1401 won't start

[professor]

I need some suggestion on where I need to start. My tractor is dead. Where I turn the key there is nothing not even a click. The battery is hot and I tried a booster but nothing. Seems there is absolutely no fire to the starter. This past week it did this when I first turned the key but turning key off and back on it would catch and staet. Thanks for any help.

 

[284 International]

It sounds like you're facing a bad key switch, if fiddling with the key corrected the issue last time. There's also the possibility that there is a fault somewhere in the clutch safety switch circuit. You could try looking at the safety switch first, since it's the most exposed, then check the key wiring. Hopefully it is just a detached or loose/corroded terminal, and a cleaning and attachment of the wire to the terminal will give your tractor years more service.

 

[winston1]

Sounds like the ignition switch but do a little testing. Either jump across the big terminals on the starter or get a remote like this. Search results for: 'remote starter' Could possibly be a bad connection any place in the system. Checking, cleaning and tightening all is not a hard task. That is my thoughts.

 

[California]

Do your warning lights and/or headlights work with the key on? That indicates power is reaching the switch.

Several of us have had to replace the ignition switch when it became unreliable.

 

[professor]

I jumped across the terminals and the starter engaged with some hesitation. The engine started. Where do I go from here? Thanks

 

[professor]

I forgot to mention when the switch is on the lights, horn and flashers work.

 

[Wattsleft]

My 1401 used to have a mystery problem of starting too. It would start fine one day, the next nuthin. It turned out to be the clutch safety thing. I sprayed contact cleaner on the tabs and soo far it has been fine. Worked for me anyway.. Hope it helps....

 

[JD5210]

Had similar problem on my small tractor, turn key nothing, turn key again it would start. It turned out it was the solenoid on the starter. I found through much testing that I had power up to that point.

As suggest already it could be the key switch or for that matter a safety switch.

Maybe someone can send you a wiring diagram and you can starting testing things.

 

[winston1]

JD5210 is right on. You bypassed the solenoid when you jumped across the two large wires. Do you have a voltmeter? If so, touch the red lead to the small wire on the starter. Black to ground. Turn the ignition to crank. You should read 12+ dc volts. If so and it doesn't engage, your solenoid is probably bad. If not, look toward the switch.

 

[professor]

More to the saga! I disconnected the foot safety switch and cleaned the contacts still nothing. I then connected the wires to the foot safety switch and tried. It made a sound in the selenoid and then all went dead no lights, horn flashers. The battery still tests good but I can't test voltage because everything is dead. What could I have done? Did i fry the switch? I have taken the starter and selenoid off and will get them checked tomorrow. I promise this is the last I will post on this subject until I report getting it repaired. Thanks

 

[winston1]

I don't think the foot safety switch is related to your problem, however, if you disconnect it you will need to plug the 2 disconnected ends into each other to complete the circuit. Have you cleaned the negative battery cable connection where it grounds to the frame? All fuses still ok?

 

[MJPetersen]

If all went dead then I would suspect a bad battery connection--clean both ends of both battery cables. Everything going dead is not the solenoid. Do not fret about posting process posts. We are in this with you and like a "blow by blow" description of what is going on.

Mike

 

[clemsonfor]

I agree with the last 2. The foot switch is unrelated unless you were not pushing it one time or it works everynow and then. Im thinking the solonoid or most likely in my mind the switch is not "switching" power to the solonoid to tell it to start. Keep trouble shooting. And dont worry about the posts, it helps others in the future and it will document a step by step process to diagnose a tractor that wont start that exibits symptoms similar to yours. We like tracking these things down and helping you fix your problem that you had no idea which way to go from the start.

Fixing your own stuff is the only way to learn and boosts your confidence. Im sure its how we all learned. After a while you will learn all these tricks that pretty much work on any vehicle orr piece of equitment. Well up to the computer controlled computers intodays vehicles. There are so many sensors that can go bad, but its still process of elimination.

 

[Car Doc]

This is what you use a 12v test light for there isn't any guess work there either is voltage or there isn't and you work back from the small terminal on the solenoid to the switch. And if there is power at the small terminal then the solenoid or brushes are probably bad in the starter basic electrical diagnosis 101! good luck

edit: the clutch safety switch can be jumped temporarily at the harness side for test purposes ONLY be careful with that as to where to stand etc when using a starter button or jumper wires at the starter make sure its out of gear!

 

[professor]

I found the problem. It was a bad clutch safety switch.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Car Doc]

Your welcome thanks for posting the fix!