LS Tractor Won't Start After Hooking Up Bush Hog

[TractorGunn]

Not sure what to do here, hooked up the LS brush hog and when I turn the key it does nothing.

Brake is on. PTO switch is off. Ran fine when I boxed the road, went to bush hog and this is where I am stuck.

Anybody know what went wrong, or what it could be?

 

[monkeyduster]

Sounds like it could be a safety switch problem. Maybe check seat switch, neutral or if hydro the switch activated by the pedal. Also check battery connections as sometimes a loose ground can be a problem on some models.

 

[Torvy]

I had a similar problem once. The selector switch was off, but I had bumped the on-off toggle. I assumed the switch off was sufficient, I was wrong.

 

[5030]

Do the easy stuff first and first check the battery and if good, clean the terminals and the clamps as well as the ground lug for corrosion.

 

[TractorGunn]

I did notice that prior to this the battery indicator showed it was in the 14 volt range. I don't recall if this was when it was running, or when it was simply reading that when the key was in the on position before I started it.

Now when the key is in the on position it is reading around 12.4 volts. But again, not sure if it was reading in the 14 volt range only because it was running and the alternator was engaged.

 

[WinterDeere]

12.4 volts is normal when not running, and 14 volts would be normal when running/charging. If voltage drops near zero when trying to start, it would indicate a bad connection, such as corroded battery terminals, bad connection of ground wire to chassis, or loose positive connection at solenoid.

But my money is on some safety switch or selector lever just getting knocked out of position, but not obvious. Move every damn lever on the machine, and hop up and down on the seat a few times. You could always get a schematic and try to identify every interlock switch in the starter path, but those wiring diagrams published for most tractors can be awful hard to read and trace with any real confidence you're not missing anything.

 

[newbury]

when I turn the key it does nothing.

To clarify:
Can you hear a click from something engaging?
Does it engage the starter at all?
Does seem like a "safety" problem.
On my B7610 I had a bad habit of bumping the forward/neutral/reverse lever just enough to set off a switch.

 

[TractorGunn]

12.4 volts is normal when not running, and 14 volts would be normal when running/charging. If voltage drops near zero when trying to start, it would indicate a bad connection, such as corroded battery terminals, bad connection of ground wire to chassis, or loose positive connection at solenoid.

But my money is on some safety switch or selector lever just getting knocked out of position, but not obvious. Move every damn lever on the machine, and hop up and down on the seat a few times. You could always get a schematic and try to identify every interlock switch in the starter path, but those wiring diagrams published for most tractors can be awful hard to read and trace with any real confidence you're not missing anything.

I noticed the joy stick was jammed but I got it moving freely. Did the seat thing, moved every lever mutliple times, with no success.

I did a search and AI said the pto and shaft could be in a bind, but I don't think that's the case.

Ran great until I hooked that up. 1 year old tractor.

 

[TractorGunn]

To clarify:
Can you hear a click from something engaging?
Does it engage the starter at all?
Does seem like a "safety" problem.
On my B7610 I had a bad habit of bumping the forward/neutral/reverse lever just enough to set off a switch.

Yes, I hear a click, but the starter doesn't engage.

BTW, this is an HST.

 

[TractorGunn]

I had a similar problem once. The selector switch was off, but I had bumped the on-off toggle. I assumed the switch off was sufficient, I was wrong.

Not sure what you mean by selector switch. Are you talking about the L H M N switch?

 

[Torvy]

No. My tractor has a PTO switch (manual/off/auto). There's a separate toggle button to engage it.

 

[TractorGunn]

No. My tractor has a PTO switch (manual/off/auto). There's a separate toggle button to engage it.

Gotcha. Mine has a knob that you turn to the right to engage, to the left to disengage, and it pops up higher thanwhen engaged. I can hear it click at the PTO in both position, so it seems to be working.

 

[GS650GL]

The seat switch has nothing to do with it, you don't need to be in the seat to start it. The only safety switches on that model with a hydro transmission that affect starting are in the pto switch and the forward/reverse pedal neutral switch. 12.4 volts would be normal with the engine off. Don't listen to AI, they don't know anything. A pto shaft isn't going to prevent it from starting. Even though the pto switch is off, turn the switch on and back off a couple times. I have seen numerous no starts fixed by doing this. Then check all the fuses. Hold the key switch in the start position and push on the forward/reverse pedals to see if you find a spot where the starter engages. Inspect the forward/reverse neutral switch and wires, sometimes a stick gets jammed up in there and damages the wiring or switch. If you have an optional mid pto, make sure it is off. Turn the lights on and see if they work, then turn the key to start and see if they dim or go out. If so, you have a bad power connection or bad ground.

