Ym1720 won't crank or start

Eberle · May 1, 2015

First post on here, just bought my first tractor a ym1720d last week, under 500 hours on it. Everything seemed to be working great, until today. Went out this morning to start it, turned the key back until the little light went out, turned to start it and it cranked a few times "kinda made a grinding noise" tried a few more times and now it's completely dead. Lights come on but nothing happens when I turn the key, no clicking, grinding nothing, I tried turning the headlights on and they come on but don't even dim when I turn the key. I hooked a jump starter upto it thinking it needed a jump but it made no difference.

Please help. . . Thanks

clemsonfor · May 1, 2015

Can you carnk it by touching your jumper cables directly to the power bolt on the starter and isolate it away from all the ignition wireing?

Sounds like either a switch or starter/solenoid problem here.

HoyeTractor · May 1, 2015

Could also be a clutch safety switch that is bad or needs adjusting.

Eberle · May 1, 2015

I'll try that when I get home this evening, thanks. How would I check the clutch safety switch?

amaxwell · May 1, 2015

clemsonfor said:
Can you carnk it by touching your jumper cables directly to the power bolt on the starter and isolate it away from all the ignition wireing?

Sounds like either a switch or starter/solenoid problem here.

PLEASE make SURE the tractor is in neutral, if you try the "wire to bolt starter" method.

HoyeTractor · May 1, 2015

How would I check the clutch safety switch?

There are two wires going to the clutch safety switch. If you hook those two wires together the switch is bypassed. This is only a short term diagnostic tool. Don't leave it that way.

You can also use an ohm meter to see if you have continuity between the two terminals on the switch when the clutch is pressed in.

clemsonfor · May 1, 2015

amaxwell said:
PLEASE make SURE the tractor is in neutral, if you try the "wire to bolt starter" method.

it will also run you over if you stand beside it and try and crank it with the key in clutch out.

Eberle · May 1, 2015

Alright so I made sure everything was in neutral and ran a wire straight from the battery to the starter. The solenoid clicked but nothing else. I checked the clutch safety switch and it was fine

Markey · May 1, 2015

Have you removed and cleaned the negative battery cable where it connects from the battery to the frame??? If that does not fix the problem, again run a positive cable from the battery to the large terminal on the starter AND run a negative cable from the battery to the clean metal body of the starter. This will let you know if you have a starter problem. It's a process of elimination. Once again, make sure tractor is NOT in gear, wear eye protection, and stand on the side.