Help With JD 318 please

[wdenton]

Hello
I inherited a JD 318 with the onan engine removed and a Honda engine installed.
So technically I own a HonDeere

Yesterday I was mowing the lawn and leaned over to duck out of the way of a branch and the tractor stalled and will not start

If I turn the key nothing happens (no sounds no clicking and no dash lights)

I am guessing it is a safety switch but not sure if I am correct and I am not sure how to test them.
Also maybe a fuse but I cannot find where the fuses are.

Any help would be appreciated on helping me fix this would be great. I have half a lawn mowed and half a jungle starting.

 

[BKBrown]

The JD 318 is a great little tractor.
Who knows what they did when they changed the engine ? They may have even moved the fuse block.
It is probably a seat safety switch. I'd bounce up & down on the seat and maybe even hit it a few times where you sit. I doubt it is a fuse.

 

[wdenton]

Thanks for the reply

Where was the fuse box originally.

Also for the seat switch is there a way to Temp disable it to see if it is the problem.
I want the switch on since I have kids that also mow the lawn.
Or if they are not expensive should I just buy a seat switch and replace? (I am not sure how much they are)

 

[JD420]

For testing purposes you can unplug the seat switch and jump across the wires with a jumper wire. Also make sure that you have disengaged the pto switch. I have seen that a couple times were people say there tractor won't run, and the pto switch is still engaged.

 

[Zebrafive]

For testing purposes you can unplug the seat switch and jump across the wires with a jumper wire. Also make sure that you have disengaged the pto switch. I have seen that a couple times were people say there tractor won't run, and the pto switch is still engaged.

That's what I was thinking PTO is still "ON" not allowing it to start.

 

[wdenton]

I will check them both.

Will either of these cause the lights and the dash lights to not come on also?

Not sure how to jumper the connector to the seat switch. the connector has an end that has a post like a trailer light connector like these Bing Images

So do I stick the wire inside the post or wrap around the post and then stick the wire in the hole also?
Sorry for the dumb questions but I am definitely a little green in this area.

Also how do I disengage the PTO besides flipping the switch down?

I really appreciate the help you guys are giving me.

 

[wdenton]

After some research I found the part number but I am still not clear on how to jumper this
the seat switch part number is AM36850
Also I am not sure how to disengage the PTO

 

[beenthere]

I suspect there are two wires to the safety swithch, being that it is an older tractor. If so, just make up a short u-shaped wire that will plug into the connector and "jump" or connect one wire to the other.

 

[BKBrown]

If lights are not coming on -- it may be that you are not getting power from the battery to the ignition switch. It has been 11 years since I had my 318 so I don't remember all the fine details of the wiring. There is sometimes a fuse right at the connections to the battery. Follow those wires to the fuse block.

I will check them both.
Will either of these cause the lights and the dash lights to not come on also?
Is it possible that there is a fuse at the battery terminal ?

 

[Yellowfever440]

With a 318, some age, and a different engine from someone else. I would say it's a main fuse, battery or switch problem. It would be the ignition switch, starter solenoid or the battery cables themselves. They used to have 2 or 3 fuses. Two between the battery and the backside of the dash and one under the battery tray. To get to that one the battery and tray has to be removed, unless it has the removable panel on the right sode. If it has the panel it comes off with one bolt and the other side just slides behind the metal.

Seat switches usually don't kill everything. So when the key is turned on the dash lights should come one it just wouldn't crank I believe.