Help! BX1870 electrical issue (no start)

[hdb5252]

I've owned my BX for a year now with no issues... until now. Last night I went to start it and as soon as the starter began to turn over when I turned the key, the tractor went completely dead including all of the lights on the dash. Taking the key out of the ignition and putting it back in and turning it did nothing. No lights at all.

I checked the fuses on the right side under the dash and they all looked good, so I tried starting it again but the same thing happened. It tried to turn over but died again, just like the first time. At that point I pulled the battery out and hooked it up to a charger which read 12.4V, but I let the battery charge anyway just to be sure. I put the battery back in but now I can't get any lights to come on at all no matter what.

I called the dealer but they won't even look at it for another 2 weeks so I'm stuck with a dead tractor until then. He mentioned something about the starter fuse being hard to get to on this tractor, but I haven't looked into that yet.

Would appreciate some help so I can do some mowing

 

[vanb]

When you turn the key, does the fuel gauge or temp move at all? I'd say bad cell in the battery, how old is it?

 

[94BULLITT]

Are the cables clean and tight?

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Are the cables clean and tight?

At _both_ ends? Battery and starter/frame?

Z.

 

[hdb5252]

OK I figured it out on my own in the meantime but thanks for your replies!

Turned out the nut holding the negative battery wire to the frame came off the tractor completely so it was an intermittent ground connection.

The sides and front grill come off the tractor pretty easily and from there it was an easy fix. There's also a 50 amp fuse next to the starter.