CT 450 Ignition Issue

[PaulP]

Have an intermittent multifaceted issue.

When I turn on the ignition key, I (sometimes) get the indicator lights to come on and the tractor will fire right up.

Sometimes, indicators will light up but but nothing happens unless I go tap on the starter solenoid:

Most times now however, when I turn the key "on" I get nothing! No indicator lights, no accessories, no headlights, no horn, nothing, NADA.

The battery has been tested and is good.

Checked ground from battery to frame; cleaned and good.

Cleaned the negative battery terminal (it did need attention) and finally got indicator lights and one start. (thought I had solved the problem) but then after I shut it down, NOTHING!

Replaced the ignition switch about six months ago and thought I had solved all the problems but now it's doing silly things again.

Of interest is that after I leave the tractor set (overnight for instance), when I first turn the key "on" I get a momentary flicker of indicator lights and then NOTHING.

I have played with PTO (in and out): I have long ago removed the safety cutoff under my driver's seat: I have moved the shifter in and out of neutral position several times, still nothing.

The only thing I haven't done is remove the ignition switch and check the blades on both sides of the connector but I doubt if that's the issue.

Looking for suggestions here.

(As an afterthought, having looked at other threads with similar issues, is it possible (or likely) the cables from my battery to the frame (ground) and/or the positive cable to the starter solenoid are actually bad? Some have indicated that sometimes the cables themselves deteriorate internally and it might be unnoticed from a visual inspection.)

Thanks,

 

[RjCorazza]

Very possible that one or multiple high current cables are bad. The symptoms you mention sure sound like a bad ground, or negative cables. Sometimes there are multiple ground cables at various points of the frame.
Also, doesn't sound like your problem, but the starter also gets is ground (probably) from the bolted on face to the block.

 

[PaulP]

OK, problem solved.

It was in fact, a bad positive cable running from the battery to the starter.

I replaced both the positive and the negative cables with new, #2 gauge welder's cable. I chose the welder cable because it it much more flexible than the same gauge automotive battery cables.

Everything is working fine now.

Thanks for the assistance.

 

[IndyIan]

OK, problem solved.

It was in fact, a bad positive cable running from the battery to the starter.

I replaced both the positive and the negative cables with new, #2 gauge welder's cable. I chose the welder cable because it it much more flexible than the same gauge automotive battery cables.

Everything is working fine now.

Thanks for the assistance.

Yep, I had a bad positive battery clamp, it kind of looked a bit rough from the outside but when I took it off the battery I could see it was corroding badly around the cable. I just cut back to shiney copper and put another clamp on and its been fine for years now.