if its good.
Sounds like you have a short to ground somewhere, the key switch may have overheated and shorted internally or you may have a wire somewhere thats grounding out.
Since F1 and F7 are both blowing, look for a "feed" that supplies both of them, thats where you'll likely find your short, the key switch, ( I believe) does that very thing.