M59 won't start PTO NEUTRAL CLUTCH DEPRESS

[mikester]

Tractor was running fine, started PTO to run chipper, put on parking brake, rotated seat like normal. Got up and tractor immediately shut down.

Turned off PTO, clutch in, tractor will no longer start, intellipanel gives message "PTO NEUTRAL CLUTCH DEPRESS"

I tested the switches for the clutch, PTO Lever, and seat, all test ok. PTO switch is off. PTO lever on side of the tranny moves freely and has moved to the neutral position, there is no binding in the PTO switch or cable.

Are there any other internal sensors telling the tractor the PTO is engadged?

I hate tracing wires for bad connections - especially when the harnesses are nearly inaccessible under the cab and the tractor is sitting in a back field. Rain in the forecast starting this evening for the next 3 days...

 

[Smokeydog]

You have tried what I would. That swivel lockout switch checked? On my M59 some of that seat plastic safety stuff is breaking down. I don’t have stationary equipment to run.

I have said before I would like to have a battle switch to bypass the safety switches to get back home.

 

[Captain Dirty]

Some of the interlock switches on my L45 are getting "sloppy". For example: depress clutch, no start, "Clutch" message, release clutch, depress clutch, starts. So far jiggling the offending control has corrected the problem with less trouble than troubleshooting. I don't relish the thought of delving into the matter.

 

[mikester]

I am following up here in case someone runs into a similar situation in the future.

Intellipanel diagnostics showed no errors, all my sensors tested OK.

I called my dealer's service department yesterday and they suggested trying to start the tractor with somebody in the seat and someone hot wiring the starter solenoid. The idea was that if the PTO or Clutch switch was the culprit then I should be able to get passed the sensor test circuit and drive the tractor back to the shop. They also suggested checking the battery and ground connections. Since I was already running the tractor that day they said it was less likely an ECU issue. They said all sensors for this tractor are external and I had checked all the relevant ones for the ECU start engine circuit. They also suggested re-checking all the fuses with a continuity tester including the mains.

Had a neighbour help me try to hot wire. All the intellipanel lights worked as normal and the glow plug relay worked as expected. Engine cranked no problem but still no start. We towed the tractor back to the shop and I took a second look at the seat presence and swivel sensors. They both tested OK so I cleaned the connector terminals. I also re-checked all the tractor fuse blocks and re-tested every fuse. Found a blown 5A "key stop" fuse. This fuse feeds the Engine Stop Solenoid Relay.

Tractor now starts. I'm not sure if the fuse was already blown or if we fried the key stop fuse trying to hot wire.

I don't understand the PTO and CLUTCH sensor message if it was the key stop solenoid or seat sensor.

 

[Smokeydog]

Thanks for the follow up. It is troublesome. The seat plastic was breaking down causing the operator present switch on the M59 to open on rough ground so I replaced with push button switch. Didn’t like it for needing to stand sometimes to see better. Have a anti-theft switch now.