Ford 1710 Neutral Safety Switch

[SuperChief]

I have googled/youtube'd just about every where. I need to know where the actual switch is located, internal or external. I have traced the two white wires to the switch and tested in neutral and in gear with no readings. I attempted to remove the dash but can;t pull it up on the column to locate where those wires disappear. I am 77 and eyesight not great. Any removal instructions of the dash or switch is appreciated. Also if new switch is needed where to purchase. been all tractor sites and ebay no luck.

 

[Roadworthy]

The shop manual should tell where the switch is physically located. It is unlikely to be in the dash. You can check with the Ford / New Holland dealer as a possible source for a look at the manual or they may even be able to tell you where to find the switch.

 

[JC-jetro]

I have googled/youtube'd just about every where. I need to know where the actual switch is located, internal or external. I have traced the two white wires to the switch and tested in neutral and in gear with no readings. I attempted to remove the dash but can;t pull it up on the column to locate where those wires disappear. I am 77 and eyesight not great. Any removal instructions of the dash or switch is appreciated. Also if new switch is needed where to purchase. been all tractor sites and ebay no luck.

Neutral Safety Switch is a normally open switch to keep starter from coming on. It is wired in series with the staring circuit. It is normally activated with stepping on the clutch. Need to clutch to turn the starter and it keeps the tractor from unintended longing forward when the tractor is in gear. As the name implies it is a safety feature. Attached pics show how neutral switch is situated for Ford 1700. A simple test light should verify if it is working or not. clutch up and it should be open , clutch compressed and the switch is made. Obviously you can adjust it up or down for proper engagement.

JC,

 

[SuperChief]

Neutral Safety Switch is a normally open switch to keep starter from coming on. It is wired in series with the staring circuit. It is normally activated with stepping on the clutch. Need to clutch to turn the starter and it keeps the tractor from unintended longing forward when the tractor is in gear. As the name implies it is a safety feature. Attached pics show how neutral switch is situated for Ford 1700. A simple test light should verify if it is working or not. clutch up and it should be open , clutch compressed and the switch is made. Obviously you can adjust it up or down for proper engagement.

JC,

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...42-ford-1710-neutral-switch-intermittent.html
This is as close as I can get, didn't find switch on clutch. Still want to push up the dash to get a look to see if wires are frayed. Thanks for the help. Guess I will 'soldier on; til all my questions make sense. I don't know the difference of 1700 vs 1710.

 

[JC-jetro]

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...42-ford-1710-neutral-switch-intermittent.html
This is as close as I can get, didn't find switch on clutch. Still want to push up the dash to get a look to see if wires are frayed. Thanks for the help. Guess I will 'soldier on; til all my questions make sense. I don't know the difference of 1700 vs 1710.

I looked at the link and could not see any pic there. Bottom line , pressing the clutch thru some linkage, direct or indirectly should close a normally open switch . I have it the same on any vehicle that I have that is gear. My Honda civic has the switch just next to the clutch disk. I recommend you to go and press the clutch and follow the pedal and all linkages to see the switch. switch can be internally located but that makes not a lot of sense as far as repair ability a and diagnostic. I will go to NH website to check it out.

 

[JC-jetro]

Hey Chief,
Here is a link for your neutral safety switch.

New Holland SBA385225 SWITCH

Case IH / New Holland: SWITCH, Part # SBA385225


It is part #54 in the attached PDF file/

 

[SuperChief]

I think I got it. now to find it internal/external. Kept getting kicked back to Messiks. Can you copy the URL for the pix so I can get me a paper trail? Mr. JC-jetro 'you da' man!

 

[JC-jetro]

I think I got it. now to find it internal/external. Kept getting kicked back to Messiks. Can you copy the URL for the pix so I can get me a paper trail? Mr. JC-jetro 'you da' man!

cool chief:thumbsup: I basically posted two links from two vendors to get the same part. You can see the same SBA # . See if you can buy it cheaper at any other vendor. The PDF is the parts break down. I would not hurry and buy the part just yet. you can very quickly and accurately test the switch. Let's find it first. The connector just might have come lose. wire might be broken somewhere else. Let's do a step by step diagnostic before shelling out any cash. Let me know when you find it, take a picture , post it and check the switch first. Since this is a safety , I do not recommend removing the switch from the starting circuit, but you can jump the wire at the switch to check the wiring from there to your ignition key. Do make sure the tractor is neutral, even better do it outside with nothing in front of the tractor if you end up jumping the wire. Report back with your finding.


