Snow Tractor won’t start tonight.

[camshawn]

Do your headlights dim when you try to start? If so, you may have a dead battery or bad battery connection. A volt meter on the + of the starter does the same test. The reading should not be less 10.5v. Otherwise, if your battery is good, chase the start cct from + to each of the safety switches back to the starter Solenoid. Cam

 

[Idaho Ryan]

Do your headlights dim when you try to start? If so, you may have a dead battery or bad battery connection. A volt meter on the + of the starter does the same test. The reading should not be less 10.5v. Otherwise, if your battery is good, chase the start cct from + to each of the safety switches back to the starter Solenoid. Cam

I’ve given up for the evening and decided to drink. Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll try tomorrow.

 

[RustyA]

So was the tractor parked for 5 hours after plowing with parking brake on? If so maybe brake switch is frozen and stuck? Does it look like brake lights are on with key in run position? May have to thaw switch with heat gun or hair dryer?

 

[Sergei1]

Have you pulled the battery cables off and cleaned the terminals on it?

 

[Idaho Ryan]

So was the tractor parked for 5 hours after plowing with parking brake on? If so maybe brake switch is frozen and stuck? Does it look like brake lights are on with key in run position? May have to thaw switch with heat gun or hair dryer?

That is a great suggestion. Today is the ONLY time I’ve set the brakes when finished for a period of time. I usually park on a very slight incline and chock the back tires. I’ve been told to NOT set the brakes for fear of freezing them up in cold humid temperatures; 15 degrees tonight with about 75% humidity (North Idaho).
Can you tell me where the brake switch is located on a 2016 Mahindra 2555 HST Cab unit?

 

[Idaho Ryan]

Have you pulled the battery cables off and cleaned the terminals on it?

I have not; but they appear clean with zero corrosion and I’ve got 12.9v at the battery and just under that at the Hot connection on the starter.

 

[thclimer]

Again, not knowing your tractor that well, but if you said that you normally don't use the brake and have started it by standing outside the cab I'm having a difficult time trying to understand how applying the brake this time would prevent your starter from turning over.

Have you tried to keep the ignition key turned as you cycle the PTO and speed range levers back and furth as this might help find that sweet spot.

My understanding is when you apply the brake somewhere along the arm of the brake peddle a microswitch is being closed or opened try following the arm looking up above your dash to see if there are any microswitches which connect to it, or if you have a lever that you need to pull to keep the brake engaged look at that lever as well.

Do you have an operators manual with an electrical schematic that you could post?

As others have indicated 12+ volts on a battery does not necessarily mean it has the cranking amps available for starting.

Keep us posted on what you find/try as we will try to help.

 

[Sergei1]

I have not; but they appear clean with zero corrosion and I’ve got 12.9v at the battery and just under that at the Hot connection on the starter.

Even reading the voltage doesn’t mean there’s not a problem with them or the battery as it could also have issues, have you had it tested as it could have internal problems, also is this the original battery.

 

[RustyA]

Said he doesn't normally set parking brake and starts tractor from outside cab. Now we set a parking brake and left it on for 5 hours after snow plowing. In my mind this is the variable that is different. My money is stuck brake switch but waiting to hear if brake lights are on with key in run position.

 

[thclimer]

Said he doesn't normally set parking brake and starts tractor from outside cab. Now we set a parking brake and left it on for 5 hours after snow plowing. In my mind this is the variable that is different. My money is stuck brake switch but waiting to hear if brake lights are on with key in run position.

I agree but what I struggle with, is that it is almost like his tractor doen't need to have the brake set for it to start, so why would setting the brake now make it not start?

I always set my parking brake, but I'm pretty sure as long as I'm in my seat and the range selectoris in one of the neutral positions I can start the tractor.