JD 265 lawn/garden tractor is dead? Help

[llmark01]

Out Little League president was cutting grass at one of our fields with a JD 265 tractor. He hit a large pipe with the mower blades and the tractor STOPPED dead, immediately. It does not start or turn over. The battery has 12v and the 2 fuses are ok. Any suggestions as to what happened and how to get this running again?

 

[Molerj]

Try turning it over by hand. Grab hold of the bottom pully & see if you can turn it. If you can't then you may have big problems. If you can, then it may be one of the saftey switches. Try jumping directly from the battery to the starter to see if it will turn over. If it does, then let's assume it is a safety switch or possibly the ignition switch, solenoid etc. There is alot of other things to check but let's find out if the engine will turn over first.

 

[Joe1]

I don't know how a 265 is configuered, but I get goose bumps trying to turn a motor over by the pulley with the belts waiting to take my fingers off. Sure hope the ignitionis off when he trys. I know it won't start, but still, if something can go wrong, etc.etc.etc.

Joe

 

[llmark01]

Thanks for the reply!

I have turned the motor flywheel by hand, a little bit. The pulley turns with it so I assume the motor is ok. My thought is that this is an electrical problem. The battery has 12v, but when the key is turned I just get a clicking sound...and its not the starter... I will test voltage at the starter and if I have 12v then I will try power directly to the starter. I will also chcik the ignition switch.

I am trying to obtain a JD Technical Manual for this tractor off of eBay. John Deere wants like $130 bucks for one. We were able to push the tractor into the shed after we figured out how to make it free wheel.

THanks..Mark

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> when the key is turned I just get a clicking sound </font>

Remove and clean all of the battery cables at both ends, charge up the battery and see if it goes. Clicking has almost always been a loose battery cable or bad ground for me. Maybe something got knocked loose when he hit something.

 

[llmark01]

From the location of the sound, I think it is just a relay making ths noise.

 

[Molerj]

Ok, the clicking sound more than likely is a saftey switch. Are you sure the pto switch is off? You may try putting it on & off a few times & then trying. Also see if you can get someone else to help to see if you can find out where the click is coming from. They can turn the key while the other searches for the sound. Keep at it & I'm sure we can find the problem.

 

[jpr62902]

I had a similar problem on an old Craftsman. Used a screw driver to short the solenoid posts and it started right up. Kinda scary -- lots of sparks. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[llmark01]

Well...I found the first problem! The starter is dead as a doornail. I took it off and tested it myself...then just to be sure took it to a local autoparts store for confimation. Its dead. The sad thing is this starter is only about 4 months old...and a JD starter for this tractor is $430!

Does anyone know where we can get a rebuilt one or get this one repaired. I doubt if JD would honor any kind of warrenty for this problem...that is if there is even a warrenty on a starter!

 

[KCB]

In addition to the other suggestions, I would recommend checking the flywheel / crankshaft key. Often, when an engine is stopped so abruptly, the key will shear. This shouldn't keep the engine from turning over, but it will throw the engine timing off. The result can keep it from starting or significantly decrease engine power.

This happened to my step-dad on a 12 hp riding mower. The engine seemed to run fine at high and low idle but had no torque. The muffler also glowed red. A local shop wanted to replace the entire engine. He was happy as a pig in poop when I charged him 10 cents for parts (only as a joke of course).

Good luck!