LS Tractor Won't Start After Hooking Up Bush Hog

[PapaBob]

I have a 2010 L3700SU with HST, I too have had issues starting the tractor at times. As stated by others, it is almost always the PTO lever not in the neutral position. It will click when you try to start it but not engage the starter.

 

[Bearsixty7]

The seat switch has nothing to do with it, you don't need to be in the seat to start it. The only safety switches on that model with a hydro transmission that affect starting are in the pto switch and the forward/reverse pedal neutral switch. 12.4 volts would be normal with the engine off. Don't listen to AI, they don't know anything. A pto shaft isn't going to prevent it from starting. Even though the pto switch is off, turn the switch on and back off a couple times. I have seen numerous no starts fixed by doing this. Then check all the fuses. Hold the key switch in the start position and push on the forward/reverse pedals to see if you find a spot where the starter engages. Inspect the forward/reverse neutral switch and wires, sometimes a stick gets jammed up in there and damages the wiring or switch. If you have an optional mid pto, make sure it is off. Turn the lights on and see if they work, then turn the key to start and see if they dim or go out. If so, you have a bad power connection or bad ground.

This is the best recommendation!

I have had to cycle my PTO button a couple times to get mine to start.

So far it's never been the pedals but I can see that as a possibility.

Mine I do not have to be in the seat or have the parking brake on to start it, which is why there is a pedal "neutral" safety switch I'm sure.

For others: If the 242 is like my 240, there is no PTO lever, we just have the on/off button on the dash that rotates unless it has an optional and rare mid-PTO then it would have a lever I suppose.

 

[Rctex]

Not sure what to do here, hooked up the LS brush hog and when I turn the key it does nothing.

Brake is on. PTO switch is off. Ran fine when I boxed the road, went to bush hog and this is where I am stuck.

Anybody know what went wrong, or what it could be?

My 40hp Mahindra done similar stunt. Everything looked good. Day of frustration. Next morn I called my brother. He said ground cable. Told em looked brand new with no corrosion. He said deisels need a good ground.Another cleaning an still nothing. So I done what he said……. Took a pc #4 copper leaving the ground cable on. Presto fired right up. Never did buy new cable. That pc of wire still on an still cranking. Been two yrs

 

[S854]

It started a couple of times after I shut it off. Since I've hooked up the brush mower, it won't turn over…

…I hear a click, but the starter doesn't engage….

Starting an engine once takes quite a bit of juice… starting it a couple times without giving the alternator time to recharge the battery may have drained it… have you tried jump starting?

 

[papalynn]

Could be the battery. If you hear a click of the starter solenoid that means it is trying to start but doesn't have enough voltage to turn the starter motor. Put a voltmeter on the battery and try to start the tractor. If the voltage drops below 8 volts then the battery might be bad or it is corroded connections.

 

[Gord Baker]

I noticed the joy stick was jammed but I got it moving freely. Did the seat thing, moved every lever mutliple times, with no success.

I did a search and AI said the pto and shaft could be in a bind, but I don't think that's the case.

Ran great until I hooked that up. 1 year old tractor.

Unhook it and try again.

 

[Gord Baker]

Starting an engine once takes quite a bit of juice… starting it a couple times without giving the alternator time to recharge the battery may have drained it… have you tried jump starting?

You can start a vehicle many times with a fully charged battery.

 

[charlessenf]

when I turn the key it does nothing.

My vote is one of the safety switches.

I've accidentally moved a lever getting on or off my Kubota more than once only to discover 'there's a safety switch' tied to that one, too!'

If you're CERTAIN you know every one of them on your machine and checked each, next best guess for a sudden, inexplicable loss to power to the starter would be a FUSE - Wait a Minute! You said "it does nothing" then you tell us "Yes, I hear a click, but the starter doesn't engage."

You gotta speaka the English.

 

[Gord Baker]

Check Solenoid and/or Boost directly to Starter. Be sure it is out of Gear!

 

[GS650GL]

Actually have to be in the seat on this one for it to start, as per manual.

The manual only tells you that for safety, you should sit in the seat before starting. it doesn't mean it won't actually start if not in the seat. If the pto is off and the pedals are in neutral, you can stand on the side of the tractor and turn the key and it will start without being in the seat. The park brake doesn't have to be on either, although it should be on when parked obviously. Anyone that doesn't believe it, try it yourself on your tractor. The seat switch will shut the engine off if you get out of the seat with the tractor in gear or forward / reverse pedals pushed.

