BX2660 shut down, will not start

[LostInTheWoods]

I just spent three hours removing snow and breaking up ice on our looong, hilly gravel driveway. Then I ran a load of garbage to the end of the road with the BX2660, pushed in the parking brake, and hopped off to unload the trash. As soon as I got off, the engine quit. I figured that I must not have pushed in the brake and locked it properly. After putting away the trash, I got back on and tried to start it up, but it would not turn over. I moved the HST around, made sure I hadn't accidentally engaged the PTO when I got off, etc.

Then I walked back down the driveway. Did I mention how long and hilly it is?

Is this probably an issue with the kill switch in the seat? If so, what's the best work-around? What else should I look at?

Thanks,

Lost

 

[C4Ranch]

You can unplus the seat shutoff and jumper it to bypass.

My guess would have been the peddle but you said you moved it around. Are you sure it's centered?

Is it in neutral when trying to start?

 

[LostInTheWoods]

I tried starting both in gear and in neutral. The dash lights come on, and I can hear the fuel pump clicking as usual, but it does not even attempt to turn over. I'm pretty sure it wasn't an HST issue...I tried moving it around and back to center several times, but to no avail.

 

[brucewj]

I've experienced the same thing with my 2660. The first time I did not know what in the world I was going to do to get the tractor back to the shop.

I wiggled the PTO lever and it finally started.

Since then when it happens I just pull the PTO lever all the way back, and it always worked. I don't know if the spring needs to be stronger or what, but it takes just a second for me to push backwards on the lever so I've never addressed it further.

I hope your problem is a simple as mine was.

 

[dodge man]

It's always been the pto lever on my BX when that happens.

 

[pdowling1]

PTO lever every time for me.

 

[aczlan]

Either the PTO lever, or the fwd/rev pedal is the culprit around here. Usually, its the PTO lever.

Aaron Z

 

[LostInTheWoods]

Well, it can't hurt to go out and move around the PTO and HST forward/reverse again tomorrow afternoon.

Any other thoughts, just in case they don't do the trick?

 

[dodge man]

Bad battery or loose battery cable would be my next guess.

 

[aczlan]

Bad battery or loose battery cable would be my next guess.

If thats the case, all the lights should shut off or dim when he tries to crank it.

Aaron Z

 

[Scooby074]

Make sure you push the PTO lever off FIRMLY. There is a little micro switch in there that can be really finicky if the lever isnt firmly bottomed out.

Also double check the F/R pedal. Make sure its centred. There is the possibility that the switch itself is broken or jammed in some way.

I think your issue is in the safety switch system some where.

 

[LostInTheWoods]

Nope. No luck. No combination of maneuvering the PTO, for/rev, neutral/hi/low, 4WD or 2WD makes any difference.

Lights come on fine. Glow light indicator lights up, fuel pump clicks, but absolutely nothing happens when turning key farther to start. The engine doesn't "cough", or make any sounds like its even trying to start.

Is it possible the fuel gelled after being in sub-20-degree weather for several hours?

Work schedule prevents me working on tractor for a while, but I will check the fuses at first opportunity. Other than that, my suspicion would be the kill switch in the seat, since it died just after I got off the tractor. But my experience with all things mechanical is almost nil, so I'm just guessing based on what I have read in some other threads.

 

[aczlan]

Nope. No luck. No combination of maneuvering the PTO, for/rev, neutral/hi/low, 4WD or 2WD makes any difference.

Lights come on fine. Glow light indicator lights up, fuel pump clicks, but absolutely nothing happens when turning key farther to start. The engine doesn't "cough", or make any sounds like its even trying to start.

Is it possible the fuel gelled after being in sub-20-degree weather for several hours?

Work schedule prevents me working on tractor for a while, but I will check the fuses at first opportunity. Other than that, my suspicion would be the kill switch in the seat, since it died just after I got off the tractor. But my experience with all things mechanical is almost nil, so I'm just guessing based on what I have read in some other threads.

Its not gelled fuel. Then it would crank and crank but not start (been there, done that). You can start out BX2660 without being in the seat, so its not the seat switch. It has to be the PTO switch, the fwd/rev switch, a fuse or a loose wire somewhere.

Aaron Z

 

[C4Ranch]

New idea. Starter wire is loose.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I had that problem with my BX. It was the seat safety, jumped up and down on the seat and it worked again. 3rd time I went a lookin'. Found the bracket for the switch was bent down, straightened it back up and works fine now 200 Hrs later.

Ron

 

[radioman]

lift the seat up and leave it up. If holding the pto lever back in off position doesnt work while attempting to crank engine, then check the wiring for pto. the bracket. try holding the button in with your finger instead and wiggle it. if it still fails, get underneath tractor and look at your HST switch. hold it in with your finger and attempt to crank it. you should be able to barely reach for key while holding switch in if you are 5 foot or taller. no need to get it started, but be able to diagnose it by getting it to crank. Did you check the while starter wire connector to make sure its all tight?
You should be able to find the problem as the BX starting safeties is pretty simple.

 

[LostInTheWoods]

OK. Finally got a chance to look at the tractor. I loaded up my tools and drove to the end of the road. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I sat down on the seat and turned the key. It started right up like nothing was ever wrong. Mind you, I touched nothing, I just put my rear on the seat and started her up. I got back off and let it warm up for about ten minutes, then got back on.

Frustrated by the previous issues, but smiling because she's working again, I drive the tractor back up the road. I get to the garage and put on the parking brake. Then I hop off to start the air compressor because the front tire is low, and the tractor immediately cuts off. And it will not start again.:hissyfit:

My guess is its gotta be the seat kill switch.

Going to walk back up the road - again - and get the truck. If you guys think of anything else, please let me know.


Lost

 

[C4Ranch]

Bypass the seat switch and be done with it.

 

[LostInTheWoods]

I got underneath the tractor and believe I've found the culprits. The seat switch seems fine, but some branches had worked their way up by the HST fan and looks like they were holding a contact switch next to the fan open enough to prevent a good contact.

In the first pic, you can see the largest stick on the left. Just behind the stick is a spring running straight up to the curved, not quite L-shaped, metal arm that connects to the white plastic encased contact in the center of the fourth pic.

The second pic is another view of the spring which is attached to a bolt. That bolt, when under tension of the spring, holds up another metal arm.

The third pic shows the culprits I removed next to a hammer for size comparison.

I've since been able to get on and off and start and stop the machine with not trouble. :cool2:

 

[MoKelly]

Congrats on figuring it out. It is just really really frustrating when you have a machine to help do rough, hard work and problems occur because some sticks interfere with all the foolish safety garbage our government requires. Just frustrating. Plus, we have to pay for all that stuff. Rant over.

MoKelly