X728 help needed

[Natureboy]

I have a 2007 X728, parked it in the garage last week after mowing, ran great. Went out today to do some yard work, turned the key-and nothing. No dash lights, no clicks and the EFI didn't power up prior to starting like it always does. Brake was on & PTO switch off, and I was in the seat.
Checked the usual electrical issues-
The 5 fuses on left side under dash and 1 under the right fender look good.
Cleaned and applied dielectric grease to both ends of the battery cables.
Battery measures 13.7 volts with a meter, I always keep it on a tender. Even tried jumping with no result.
Pulled the seat safety switch off & ran a jumper wire on the hot side. (Not sure if that's the correct way to check it)
I am not exactly a wizard when it comes to electrical systems. My first thoughts are ignition switch, PTO or seat safety switch. Can anyone give me some tips on how to check these items, I would surely appreciate it. Thanks for looking

 

[beenthere]

Hopefully something simple.. is the mower deck switch in the off position?

 

[jenkinsph]

Check the voltages from the fuses to ground. You should be able to do this with the vom probe touching the top of the fuses. The readings should be the same on both sides of the fuse if they are good.

I would also pull each fuse and clean the blades with emery cloth. Clean the fuse block terminals with WD40 or similar.

How old is the current battery in the tractor?.

 

[Natureboy]

I will recheck the fuses with an ohm meter, did it by eye last time and didn't see any breaks, and check the blocks for inside corrosion. Then the ignition switch. The battery came with it, don't know how old it is. But I get 13.7 volts on it, and 13.6 at the starter terminal and ground. It doesn't start so I cant measure the voltage load when key is turned. The only thing I get voltage to is the auxillary outlet. Headlights, dash are dead, I don't even get a click when key is turned.

 

[jenkinsph]

All of the lighting, dash, engine controls you mention go thru the ignition switch IIRC. I don't have a schematic but after looking at the deere parts main harness I would look for power at the fuses. If the fuses and terminals are good then look at the main relay and the key switch. I think the main relay is easier to get to than the key switch so would check there first, you should be able to pick up the 12v feeding the relay and you should be able to see if you are getting the coil voltage to this main relay.

Just the fact that this is outdoor power equipment subject to vibration I would clean the connections and plug them back together before tracing out the voltage paths. It may be as simple as a loose connection.

 

[Natureboy]

Thanks. Got it up and running today. The two 15a fuses in the fuse block were good, but there was corrosion in the block.

 

[Richard001]

Thanks. Got it up and running today. The two 15a fuses in the fuse block were good, but there was corrosion in the block.

One way to keep that terminal corrosion at bay is to put some grease in the fuse holder before you put the fuse back in. The grease forms a barrier to the oxygen and helps keep the connectors connecting.

Richard

 

[Natureboy]

Problem is back and intermittent.
Got the new ignition switch in today. Same intermittent problem with no power to anything when you turn the key, other times it starts. I checked the red wire at the back of the switch with a probe light, sometimes there is power-sometimes not, and its dead. The 4 fat red wires at the fuse block all turn the test light on regardless of whether the ignition switch red wire has power to it or not. I am assuming one of these goes to power the ignition switch. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also, could someone tell me if when you turn the ignition switch to the run position, and the brake is off and your not in the seat-should the dash and EFI turn on? I am trying to eliminate the seat switch as a problem.

 

[Missouri Lad]

I have own several John Deere lawn tractors, and they all had the "infamous good for nothing" Time delay module. I think John Deere installed these on all lawn and garden tractors, and if one is own your X728, it will go bad sometime in it's life span. And that could happen one a month. This little due is installed probably somewhere near the engine block and probably have several colored wire attach to it. Check your service manual (that is if you have one) in the electrical section to locate where it is installed. John Deere may now call it another name, so, keep a look-out for a black round or flat plastic object. If you cannot locate, call a John Deere as ask them if you have one and where it is located on the engine.

If you don't have such a "trouble dude" as they are called, you probably have some other electrical problem.

 

[Natureboy]

I think I found it this time. To make a long story short, the wiring that goes to the fuse block has a loose connection at the back of the block.
What made it so difficult was that when I would start probing around with the wiring, apparently the connection would go back again and it would start for me. Thanks for all the help.