XR3135 - Unable to open bonnet

EngrBob · Feb 25, 2023

I was going to head out to do some needed grading on our 1/4 mile long driveway and found that the battery was too low to turn the engine over (first time in 3-years there was a problem). So, I got out my trusty charger and found that the bonnet wouldn't open, the first time for this as well. Pushing the button and attempting to raise the bonnet by pulling up on the handle and other parts of the bonnet has no effect. It is locked in place and therefore I can't either jump start the engine or charge the battery. Any suggestions?

Eagle1 · Feb 25, 2023

Push down hard on the bonnet then press release button. Worst case push down and wiggle left and right. They are tight but once the latch pops it should open.

Bobrown14 · Feb 26, 2023

Might be frozen - that happened to me this year when the temps were really cold. After it warmed up back to normal.

Avenger · Feb 27, 2023

After owning my tractor for a few months, the screws that hold the latch to the underside of the hood had rattled loose. The majority of the latch mechanism was no longer connected to the hood! I only found this because I needed to pop the hood... sorry, bonnet, and it wouldn't open. With several minutes of cursing, pushing the button and jostling the hood... er... bonnet, around it finally came loose. I'm not sure what I would have done if it didn't eventually unlatch.

This last winter the hood was frozen down and the latch mechanism was completely frozen. I put a heater under the the tractor, and used a heat gun to attempt to blow hot air to the latch, for about 30 minutes. The latch finally came loose, but the hood was still frozen down. More jostling and heat and it came up, but broke some plastic in the process. I should be able to find the plastic part, when I care enough to fix it.