Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - Garden Tractor Issue

bigdog · 05-10-2018, 07:47 PM

Tractor was running fine last Fall, put it away with Stabil in the gas, and put dryer sheets all over the engine, every place I could tuck them in.....

This Spring I went to start and had power, but just heard a 'click' sounds. The all went dead ?
Arggggggg ! same issue as before I thought ?

I checked the battery, and it had 12+ volts, checked the ground all OK, followed the positive lead from battery to the starter motor, all good.

So now I’m thinking the vermin ate some wire again, and they did !
I completely removed the engine cowling, and air filter, and found a baseball size nest, with a broken wire. OK I thought, just replace and splice in a new piece of wire and I would be good to go.

Turned the key and no lights on dash, nothing, zip !
I then checked the 15 amp fuse, in the electrical system, and replaced it. Turned ignition key again, no power. Now totally perplexed thought maybe it is still a ground issue ? On that thought, I connected a jumper cable from tractor battery ground, the other end to the base of the starter motor, but still now power to dash.

I’m at my wits end, only thing I have checked yet, is the actual ignition switch.
Someone mentioned to me, a ‘diode’ in the electrical system tied to ignition switch,
and if that went bad, no way you could start engine.

Is there ‘any’ way I can start the engine, without using the key/ignition switch ?

And yes, I already tried jumping the battery off my car !

Thoughts ?

05-10-2018, 07:47 PM	#10
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,446 Thanks: 340 Thanked 119 Times in 96 Posts	Here we go again.... Tractor was running fine last Fall, put it away with Stabil in the gas, and put dryer sheets all over the engine, every place I could tuck them in..... This Spring I went to start and had power, but just heard a 'click' sounds. The all went dead ? Arggggggg ! same issue as before I thought ? I checked the battery, and it had 12+ volts, checked the ground all OK, followed the positive lead from battery to the starter motor, all good. So now I’m thinking the vermin ate some wire again, and they did ! I completely removed the engine cowling, and air filter, and found a baseball size nest, with a broken wire. OK I thought, just replace and splice in a new piece of wire and I would be good to go. Turned the key and no lights on dash, nothing, zip ! I then checked the 15 amp fuse, in the electrical system, and replaced it. Turned ignition key again, no power. Now totally perplexed thought maybe it is still a ground issue ? On that thought, I connected a jumper cable from tractor battery ground, the other end to the base of the starter motor, but still now power to dash. I’m at my wits end, only thing I have checked yet, is the actual ignition switch. Someone mentioned to me, a ‘diode’ in the electrical system tied to ignition switch, and if that went bad, no way you could start engine. Is there ‘any’ way I can start the engine, without using the key/ignition switch ? And yes, I already tried jumping the battery off my car ! Thoughts ?