SBA3852 - Google Search

 

[chander]

On the 1710 the switch is in the transmission, it uses a magnetic reed switch. There is a single wire coming out of the trans next to the shifter. You may have to remove the plastic cover to get at it.
If you disconnect that plug and check for resistance to ground when in neutral you should have zero if it is good. It uses this path to ground to complete the circuit.

 

[SuperChief]

Getting good feedback from posts here. I am still trying to get the dash metal up far enough to get to the wiring. There is a plug-in on two white wires just out of finger reach under the dash. I got the das loose but can't find what is holding it up. This prevents me from seeing/feeling which color wire goes into trans. Parked the tractor half in and half out of my carport. Left most hanging out in the sun due to ROPS. 77 years old and 99 degrees in the shade. Hope all of you are here when I get it figured out. thanks to all.

 

[chander]

I have found the easiest way to get to the dash wiring is remove the fuel tank. You are looking for the safety relay, that relay uses the ground from the neutral safety switch to close the relay.
Do you know how to jump start the tractor from the starter? If you are comfortable doing that, then use the tractor until this heat subsidies and get back to it.

 

[SuperChief]

I pulled the tank. I have checked most wires. Just want to check to make sure all are intact. Jump start not a problem as I have remote push button jumper I used on chevy's. Lotta running light wires burned, but not part of the problem. I am sure all suggestions listed here are useful to others also. Makes for a good way to diagnose problems. thanx to all.

 

[JC-jetro]

will be here Chief, We're rooting for you. You will get it for sure

 

[JC-jetro]

I have found the easiest way to get to the dash wiring is remove the fuel tank. You are looking for the safety relay, that relay uses the ground from the neutral safety switch to close the relay.
Do you know how to jump start the tractor from the starter? If you are comfortable doing that, then use the tractor until this heat subsidies and get back to it.

Interesting ! is there any opportunity to remove the switch without major disassembly? is there any linkage from clutch pedal to where the switch is externally? or is it all internal? The SBA # indicate the switch that might be mounted externally. Just to satisfy my curiosity, can you post a pic? do you know if there might be alternate revision of this design in later years?

JC,

 

[chander]

Interesting ! is there any opportunity to remove the switch without major disassembly? is there any linkage from clutch pedal to where the switch is externally? or is it all internal? The SBA # indicate the switch that might be mounted externally. Just to satisfy my curiosity, can you post a pic? do you know if there might be alternate revision of this design in later years?

JC,

On the 13,15 and 1710 the switch is internally mounted. These models do not have any switches on the clutch pedal. These models you have to put the gear selector in the neutral position to start.
This switch provides a path to ground to enable the starter relay. The relay is usually the problem, but is easy to troubleshoot.

 

[JC-jetro]

On the 13,15 and 1710 the switch is internally mounted. These models do not have any switches on the clutch pedal. These models you have to put the gear selector in the neutral position to start.
This switch provides a path to ground to enable the starter relay. The relay is usually the problem, but is easy to troubleshoot.View attachment 664433View attachment 664434

Thanks for the pic. I personally think it is a bad design. The stick shift cover cover can be removed to have access to the switch but that's a bunch of unnecessary work. Saying that and if switch is a magnetically operated reed switch then they are very robust . what happens when you ground the wire ? does it completes the starting circuit?

 

[Mat4644]

Instructions and diagram from Ford repair manual

 

[chander]

Thanks for the pic. I personally think it is a bad design. The stick shift cover cover can be removed to have access to the switch but that's a bunch of unnecessary work. Saying that and if switch is a magnetically operated reed switch then they are very robust . what happens when you ground the wire ? does it completes the starting circuit?

Yes, when you ground the wire it pulls in the starter relay. The ones I have been around are very reliable. The only time I came across a switch that was a problem with is that metal shavings accumulated between the contacts. It created a higher resistance and would intermittently not close the relay. I had to remove the cover and clean the contacts of the metal shavings.

 

[JC-jetro]

Nice Mat, Thank you. I don't know if this design is any improvement over a simple external momentary switch, but it is what it is.

 

[crosspike77]

I'm new to this thread but about to tackle the Safety Switch under the transmission cover. I have a Ford 1700 with the two gear shift levers. I can verify one black wire leaving the transmission and travelling to the relay. My questions is at the relay connection. I have two wires that travel from the solenoid to the relay and then from the relay to #50 on the key switch. My question is where the black wire enters the relay. I have a second wire that leaves the relay but is connected to nothing. Where should this make a connection? Is it a ground to the tractor body?