JD 855 with no electrical power

[edwardsss]

Hi All,

I hoping someone has had a similar issue as I do with my John Deere 855. I've owned the tractor, without troubles, for about 10 years and there are about 800 hours on it on the meter. I drove the tractor out of the garage, starting it without a problem, and after a brief warm up then shut it off to refuel it. Next, I turned the key to start it, the starter began to turn over then I heard a click and all power went away. All power to the dash panel is gone, no lights, etc., no matter the switch position, and the starter will not activate. Flat out there is no electrical power. I have 12.5 volts to the ignition switch, and the ground wire to the ignition switch is good too. All of the fuses are intact. This tractor did not require the operator to be in the seat to start the tractor.

Has anyone else experienced this problem, or can you give me some idea where else to look for the break in the power?

Thank you,

Ed

 

[beenthere]

Clean the cable connections to the battery and at both ends.. may just be corrosion.

Then evaluate the age of the battery.. if 6 or more years, I'd replace it with new (or at least get it load tested).

After that, see where you are at.

:welcome: to TBN

 

[texasranger556]

Yep, clean the battery terminals. Also clean the ground cable where it attaches to the frame and go from there. It's quite amazing how much contact surface area you can have but no electrons getting through.

 

[Rara Avis]

This is your starting circuit
View attachment john-deere-655-755-855-955-756-and-856-compact-utility-tractors-technical-manual.pdf.pdf

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Yep, cleaning things up is your first step. You can measure correct voltage with a meter, but if there is enough corrosion upstream, as soon as you put a load on it (like turning the key), it will drop, sometimes to near zero.

In fact, you might want to try that. You might need a helper to turn the key, but at the same place where you measured 12.5 volts, hook up your meter and turn the key. I"m betting you'll see the voltage drop like a rock. If you do, either your battery is shot internally, or you have some bad corrosion in your battery cables somewhere.

 

[edwardsss]

Thanks for the direction to take. I will try it.

 

[Rara Avis]

Hi All,

I hoping someone has had a similar issue as I do with my John Deere 855. I've owned the tractor, without troubles, for about 10 years and there are about 800 hours on it on the meter. I drove the tractor out of the garage, starting it without a problem, and after a brief warm up then shut it off to refuel it. Next, I turned the key to start it, the starter began to turn over then I heard a click and all power went away. All power to the dash panel is gone, no lights, etc., no matter the switch position, and the starter will not activate. Flat out there is no electrical power. I have 12.5 volts to the ignition switch, and the ground wire to the ignition switch is good too. All of the fuses are intact. This tractor did not require the operator to be in the seat to start the tractor.

Has anyone else experienced this problem, or can you give me some idea where else to look for the break in the power?

Thank you,

Ed

Does that include the fusible link?

Also, you have THREE system grounds to check on an 855...not counting the battery ground...
View attachment john-deere-655-755-855-955-756-and-856-compact-utility-tractors-technical-manual.pdf.pdf

 

[edwardsss]

Yes, it includes the fusible link. According to the starting circuit shared, the fusible link is a red power wire that connects to the "bat" terminal on the switch. I am getting voltage at that point. I'm not getting voltage past the switch to light up the dash panel.

 

[edwardsss]

I followed your advice. Pulled the terminals. They were still clean from a couple of months ago, but I cleaned them again. As I was reminded by another person, 12.5 volts is not a stellar battery. I replaced the old battery with a new Legend battery from NAPA, and the 855 came back to life.

Thanks again for all the help. I really do appreciate it.

Ed

 

[beenthere]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[paulcapasso]

New cables. High current and old cables. Same thing happens to my 4300. The cables arc to the point of infinite resistance. I replaced the cables with factory cables and cleaned the ground to the frame. Works like a charm! Good luck!

 

[techwrtr2]

I had this exact same problem yesterday. Does it every once in awhile. Every single time, cleaning the battery terminals has corrected it. I do plan to replace the cables at some point. Have the stuff on hand, just need to find the time.

After looking at my battery it's a lot older than I had thought. Probably replace it prior to winter rather than hope it lives.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Get cables made from bestboatwire.com. I get them with the clear heat shrink so I can see what's going on underneath. Good stuff, and not at all expensive.

 

[TractorGuy]

I followed your advice. Pulled the terminals. They were still clean from a couple of months ago, but I cleaned them again. As I was reminded by another person, 12.5 volts is not a stellar battery. I replaced the old battery with a new Legend battery from NAPA, and the 855 came back to life.

Thanks again for all the help. I really do appreciate it.

Ed

If it reoccurs you may have an ignition switch failing. My 855 was failing to start intermittently. I could jump across the contacts at the starter and it would work but not from the switch. Unplugging and spraying the ignition switch would bring it back to life. I eventually replaced the switch and haven't had any more trouble out of it.