Ignition Problem Ford 1710

oldford1710 · Jul 30, 2011

Hello,

I'm kind of new to my old tractor and started having an ignition problem today.

At problem start glow looked to be working but all that happened when attempt to start was a solenoid click. Assumed bad battery and jumped it with same result. Swapped out the battery with same result plus now started intermitently having no lights for glow or ignition on.

Now no indiction of juice with key on - no lights, horn, solenoid click.

Checked battery and its at 12.6 volts. Now it gets strange.

Pulled of wire from positive terminal on the solenoid and have 12.6 volts there, but when I put it the wire back on the solenoid says 0.1 volts. This may be a red herring with bad contact, but I have had it off and on several times with same result.

During one of my removals of large wires from solenoid, I hit something and the engine tried to turn over - but I can't recreate this. We had previously tried to jump accross solenoid with no luck.

Not sure why, but I have some suspicion its the ignition key or the wiring from the key to the solenoid/starter.

Anybody seen anything like this. Is there a way to bypass the ignition switch to test when I pull it out?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Wolfy · Jul 30, 2011

Nice to see a fellow 1710 owner.....Have you traced the wires from the ignition switch to see if they are in good shape?

Wolfy · Jul 30, 2011

You should be able to connect the wires from the ignition switch together, and the tractor should start.

randy41 · Jul 30, 2011

i sometimes have a poor negative battery side to ground wire that i replace and it solves the problem. i would also check the connections on the key switch to see that there are no loose wires. if you have an ohm meter you can check the continuity of the wiring. these are the steps i start with. the key switch is annoying to work with because i think the voltage regulator is right behind it.
i also recently replaced the starter and it was doing something like what you describe, i turned the key and it clicked but no action beyond that.

Wolfy · Jul 30, 2011

Good steps from Randy. Everything is clustered behind the dash.:confused2:

oldford1710 · Jul 30, 2011

Thanks for the quick reply. The wires to the ignition aren't really in great shape, but they are pretty easy to trace. I saw that some disassembly was required to get at the ignition switch.

I'm wondering if I am discounting the ground idea for no good reason. I'm measuring the battery from the neg post and get the same reading if I hit positive and ground to the frame, so I didn't pull the battery wire that goes to the frame (ground) off.

The other thing that is suspect is the wire (braided cable) that is also attached to the pos input on the solenoid and goes into the starter.

I need to dig up my wiring diagram.

I guess my take is that with a bad starter or bad solenoid the lights should come on. But, maybe not since the main juice seems to be hitting the post on the solenoid and then going through the solenoid or starter somehow for continuation of the circuit.

Wolfy · Jul 30, 2011

I suspect either its the starter solenoid or the ignition switch, which also would run the lights. If you jump the starter with a screwdriver, I think that could tell you if the solenoid is any good.

oldford1710 · Jul 30, 2011

Jumping the solenoid did not work. You thinking solenoid? Shouldn't the headlights etc work if the ignition switch is on, even with a bad solenoid?

randy41 · Jul 31, 2011

take the starter leg off the solenoid and apply 12v to the starter and see if it turns at all.
another thing that can cause a problem is the transmission safety switch....this requires that the tractor is out of gear for the ignition to work.
when you turn the key to the first position do the 2 red lights come on on the tach?
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/new-holland-owning-operating/208022-1710-starter-dead.html
you should read through the thread i linked to.

oldford1710 · Jul 31, 2011

When the problem started, I got the 2 red lights and headlights, and a solenoid click and nothing else.

Then the lights and click became intermittant and now nothing happens at all lights or happens when I turn the key.

This all happened in the period of 10 or 20 tries while attempting to jump it and then swapped out the battery with one that starts a pickup fine.

Is the starter test jumping across the solenoid? Tried that with no luck. I'm not sure I understand the procedure.

Thanks for the link to your thread. It will help. I read through it quickly and will go back and reread.