 

[Eagle1]

If it clicks when you turn the key it appears to activate the solenoid. The solenoid contacts connect the big power cable from the battery to the starter. I would guess either the solenoid is not fully engaging, the contacts a not good or the battery power or ground is dropping out.
Maybe just a tap on the solenoid will help or it is time to grab a volt meter and chase the power. I know that ground (just through the bolts, etc) to the starter has been an issue on some LS machines. Make sure the battery is WELL grounded and the same for the starter.

One more thought make sure the HST petal switch shows the petals are not pressed. If you HST neutral switch is not made it will not start.
In the OP manual and has a diagram and this procedure.

z Adjustment of NEUTRAL setting of
the HST control.
1. Stop tractor on a flat ground and stop the engine.
2. Lift the rear wheels of the tractor off the ground
sufficiently by using a hoist. If there is no hoist,
use a suitable device to lift the tractor safely.
For tractor weight, refer to the section 6,
“Dimension and Specification” in this manual.
3. Place the 4WD lever to 2WD position and apply
the wheel chock to the front wheels. It is
necessary for the tractor not to move when the
engine starts.
4. After loosening bolt(1) in half, adjust the height of
forward pedal and reverse pedal to be same by
turning shaft(2) to the left/right little by little. After
adjusting, tighten the bolt(1).
5. Start the engine after checking that HST neutral
switch is pressed by the linkage.
6. Loosen locking nut(5) and turn HST rod(6) slightly to the left or right with checking that rear axle
does not rotate anymore. Tighten the locking nut(5).
7. Check if HST neutral switch(3) is pressed or not. If the switch is not pressed, loosen bolt(4) and
adjust the position of HST neutral switch(3).

 

[TractorGunn]

The seat switch has nothing to do with it, you don't need to be in the seat to start it. The only safety switches on that model with a hydro transmission that affect starting are in the pto switch and the forward/reverse pedal neutral switch. 12.4 volts would be normal with the engine off. Don't listen to AI, they don't know anything. A pto shaft isn't going to prevent it from starting. Even though the pto switch is off, turn the switch on and back off a couple times. I have seen numerous no starts fixed by doing this. Then check all the fuses. Hold the key switch in the start position and push on the forward/reverse pedals to see if you find a spot where the starter engages. Inspect the forward/reverse neutral switch and wires, sometimes a stick gets jammed up in there and damages the wiring or switch. If you have an optional mid pto, make sure it is off. Turn the lights on and see if they work, then turn the key to start and see if they dim or go out. If so, you have a bad power connection or bad ground.

Actually have to be in the seat on this one for it to start, as per manual.

 

[ismilelots]

If you have a hydro, crawl under and look up at the pedals to make sure there are no sticks or rocks stuck in the little switch there. It'll run while it's jammed, but won't restart once you shut if off. Had it happen so many times that I bypassed that switch.

 

[TractorGunn]

If you have a hydro, crawl under and look up at the pedals to make sure there are no sticks or rocks stuck in the little switch there. It'll run while it's jammed, but won't restart once you shut if off. Had it happen so many times that I bypassed that switch.

It started a couple of times after I shut it off. Since I've hooked up the brush mower, it won't turn over. But I will get under there and look, who knows?

 

[weehu72]

I've had something similar where my LS seemingly spontaneously would not start. Turns out I had bumped one of the levers for selecting which PTO is on (not the nob for engaging the PTO, I'm talking about the levers for selecting whether the mid PTO and/or rear PTO are engaged). Making sure both those levers are in the off/disengaged position allowed the tractor to start.

 

[WinterDeere]

I did a search and AI said the pto and shaft could be in a bind, but I don't think that's the case.

Ran great until I hooked that up. 1 year old tractor.

We've reached the "nothing is too dumb to ask" portion of the thread when I say, "you have the PTO turned off when trying to start, right?"

 

[Branson2510hst]

Not sure what to do here, hooked up the LS brush hog and when I turn the key it does nothing.

Brake is on. PTO switch is off. Ran fine when I boxed the road, went to bush hog and this is where I am stuck.

Anybody know what went wrong, or what it could be?

Try pushing the PTO lever beyond the Off position.
Then back into the off slot.