What is this and how to tell if it’s on or off?

[2manyrocks]

Well, I'd want to be sure your 12v battery is fully charged enough to actuate the starter solenoid and/or use a known good jump battery.

 

[flyerdan]

It looks like a solenoid relay, like on an aircraft master switch or motorhome disconnect. I had a neighbor that had a MH with a latching relay for both coach and chassis, one of them was sticky and needed several cycles of the rocker switch to either get it to turn off or turn on, can't remember. Took it apart and cleaned everything up and it worked properly again. If you have one of those, without an annunciator light to show the status it could be remaining on and causing the drain. That would also be why it would start in either position.

 

[homedad]

I used a continuity tester on the toggle so now I know which direction is closed circuit and open circuit. I then hooked a 12v test lamp to the positive post on the battery and it lit when I touched every conductor on that disconnect whether I had the toggle open or closed. This seemed very confusing as when you switch the toggle it makes a very audible click at the disconnect yet there is power on both terminals all the time. This leads me to another question. I notice that without even having the key in the ignition the lights and turn signals as well as the (stupid) remote controlled quick attach levers operate. Is there anything wrong with having a physical disconnect at the battery? Like does it harm a computer or hour meter or anything to not always have power?

 

[dstig1]

Then I'd say the switch ain't switching! If you want that function, replace with new. Tractors are fairly simple for wiring, so I would not hesitate to track down the parasitic drain and fix it. Others in this thread have explained how to do that, quite well.

 

[garry1p]

When checking across the solenoid with a lamp from the positive side of the battery it will light on both sides of the solenoid and other places because you are providing ground to one side of your test lamp "through" things like the lights. Your test light needs to be on the negative post .

If you are checking for parasitic draw put the test light in series (in line)from the battery.

Remove the wire from the positive post, connect your test light to the positive post take the other wire of your test light and connect it to the wire you took off the battery.

positive post >---light---> wire removed from positive battery post.

With the key off light should be off, if on pull fuses until light goes off that is the circuit that is drawing current.

 

[homedad]

Thanks for all the help. I've run out of time and will have to do all of this sometime when this tractor comes back home. In the mean time I put a simple physical disconnect on the negative cable. I think the previous owner over-complicated this.

 

[homedad]

I dropped it at my other property and couldn't get it off the trailer because it wouldn't start. I couldn't jump it either. The battery was dead. I believe that it was not only the original battery but also has been completely drained so many times that it was time to replace it. My wonderful wife went and bought another and it started right up.