CK35 Ignition Bypass Question

[alphabet1]

Hello,

I have been having some trouble starting my 2012 CK35 over the past 18 months or so.

The ignition switch turns to ON correctly, heats the glowplugs, opens the fuel solenoid, etc... but when the key is turned to Start there is nothing.

Over the past 18 months I have replaced the ignition switch, various relays, and occasionally had to jiggle a safety switch. All of these solutions are temporary, as eventually the same problem returns.

The battery, cables, ground and starter motor/solenoid are all good, so I am placing the blame on the endless safety interlocks that modern tractors seem burdened with.

When I connect the Big and Small terminals on the starter solenoid with a screwdriver the tractor starts up perfectly, so I have a cunning plan.

What are the negatives to connecting one wire to the battery positive and another to the Small terminal on the starter solenoid and linking them with a momentary switch (or push button) on the dash? This should allow me to bypass all the safety switches.

I understand the obvious negatives such as accidentally starting the tractor in gear, or with the PTO running, but having owned a Fiat tractor from 1978 to 2012 (with no such safety switches) that is not a problem for me.

I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on the matter.

Cheers.

 

[swnoel]

That's the great thing about living in this country... you can do that it you wish. I you're only going to bypass the starter using the switch it shouldn't start unless the key is on. It could move forward if in gear. If it's a hydro it shouldn't do anything? Too bad you're having the problem and can't figure it out in the first place.

 

[Amvcane]

Sounds like another case of internally oxidized battery cables. How did you determine that the battery cables are good?
These cables can look brand new and be completely oxidized to powder inside.
Pretty sure the only safety switch on the tractor is at the clutch.

 

[swnoel]

I would guess you could take a voltage reading off the battery posts then get a reading at the ends of the cables and see if there's a difference. Then get a reading while someone turns the engine over.

 

[alphabet1]

Thanks for the help.

Funnily enough, I'm actually in Portugal. So I hope the regulations are similar!

The battery cables were checked for a voltage drop (with a multimeter), and all seems OK.

Regarding the safety switches, everything seems a bit different over here. I don't have one on the clutch, but I have one on the brake, one in the seat, one on the high/low shifter and one on the PTO shifter. The tractor is a normal manual gearbox, and under normal conditions will not start unless the parking brake is on, the high/low shifter is in neutral, the PTO shifter is in neutral and someone is on the seat. That's European/Portuguese regulations for you, I suppose.

As long as my bypass plan does not cause any undue damage to the starter motor or any other parts on the tractor, then I am quite happy to do it. As evidenced by my Fiat tractor that I had for over 30 years, I tend to keep my machinery for a very long time, and my thought is that the bypass should help me avoid any future problems with safety switches and the like.

 

[swnoel]

If you have that many safeties my guess it's one of those. Did you check them all? My buddy is from Portugal via Angola.

 

[ritcheyvs]

... What are the negatives to connecting one wire to the battery positive and another to the Small terminal on the starter solenoid and linking them with a momentary switch (or push button) on the dash? This should allow me to bypass all the safety switches.

I understand the obvious negatives such as accidentally starting the tractor in gear, or with the PTO running, but having owned a Fiat tractor from 1978 to 2012 (with no such safety switches) that is not a problem for me. ...

I think you answered your own question. I would add that an un-fused wire to the battery has hazards all of its own. Your plan may be an expedient to avoid getting stranded but there is value in fixing it right. As far as safeties go, the US models only have a clutch and PTO safety (no seat safety until later years), which are sufficient IMO. The intermittent nature of your problem suggests a bad connection or damaged wire. You might try applying contact cleaner or no-ox on connections during any future troubleshooting.

 

[100 td]

I feel your pain, but it's generally better to fix the cause, not the symptom. Do you have a service manual for it?

 

[3Ts]

I have a similar problem. My battery is good, etc. but when I go to start it, nothing happens. By passed the safety switches, still no-start. Finally traced it down to the connector on the key switch. It's a new key switch and I have to wiggle it just right before any of the lights come on. It's a contact problem in the connector so I'll have to take it apart and clean it somehow. Then I'll have to put the safety switch back in. But, in the meantime, it works fine without the safety switch and the key switch is only used for start and glow plugs, just be sure all the controls are in the proper position before starting.