Branson 3520R question

[glenster69]

I own a 3520 with 200 hours on it. Last weekend I did some mowing and parked the tractor for a couple of days and forgot to clean the front off. I got back in the tractor and started to move some dirt, looked down 10-15 minutes later and thermostat was pegged on hot. I drove tractor to my shop and cleaned the front off and opened the radiator up of course losing some antifreeze there so I replaced it and let it all cool down. I cranked the tractor and let it run for a few minutes and killed it. When I did this the hazard lights came on and the tractor will not start again. It acts like it has power but will not turn over. It sort of clicks so could this be a starter issue or something worse? Is there another way to start it? It is under warranty but having issue with getting dealer to call me back at this time. Any thoughts?

 

[ericm979]

Often when the starter clicks but the engine won't turn over it's because the battery is low. If you have a volt meter check the battery. It should be 12.6v, plus or minus a bit. 12 or lower isn't good.

I'd check that the fan/alternator belt is still there and is tight. A missing or very loose belt could cause the fan to not turn much and the alternator to not charge, leading to overheating and low battery. My manual says .4-.6 inches of play.

 

[52wej]

You also may want to check the battery cables to be sure they are not corroded at the connections. W Jones

 

[glenster69]

Hey guys thanks for your responses but each of those things check out ok, any other ideas?

 

[ericm979]

Does the crank shaft move at all when you try to start it? I'd verify that the crank can move. I'm not sure how easy it is to get an engine that size to turn over by hand. On my B7100 I could do it with a wrench on the crank pulley bolt, but it was half the displacement as your 3520.

Dunno why the hazards would come on. Bransons don't have as many computers as other tractors- the fuel injection is mechanical. Unless you mean that the dashboard warning lights came on?

 

[glenster69]

I recently had issue with the DPF as I was not originally told to run at higher RPM but I fixed that myself but yes Eric the hazard lights physically came on and that has never happened to me before. It will try to crank and the DPF light will light back up so I dunno still have had not return calls from dealer. Will try again next week I guess. Have not been able to turn the crank.

 

[ericm979]

What was your DPF issue?

If the DPF is clogged there's an emergency bypass bolt on the exhaust manifold. It's small but it's there to let enough exhaust out so the engine will run enough to get the tractor out of the way or on the trailer.

 

[glenster69]

The DPF had gotten clogged so I took it off and blew it out before putting it back on which fixed it. From that, I learned that you have to run these tractors at higher rpms to alleviate that particular issue. I bought the whole package deal from Branson with the trailer and when I picked it up they had it all loaded on trailer and through me to the wolves as this is my first tractor. I have learned a lot from this purchase and have at times been very disappointed that they weren't more forthcoming with this type of information and other issues. If I don't get a return call next week from them, I will just have to blow my fuse again.

 

[Texasmark]

I own a 3520 with 200 hours on it. Last weekend I did some mowing and parked the tractor for a couple of days and forgot to clean the front off. I got back in the tractor and started to move some dirt, looked down 10-15 minutes later and thermostat was pegged on hot. I drove tractor to my shop and cleaned the front off and opened the radiator up of course losing some antifreeze there so I replaced it and let it all cool down. I cranked the tractor and let it run for a few minutes and killed it. When I did this the hazard lights came on and the tractor will not start again. It acts like it has power but will not turn over. It sort of clicks so could this be a starter issue or something worse? Is there another way to start it? It is under warranty but having issue with getting dealer to call me back at this time. Any thoughts?

All of a sudden problem after what you said...don't expect a favorable warranty claim, problem your doing (no fault of the tractor). On removing the radiator cap with it hot, hopefully you didn't get blasted with scalding hot cooling fluid. Where did the spray go?????? Where is your relay/fuse box? Any get in it? Any safety sensors (that prohibit starting) get soaked? Did you forget and leave the PTO on?

 

[glenster69]

I was not expecting a favorable warranty claim there Mark, fuse box in back not sure about safety sensors and no didn't leave the pto on. Just weird how the hazard lights came on and now it won't start. Apparently no other person has had this happen so I will just have to bite the bullet and drop it off at the dealer. It is what it is

 

[Texasmark]

I was not expecting a favorable warranty claim there Mark, fuse box in back not sure about safety sensors and no didn't leave the pto on. Just weird how the hazard lights came on and now it won't start. Apparently no other person has had this happen so I will just have to bite the bullet and drop it off at the dealer. It is what it is

When you say it won't start, describe what happens when you put the key in the ignition, turn it to ON and the glow indicator comes on, and then the indicator goes out and you roll it on over to START.....clutch is depressed, PTO off, you are in the seat, shifter is in N............does it do anything, solenoid clicks or not, starter rolls or not, engine rolls but doesn't light, fuel valve opened (listen for the click when you turn to ON)........

 

[glenster69]

It does all of this until the start portion, it clicks or more like thumps. I really think that when I sprayed off the radiator screen I got something wet, just gotta figure it out.

 

[ericm979]

Sounds like you got water in the electrics. Maybe that's why the hazard flashers came on. I'd start by checking the switch are behind the dash. There's also some electrics there. On mine there's a sealed computer on top of the battery in front of the radiator. It's the DPF monitoring computer. It's got a sealed connector but it could have been loose and gotten water in it. I don't know if yours has it. There's also an open OBD2 port there. It'll run with that computer unplugged- its just a data logger for the DPF- but shorts between the terminals might cause problems.

I blow my Branson's radiator out with an air gun on a compressor, from the engine side. (not too high a pressure or too close, don't want to bend the fins on the radiator). I remove the screen and blow it off too if it looks like it needs it. I've been having to do it after nearly every couple hour chipping session as the new chipper blows stuff into the air and it's been windy with variable direction. The tractor ends up covered in chips and dust. It only takes about 10 minutes to clean up the chipper, tractor and radiator. I learned on my Kubota B7100 to not neglect the radiator screen. I was chipping on a hot day and the tractor started making a loud whistling noise. Kubota put a whistle on the end of the overflow tube so you can tell the engine's overheating as there is no temp gauge. It's better to keep up on the radiator cleaning than to let it go and have more work to do when it's really dirty or clogged.

 

[Cougsfan]

One thing that is frustrating about my Branson (and I assume most other Bransons) is how the exhaust shoots forward in toward the front of the tractor. This contributes significantly to the chaff that gets blown into the radiator. Particularly when your supposed to run them at a fairly higher than normal RPM. I would like to take it to a muffler shop and have it modified to blow another direction, but that is a hassle I haven't taken the time to address.

 

[ericm979]

A slip on extension with a turn on the end, aimed to the side, might do. You can find them at hot rod/racing parts vendors like Jegs or Summit. It hasn't been a problem for me yet but mowing season just started and everything's still green.

 

[52wej]

Be careful how you add an extension to the end of the exhaust line, on some of the narrower tractors; 3510 for example, the front wheel will rub the exhaust line extension when making a sharp turn. Can break the exhaust line mounts if you are not careful. :2cents:
You have a real head scratcher glenster. Good luck finding the issue. W. Jones

 

[Texasmark]

Agree with the above and what got wet may be the clutch safety switch which could have gotten wet from what you said....requires the clutch in to start engine, then there is the shifter switch on my 2400 which has to be in N and then the seat switch and then the PTO off switch.