Mayday! TC29D won't start!

booboo04 · Jan 20, 2015

OK fellas (and ladies!), really need your help. My little tractor will not start. A very experienced mechanic and I have been all over this thing for hours; make that days now. We had a bevy of issues, all of which we dealt with as we diagnosed. Starter (new) and battery (new). Glow plug timer (new) as well as one of the three relays.

ORIGINALLY: starter wouldn't turn over. Bench tested it, wouldn't pull in. Replaced starter.
Battery wouldn't hold a load. Replaced battery.

THEN: couldn't get the glow plugs to heat - no 12v to them. Replaced the ignition switch.
Also found problem with the plug that connects the ignition switch into the harness, so we bypassed that. Juice going through switch to the glow plug relay (12v). But from the relay to the glow plugs we only get 1.5 to 2v. Replace the timer relay. Still NOTHING...

Now we are really stumped. At one point, we got a click out of the third of the three like relays (which the parts diagram says is the PTO safety relay). We've swapped the relays around since they are all the same, and even carefully tried the new relay in each of the three positions. No joy. Wearing out the old wiring diagram.

ANY help, will dance at your next party!

Soundguy · Jan 20, 2015

As a test, bypass cutout switches. Be care full doing so.. standard precautions.. clutch in, trans neutral, don't get run over, don't start it from the ground, etc.

booboo04 · Jan 20, 2015

Sounds great...now, where are the cutout switches? The seat switch was gone before I bought the tractor.

Thanks!

Soundguy · Jan 20, 2015

Since you are not familiar with this machine, I reccomed you have your pro mechanic do it, for safety issues.

David Devuono · Jan 20, 2015

From what I can tell, that is a hydrostatic transmission. A Diesel just needs fuel, air and to be cranked over. Since your starter issue has been fixed I would assume the tractor is turning over now but sill won't start. So you are looking at the glow plugs but then if you brought the tractor into a warm area, it should still start eventually without the glow plug. So being hydrostatic and being able to crank it, it must mean no fuel to engine. Newer tractors do not have a cable or Rod to shut the fuel and stop the engine, its done with a selenoid. You should hear that selenoid click when turn the key to start the tractor. On my Kubota, sometimes I have to play with the forward reverse pedals to get it to start.

David Devuono · Jan 20, 2015

So I am saying, with the key in the start position I have to rock the fwd rev pedals back and forth.

George2615 · Jan 20, 2015

You mention getting only 1.5 to 2V from relay to glow plugs. What if the wire from the timer to plugs is unhooked and tested. If you get 12V then, one or more of the glow plugs could be shorted to ground which is pulling volts down to the 1.5-2 you read.

booboo04 · Jan 20, 2015

When we bypassed everything (hooked the battery directly to the starter) the engine did turn over. Yes, it is a hydrostatic transmission. Also, another clue: no glow plug light on the dash.

Are these safety switches next to and over the left rear tire?

I don't know how much more intimately I can know this tractor, Soundguy!

Thanks!

MikePA · Jan 20, 2015

The 'D' in all TCxxD tractors mean Deluxe which means hydrostatic transmission.

When I start mine, trans has to be in Neutral and Clutch depressed. Every now and then, I have to wiggle the transmission lever to make sure it's in Neutral. If in doubt, I move it to the other Neutral position. More than one person on TBN has found the problem to be connections under the fender have been pulled apart.

PILOON · Jan 20, 2015

Being very careful, using a jumper directly from the battery plus to the common glow plug interconnect, hold it there for about 10-15 seconds and then attempt a start.
Glow plugs are nothing but resisters (heating elements) located inside the combustion chamber, well heads, to heat the fuel in order for it to ignite.
Should start and you can always repeat with maybe a few seconds more heat time.

Naturally I assume you follow all the other safety precautions.
Also use a heavy jumper (12 gauge) as plugs draw considerable current.

Another possibility is that the contacts inside the key switch are not making proper contacts which is fairly commonplace.
One cure for the switch is spraying WD40 into the key slot to free up dry lubricant that prevents proper contacting. That is if the switch is the culprit.
Otherwise it might be the glow plug relay module.