Massey 1652: Dead

[jymbee]

Has always started with no problems whatsoever. Parked it about a week ago and went out to start it and... nothing. Totally dead. Figured I must have somehow left lights on or some such thing so connected to battery jump starter and it read 80%. Went ahead and charged it to 100% anyway. Still nothing happens when turning the key.

Some friends more mechanically inclined that I said that even though the battery read 100% it could still be the issue issue. Went to the dealer and their battery tester came back with "Replace Battery". Well, ok... it is the original battery and it's going on 10 years of use so what's a couple hundred bucks? Took the new battery home, hooked it up-- no difference whatsoever.

Same friends went over everything the could think of, fuses, position of various controls, etc. but couldn't come up with anything. Dealer mobil repair supposed to come in a couple of days but as that's bound to be a bit pricey, wondering if perhaps anyone here might have some suggestions as to where to look? I imagine there are MANY possibilities but figured worth a shot.

 

[5030]

Try cleaning the battery terminals.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Check any of the safety switches ... Occasionally my PTO switch will get stuck and it won't start, flick it with my fingernail and back to work!

 

[lpakiz]

Can you bypass all potential electrical issues by simply "jumping" the solenoid? If you attempt this, please be SURE the tractor is in neutral and the brakes firmly locked.
Jumping the starter is simply connecting the smaller "energiser" terminal on the starter to a source of 12 volts. The handiest source of 12 volts is the big battery cable on the starter.
If you do this and the engine cranks, you know that it is some fault in the circuitry that brings 12 volts to the small energizer terminal.

 

[jymbee]

Check any of the safety switches ... Occasionally my PTO switch will get stuck and it won't start, flick it with my fingernail and back to work!

Thanks, but yes all positions of all switches were checked.

 

[jymbee]

Can you bypass all potential electrical issues by simply "jumping" the solenoid? If you attempt this, please be SURE the tractor is in neutral and the brakes firmly locked.
Jumping the starter is simply connecting the smaller "energiser" terminal on the starter to a source of 12 volts. The handiest source of 12 volts is the big battery cable on the starter.
If you do this and the engine cranks, you know that it is some fault in the circuitry that brings 12 volts to the small energizer terminal.

Interesting idea. I will pass this along to the friends who are helping me with this. Thanks for the input.

 

[Casaid1]

Can you bypass all potential electrical issues by simply "jumping" the solenoid? If you attempt this, please be SURE the tractor is in neutral and the brakes firmly locked.
Jumping the starter is simply connecting the smaller "energiser" terminal on the starter to a source of 12 volts. The handiest source of 12 volts is the big battery cable on the starter.
If you do this and the engine cranks, you know that it is some fault in the circuitry that brings 12 volts to the small energizer terminal.

I second this. It will tell you where to start diagnostics. If jumping doesn't work. Change the batteries, and try again. If that doesn't work try bringing the starter in to get tested. If the starter and batteries are good. Try a new key solenoid/cylinder. If all of that is good. Determine continuity in all cables/connection/posts.

 

[lpakiz]

What my test above does is proves that the battery is adequate, the cables and connections and the starter motor are good.
Don't waste time looking for a fault there.

 

[jymbee]

By way of update...

Mobile tech from the dealer came to look at the tractor and after spending some time testing various connections, couldn't figure it out. I suppose a silver linking is that he also found a leak in one of the front axel connections which was all but dry. They will be pick up and bring into their shop next week.

I'll follow up, hopefully with what they found and fixed.

 

[Lou_B]

Can you bypass all potential electrical issues by simply "jumping" the solenoid? If you attempt this, please be SURE the tractor is in neutral and the brakes firmly locked.
Jumping the starter is simply connecting the smaller "energiser" terminal on the starter to a source of 12 volts. The handiest source of 12 volts is the big battery cable on the starter.
If you do this and the engine cranks, you know that it is some fault in the circuitry that brings 12 volts to the small energizer terminal.

I had this exact problem happen to our Club's 1650. Turned out to be an open battery ground connection where the negative cable bolts to the tractor frame. Easy fix after some head scratching.

 

[jymbee]

Well, got the tractor back from dealer service the other day. There were a few other minor issues I had them fix but as for the "totally dead not starting" issue, turned out to be a broken wire somewhere in the wiring harness. One of those, simple enough if you know where to look malfunctions I guess.

As others here mentioned (thanks to all who replied) could have been a multitude of things causing this but fortunarely turned out to be relatively minor. Back in business!

 

[Casaid1]

Well, got the tractor back from dealer service the other day. There were a few other minor issues I had them fix but as for the "totally dead not starting" issue, turned out to be a broken wire somewhere in the wiring harness. One of those, simple enough if you know where to look malfunctions I guess.

As others here mentioned (thanks to all who replied) could have been a multitude of things causing this but fortunarely turned out to be relatively minor. Back in business!

Just out of curiosity what did it end up costing to fix?

 

[jymbee]

Just out of curiosity what did it end up costing to fix?

Around fifty bucks for material to repair the broken connection they found. The axel leak wasn't all that expensive either but the transportation to/fro was, as I expected, the killer.

 

[Casaid1]

Around fifty bucks for material to repair the broken connection they found. The axel leak wasn't all that expensive either but the transportation to/fro was, as I expected, the killer.

View attachment 4258907

$50 to get it running is a DEAL! Glade it's running.