I killed my tractor (B2620).

[Ozark Hollow]

I was out mowing for the first time this year. The tractor started up fine, and was running great. Then I cut it a little too close to an old satellite dish and smashed a rear turn signal ( the square one on the ROPS). I jumped off the tractor to inspect the damage and the tractor cut off, because I stupidly jumped off without putting the PTO in neutral.

Well, when I got done kicking myself for being stupid, and got the smashed light disconnected and removed, the tractor would not start again.

Turn the key and the lights go dim and it makes a buzzing noise. I can jump start the tractor, but it only runs for a couple of minutes then it dies again.

Any ideas?
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif

 

[tractchores]

Total guess, but a short maybe? Not sure if these need any battery pwer to run, but if so a short might grlund out the system.

 

[BotaBX24er]

did you check the pto safety switch..mine slid forward to the point that it didn't allow my tractor to come back on. easy fix, was 2 screws...

 

[Oldtractorfixer]

A bad battery connection cab do that to you.

 

[Ozark Hollow]

It will run after a jump, but not for long. The idiot lights are very dim unless connected to the truck with jumpers cables.

I checked the fuses, they all looked good. I also tried pulling all the accessory fuses, but it still won't start. When I pull the fuse to the solenoid, then the dash lights brighten up, and the buzzing goes away, but of course without that, the tractor won't start either.

I'm pretty sure it's a short, but where? The buzzing is coming from the instrument panel.

The impact wasn't that bad, I was going slow and stopped immediately. The wires to the light didn't even really get stretched.

Smashing a light should not have killed the tractor.

 

[AStanton]

Did you disengage the pto? If you didn't, that is why it won't start. If this isn't a factor, check the wires to the busted light. They might be shorting; tape any bare wires there with electrical tape.

 

[Oldtractorfixer]

Solinoid would be my guess. It might be sticking. Are you talking about starter solinoid?

 

[Ozark Hollow]

Yes, I disengaged the PTO before anything else. It's not just that it won't start, there is a buzzing coming from the dash, and the dash lights are very dim unless I yank the solenoid fuse. I am assuming it's the starter solenoid, it's a 30 amp fuse.

There are no bare spots in on any of the wires I can see, I disconnected the light at the connector because it did have a bare spot on it, and I also tried disconnecting the fuse to the light.

 

[Oldtractorfixer]

I am not sure but that fuse may be for several things. One thing is for sure you have a very large electrical draw. more than if you left the headlights on. A draw that large would heat up all but the largest wires. you have not said anything about smoking wires so I would follow the big wires. You could try disconneting wires at the starter and see if that eliminates the draw.

 

[powerstroke444e]

My bet is the battier is junk? Just so happened when the other problem did.

 

[buck12]

Try cleaning the battery posts and cable ends.

 

[AchingBack]

A bad battery connection can do that to you.

I agree. The OP's profile indicated 50 hrs. on the tractor. The battery should still be good.

 

[Ozark Hollow]

Battery is good, when I take out he fuse to the solenoid, the lights come on very bright, and my battery charger said it was full. No problem with the connections either.

Guess it must be a short... I lack the skills to be chasing an electrical problem so I guess I'll have to have it hauled to the shop.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I'm still highly annoyed that a broken tail light caused all this headache.

 

[Oldtractorfixer]

Be sure to post what they find. I always like to know the final solution to a puzzler like this.

 

[Deano]

If you pulled the fuse for the solenoid and everything brightened up, there is teh problem. You DO have some insight. Now tap on the solenoid and if problem is still there, replace.

You are doing fine! I don't think the dealer is going to do anything you can't at this point. You will tell them what you found, and they will charge you for it.

Deano

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thousands of parts on a piece of equipment. We do some action and at that point in time something on the piece of equipment quits working properly. Naturally we think that event caused the problem. It's what a normal person would believe. Over my life I've had something quit working and I concentrated on what was I doing when it quit working? Fixed and changed a lot of stuff which I knew logically couldn't be the problem but if the piece of equipment starts working again, well "that" fixed it!!!
A B7800 I owned wouldn't start. Had to be a safety switch I deduced. Wiggled several of them and it started. OK, was a safety switch. Again one day it wouldn't start, no turn over of engine. Wiggled all the safety switches and no start. Squirted Dielectric Grease into all safety switches under seat, it started. Problem solved! Got a phone call one day while mowing, stopped tractor going down the hill. Wouldn't restart. I rocked it a tad thinking maybe starter on a dead spot like cars did back in the "good old days". It started. Good thing I was going down hill instead of on flat land and just hoped it didn't happen again. Well, it did. Finally someone here posted about the foot pedal problem common to the B7800, that if it wasn't centered, it wouldn't start. I encountered the no start problem again a time or two but when I rocked the foot pedal to center it always started right up from then on. Guess I wasted alot of brain cells and sweat "fixing" all of the other problems when te simple pedal centered would have made it start:thumbsup:.
Anyway, from what you've told and the responses given, I'd replace the solenoid myself and if that didn't work I'd contact Barlows about trading tractors for a new one.:laughing:

 

[Lefty7]

Guess I wasted alot of brain cells and sweat "fixing" all of the other problems when te simple pedal centered would have made it start:thumbsup:.:laughing:

Yeah, but you never would've gotten those seat switches lubed...

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Anyway, from what you've told and the responses given, I'd replace the solenoid myself and if that didn't work I'd contact Barlows about trading tractors for a new one.:laughing:

Don't you have that in the wrong order?
First get a new one, then fix the old one.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Yeah, but you never would've gotten those seat switches lubed...

You are exactly right! I still have the grease, somewhere, know it should be used on all connectors, especially on equipment that has outside use and sits outside some but haven't done it on any of my other machines. May take this as a reminder to do it, but probably not.
Well, I might since I'm keeping the ones I now have and ain't traden no more!!!:laughing::laughing:

Don't you have that in the wrong order?
First get a new one, then fix the old one.

You mean like have 2 tractors? No, if, and that's a big if, I was going to have 2 tractors they'd both have to be new and both working from the dealer.:thumbsup: