I have a 2550 (my favorite tractor) but it suddenly won't start and I'm lost without it. The starter and battery are fine so I suspect that there's a problem with the clutch safety switch. Can someone tell me where it is? I do not have a manual, but would appreciate some advice.
Starting problem
- Thread starter deere1
- Start date
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RalphVa
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2003
- Messages
- 7,885
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Tractor
- JD 2025R, previously Gravely 5650 & JD 4010 & JD 1025R
You may need to do some voltage checks with a VOM.
I brought my neighbor's JD diesel over here to air up the tires and ended up cleaning it all up, changing the oil and antifreeze, etc. When finished, it wouldn't start. Started when I either tugged or pushed on the wire going into one side of the starter button.
That old Deere is astonishing (think it's a 1950s machine; forgot the model now; researched it on the web). Long as the starter will work, it'll start up IMMEDIATELY. No glow plugs on it.
Ralph
I brought my neighbor's JD diesel over here to air up the tires and ended up cleaning it all up, changing the oil and antifreeze, etc. When finished, it wouldn't start. Started when I either tugged or pushed on the wire going into one side of the starter button.
That old Deere is astonishing (think it's a 1950s machine; forgot the model now; researched it on the web). Long as the starter will work, it'll start up IMMEDIATELY. No glow plugs on it.
Ralph
Ralph,
Thanks for your reply. I do have a JD 2840 that does always start for me (so far!), but it's my Kubota L2550 that's failing me now. I'm getting voltage to the starter but nothing further. It is necessary to depress the clutch when starting, so I'm wondering if there's some safety switch that's not working.
Thanks for your reply. I do have a JD 2840 that does always start for me (so far!), but it's my Kubota L2550 that's failing me now. I'm getting voltage to the starter but nothing further. It is necessary to depress the clutch when starting, so I'm wondering if there's some safety switch that's not working.
BIGUN
Gold Member
How do you know the starter and battery are fine? Are you saying it won’t crank or won’t start after cranking? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
If you are actually getting voltage to the starter and it won’t crank, then there is a problem with the starter itself or the starter ground.
If you are actually getting voltage to the starter and it won’t crank, then there is a problem with the starter itself or the starter ground.
I took the starter to the shop....they checked it out and cleaned it. The battery is new and is plenty lively. When I turn the ignition key on, the panel lights come on, and when I turn the key to the crank position the panel lights dim, as usual, but there are no cranking or clicking sounds....nothing. Everything is in neutral and the PTO is disengaged (although I don't think there is a neutral safety switch, it used to start in gear if the clutch was in). I thought maybe there's a switch that's activated by the clutch but I sure can't find it!
Above, you stated that you had voltage to the starter--is that true? If it is, there is no problem with any of the safety switches. Something is wrong with the starter itself.
If there is NO voltage to the starter, check the safety switches.
If there is NO voltage to the starter, check the safety switches.
Junkman
Super Member
If the panel lights dim when you engage the starter, that is an indication of either a bad battery.... one or more cells not working, or poor connections. I would clean and tighten all connections from the battery to the starter and battery to ground. If that resolves the problem, it is a bad connection. If that doesn't, check each cable with an ohm meter to see if there is a bad battery cable. If the cables check out, the only thing left is the battery itself. If you have a known good battery, and install it in the tractor and it starts, you can by pass the check of the cable resistance. The only time I find bad battery cables is when the cables are old and there has been a lot of corrosion of the terminals.
Thanks for all your advice. I did find the safety switch under an inch of debris. When I cut and joined the wires, it started fine. After I order a new safety switch I'll treat the little tractor to a good power-washing.
Junkman
Super Member
this still doesn't answer the question why the panel lights would dim when you engaged the starter.... was it just the broken wire????
The panel lights have always dimmed when I engaged the starter so I thought that was normal. And it still happens, even though it's starting again, so I hope that doesn't mean I'm looking at another problem about to happen??? There are so many unconnected fittings on the little Kubota though that I'm going to have to buy a manual and get things figured out. It's such a great little workhorse I'm just glad to have it back.