 

[Torvy]

Some tractors have a pto seat switch, or so I have been told. Yiu can start the tractor standing next to it. Have to be in the seat to engage pto.

I may have missed this, but if you disconnect the PTO, does it start?

 

[RobertEH]

If you have a hydro, crawl under and look up at the pedals to make sure there are no sticks or rocks stuck in the little switch there. It'll run while it's jammed, but won't restart once you shut if off. Had it happen so many times that I bypassed that switch.

This

Have you tried this? I had this scenario last year with my MT235HE

 

[TractorGunn]

So tonight after work I got in the tractor, and she fired right up, so I ran the brush hog for about an hour before work called. I went out to run it again, and again, it won't start, only clicks.

 

[TractorGunn]

I have a 2010 L3700SU with HST, I too have had issues starting the tractor at times. As stated by others, it is almost always the PTO lever not in the neutral position. It will click when you try to start it but not engage the starter.

Sounds like what mine is doing. I jacked around with that pto knob a few times but made no difference. What did you do to remedy the situation?

 

[TractorGunn]

My 40hp Mahindra done similar stunt. Everything looked good. Day of frustration. Next morn I called my brother. He said ground cable. Told em looked brand new with no corrosion. He said deisels need a good ground.Another cleaning an still nothing. So I done what he said……. Took a pc #4 copper leaving the ground cable on. Presto fired right up. Never did buy new cable. That pc of wire still on an still cranking. Been two yrs

Not sure what you mean by this:

"Took a pc #4 copper leaving the ground cable on. Presto fired right up. Never did buy new cable. That pc of wire still on an still cranking. Been two yrs"

 

[WinterDeere]

So tonight after work I got in the tractor, and she fired right up, so I ran the brush hog for about an hour before work called. I went out to run it again, and again, it won't start, only clicks.

Click with no start usually means there's enough juice to pull the solenoid, but not enough to turn over the starter. Can be caused by low charge on battery or bad connection dropping voltage between battery and starter.

Bad connections can be confusing for some, since they'll show full voltage when there's no current draw, but then voltage will drop to nearly zero when loaded down by starter.

 

[WinterDeere]

I should have added, with a second voltmeter or a second set of hands, you can debug bad connection vs. bad battery real quick. Watch voltage across battery terminals while someone turns the key. If it drops, you have a bad battery, but if it holds you probably have a bad connection.

If bad connection, then keeping negative lead of your voltmeter on negative terminal of battery, and checking each connection on your way to the starter while having a friend turn the key will reveal where you stop seeing good voltage (bad connection). And if that doesn't turn it up, repeat the same on the ground side of things, with positive lead of voltmeter on positive battery terminal, and checking voltages on ground straps and connections.

Voltmeters are high-impedance devices, so aside from accidentally shorting battery hot to ground with the probe needle itself, there's no danger of hurting the meter or anything else. Just be sure to keep your hands and face clear of the turning bits anytime your helper turns the key, in case the damn thing decides to turn over that time.

 

[Windblown]

So tonight after work I got in the tractor, and she fired right up, so I ran the brush hog for about an hour before work called. I went out to run it again, and again, it won't start, only clicks.

I could be a bad ignition switch or connection, bad spot on the starter, etc.

A couple things you can check: Does the 12v control wire to the starter solenoid go hot when you turn the ignition to start? If it doesn't then you likely have a safety, ignition switch, or ignition wiring issue. Verify by jumping the main 12v hot from the battery connection at the solenoid to the control terminal on the solenoid (usually can be done with a screw driver). Engine should turn over and will likely start so make sure you are in neutral and have the parking brake set!

If it does turn over/start then you have verified the starter, solenoid, and battery are all fine and can start chasing what is keeping the solenoid from getting power when you turn the key.

 

[TractorGunn]

Just got inside. After tapping starter with hammer while my wife turned the key, it started right up. Ground cable is clean, took it off anyhow, filed it a bit, plus the frame, still did nothing. Reminds me of my 77 Ford Supercab, had to hit the starter on it too.


Needs new starter, solenoid?

 

[Eagle1]

Just got inside. After tapping starter with hammer while my wife turned the key, it started right up. Ground cable is clean, took it off anyhow, filed it a bit, plus the frame, still did nothing. Reminds me of my 77 Ford Supercab, had to hit the starter on it too.


Needs new starter, solenoid?

Seems like you just got that machine, I have 750+ hours so far (knocks on wood). Still under warranty?