Oil & Fuel Tractor not starting after changing fluids

[smithdenny]

Today I changed the fluids and filters on a DK5510 for the first time. I had warmed up the engine beforehand. Now, the unit will not crank, the starter will not engage. Battery is charged. Seems to act as if there may be a safety switch that is preventing if from starting. All indicator lights on dash seem to be operational, but simply nothing when the switch is in the cranking position. What am I overlooking? Thanks in advance for any ideas.

 

[HillStreet]

Check the position of all levers, seat switch, PTO, and the treadle that moves the tractor.

 

[smithdenny]

Thanks for your suggestions HillStreet. Those are some of the items I suspected might be the problem. It may have been simply the battery was not charged as well as I thought. I connected a charger to the battery to make sure it was charged, tried the engine after the input was down to about 1 amp still with no response. However I left the charger on overnight and this morning it started right up. Still not sure it wasn't a safety switch somewhere, or embarrassingly I can not read a volt meter!

 

[smithdenny]

Update: I just remembered before starting the tractor this morning I did manually depress the positioning switch on the clutch pedal. This tractor definitely will not start without depressing the clutch so I am going with that as the possible cause instead of admitting low battery possibility! <grin>

 

[Robin Veerman]

You got it!!! My CK30 wouldn't crank if the clutch isn't pushed in. It's a safety feature so that you don't run over yourself(if standing beside tractor to start it). Dutchy

 

[ritcheyvs]

We all (probably) did this at some time. The variable is how long it took to figure it out.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Thank you for posting what it was, unlike many post problem but not fix!