Washed 445, now it won't start

[wwivhobbit]

I just bought another 445 so I could use one for mowing and have the loader on the other one for doing other work. I put my deck on the new 445 (which was supposed to be a 2001, but is really a 1994 according to the serial) only to find that the deck doesn't raise and lower only about an inch or so, so I took the deck back off to try to diagnose it. Well this tractor was pretty dirty when i went to pick it up but seemed to mostly run and drive fine so i bought it anyway. I say mostly because it seemed to have a surging to the engine till you opened it up but i ran it up and down a big hill and it seemed pretty strong and i thought that it looked like it had sat for awhile so maybe had bad gas in it. Anyhow, i removed the seat, fenders, and floor pan and sprayed everything with degreaser and began to hit it with the pressure washer till that broke! So, i spent the rest of the day trying to fix that and didn't get back to the tractor till today. I tried to start it and it just turned over but didn't fire a lick! I unplugged every connection and blew them out and plugged them back in but nothing. Then it popped a couple times and then backfired thru the intake. I did notice that the green light on the circuit board was lit but never saw the red on come on. I have a service manual ordered but if anyone! has any ideas about the red light or backfiring I'd love to hear them! Thanks!

 

[oldnslo]

What areas did you spray with the pressure washer? Just the transaxle area or the engine also?

I believe all 445 are fuel injected so
A quick check for fuel pressure is turn key to on so fuel pump runs for 2 - 3 seconds but do not try to start. Now remove air filter and look down throttle body to see if throttle butterfly is wet.

There is a sensor on left side of air filter base as viewed while sitting on the tractor seat. If this connector is not making correct contact the engine may not run or or run real rough.

Not sure on dash lights.

 

[wwivhobbit]

Mainly the frame and undercarriage since my goal was to rectify the lift arms not moving properly. I gave a light squirt at the top of the engine as the heads and spark plugs were all but invisible from the caked on dirt and grime. I took the air cleaner off to look down into the plenum and there is plenty of gas getting in there. I will double check the sensors you mentioned and see if it helps. The lights i mentioned aren't on the dash but down on the lower right of the steering column on the circuit board. The green light seems to be always on but not the red one. Eaiting for my service manual to see what those lights mean. Thanks!

 

[beenthere]

You mentioned this was the second 445, so you have been getting along without a service manual on that one? They are good to have.

By chance might you need to bleed that carburetor plug, which we have to do when running out of fuel? When I had my 445, that plug caught me off guard once.

 

[LukeL]

Wait until the next day and try to start it. Seriously. I’ve had so many 445’s do this. They absolutely refuse to start when a certain part is wet or they’ve been apart. Waiting often helps.

 

[wwivhobbit]

You mentioned this was the second 445, so you have been getting along without a service manual on that one? They are good to have.

By chance might you need to bleed that carburetor plug, which we have to do when running out of fuel? When I had my 445, that plug caught me off guard once.

It is the second 445 and you are correct that a service manual is needed. I do have the PDF version but it came on a cd and the only place i can view it is in the house. That makes it all but impossible to use out in the garage, so i found and ordered a printed one on ebay for about $45 delivered and am waiting to see how legible it is before saying more. I even tried to email the PDF to myself so i could open it and view from my phone, even if it's a tiny screen but yahoo mail wouldn't let me attach anything that large

 

[wwivhobbit]

Wait until the next day and try to start it. Seriously. I’ve had so many 445’s do this. They absolutely refuse to start when a certain part is wet or they’ve been apart. Waiting often helps.

Actually, it was already on the second day after the washing when i tried to start it, since the pressure washer broke and i spent the rest of the day trying to fix that. Long story short the last thing i did was unplug the sensor under the air filter plate and blew it out and it fired right up. Mind you it had sat for another day before this so it could have just needed to dry out something else too. Who knows?

 

[Richard001]

I even tried to email the PDF to myself so i could open it and view from my phone, even if it's a tiny screen but yahoo mail wouldn't let me attach anything that large

You should be able to send the pdf to a cloud storage site and then retrieve it on your phone.

 

[wwivhobbit]

You should be able to send the pdf to a cloud storage site and then retrieve it on your phone.

I don't have or know anything about a cloud, but it'll be a moot point once the paper manual is delivered! Thanks for the thought tho! Much appreciated!