JD 755 not starting

[SwampLife]

Little back ground to this problem and FYI I'm still new to tractors.
First I checked the oil prior to operating and noticed that it was low, not even on the stick. Then noticed that there are 2 oil caps, one looks like it's on the valve cover and another straight to the block. Seemed odd to me, so I looked at the manual on which to put the oil in, no real answer so I pour it in the block cap.
Next I start running the bush hog, pretty hard all day, end up getting stuck in a hole and it overheats while in trying to get it unstuck.
Filled the radiator up and try running, but the coolant light comes on again.
Ordered a new thermostat and install it, try to start and nothing, hook it up to cables, nothing.
I then decided to check the battery, auto store says it's bad, so I buy another one.
Install the battery and still nothing.

I'm thinking next it would be a starter, but why would I encounter so many problems all at once. I just don't want to replace every part in this thing trying to chase something I'll never find. Does anyone have any tips, I'm getting to my wits end.

 

[gimmodog]

did you turn the PTO off

 

[kthompson]

SwampLife, tell about the tractor. How long have you had it and how well do you know it. My reading have the impression it is right new to you. If might good for you to find a good mechanic to go over it. For the oil to be that low it has been neglected or else it uses or leaks engine oil right heavy. Battery being bad could be just it's age or had not been run often enough to keep it charged or the charging system is not working for some reason. It running hot is again an indication of being neglected.

There are many reasons it could be running hot. Just trying one part after another with no idea the reason can be very expensive. Always begin trouble shooting with the simple and lowest cost option. Is the fan belt in good condition and tight. Use air from air hose or leaf blower to clean the fins of the radiator. Check the air filter carefully. If clogged will run hot. Check the coolant to be sure it is decent condition and right ratio. If you do not have a coolant check gauge they are just a few dollars. If these do not solve the over heating issue it could be thermostat, water pump, clogged radiator or even heavy rust in the engine itself. If those maintenance issue

Simple test of the charging system if you don't an electrical meter is to crank the tractor and remove the ground cable from the batter. Turn on the tractor lights. If they work the system probably is charginis g.

On the engine oil being low look for signs of a leak which I think is not likely. The problem, could be someone just never fully filled it but also could be engine uses oil due to many many hours or poor service or combo of the two. Hope it is not that. Be sure you use diesel oil and new filters. Check the oil often until you have good idea if it uses oil or leaks so you do not run it low and really damage the engine.

I suggest you do or have a tractor mechanic do complete and full maintenance on it. That should help give you a good idea of it's overall condition and a base line for further service. Do not miss changing the hyd oil and most likely the transmission oil being the same.

Forgot the not starting issue, you did not say it was not turning over and not firing or not turning over. If not turning over then could be bad starter, batter cable or just bad connection. Also could be you have some in wrong position to start, keeping the safety switches from allowing the system from turning over the engine which is to protect YOU and the tractor. If it is turning over and not firing, are you sure you have fuel. Is it fresh fuel and not gelled. Check the fuel filter(s), be sure there is no manual fuel cut off engaged, normally if a tractor has one it is knob you pull. If you are not sure if fuel is coming out the tank if filter is below the tank open it and see if fuel drains out. If engine is turning over get a helper to shoot short burst of WD-40 into the engine air intake and it will fire with WD-40 and is safer than starting fluid.

 

[SwampLife]

Thanks guys. Yes the PTO was turned off, first thing I checked, but now I might check the cables for that, good thought.
The tractor is fairly new to me, and I did have a full service by John Deere, not too expensive $450, but when I changed out the thermostat it looked like the gasket was original. Makes me wonder how much was actually serviced and what was just looked at. That's kind of why I'm hesitant to bring it back to them honestly and now why I'm try to figure this all out. They said all the standard fluids and filters were changed, they did say it was low on hydro or oil, which one slips my mind at the moment.
I guess my main concern is, how long does that dummy radiator light come on before you encounter serious problems. I'm thinking I noticed right away and shut it down, but I'm hoping I didn't blow a head gasket or maybe somehow lock up the motor. That is me though usually, my mind tends to drift towards the worst possible scenario.

 

[Coyote machine]

Do NOT disconnect the battery ground cable to 'test' your electrical system function. Doing so can destroy your alternator needlessly by damaging the diodes inside it. Test your electrical system properly with the proper tools, or have a skilled mechanic do the work.

Some Kioti tractors have a similar two fill ports for oil - one being in the block. Kioti tells their customers to use the block fill port for oil, NOT the valve cover because of the possibility of hydrolocking one's engine- not something one wants to happen, so keep filling the crankcase at the block port. Why take a chance on something bad happening?

It's NOT both the battery AND the starter! What's the back story on your tractor, you don't know where to put the oil, and so on? How did you come by it to begin with? The Deere service said the oil was low, or the hydro oil, but you're not sure which one? If they did a full service for that money, the oil should have read full when you checked it. Was it on level ground with the engine cold when you checked the stick? They wouldn't have changed the T-stat gasket unless they were replacing the T-stat. Do you have the service slip from them? Doesn't sound like they did squat from what you report the results to be. I'd call them and tell them what you found- low oil, etc.
How many hours on the machine?
Since they last worked on it, if they ran it with low or possibly no oil in it they could be on the hook if it's seized.
How much oil did you put in?

 

[SwampLife]

Found the reason for the tractor not starting, it ended up being the ignition switch. I am in the process of ordering a new one at the moment. However I am still concerned about the oil level and of course the overheating issue. Once I get the switch installed I guess it's on to the next set of problems to troubleshoot.

One question I have though, is there supposed to be a hose connected to the nipple or breather on top of the valve cover? Is this vented to the atmosphere or is this something that is hooked back up to the intake somewhere?

Also, does anyone have a good site to order parts off of, or maybe even a parts diagram for these tractors. Thanks again for the helpful replies.