870 wont start, no power at dash

[demcpita]

Greetings and thanks in advance for any help. I have a JD 870. Son was using bucket to haul wood from the barn. He dropped a piece, stop to pick it up and for some reason turned tractor off. When he jumped back on and turned key, he got nothing. No crank, no power to dash, nothing. Dead as a door knob. I checked battery and have voltage to starter and back of ignition switch. When I turn the key I loose the power to the back of the ignition switch. Again, any help is appreciated.

 

[arlen4720]

sounds like bad connections at the battery. I would remove the terminals from the battery, clean everything up nice and shiny, and also clean up frame ground and connection to starter.

 

[murphy1244]

Is the pto on?

 

[demcpita]

PTO is not on, battery connections are good. I'll look at the frame ground. Curious as to why I'd have power to ignition switch when key is off, but loose it as soon as I turn key. I get no click, not flash of lights, nothing. Thanks again.

 

[murphy1244]

You know you have power to the switch but not coming out?

 

[madmax12]

If hydrostat, be certain pedal is in neutral position. Slightly forward or reverse position can prevent start. It has for me.

 

[demcpita]

Murph, using my volt meter, I touch the top center contact on the back of the ignition switch and get 12.8 volts. When turning the key, same contact drops to 0.

 

[murphy1244]

You need to load test your battery. that's a big drop on start. can you jump it?

 

[demcpita]

No can't jump it. Get nothing, even pulled battery out of truck and put in. No dash lights, nothing.

 

[murphy1244]

Can you jump at the starter? I'm thinking your switch is broke just want to see if it will crank at the starter