Tractor Guys

[elksnout]

New Holland TC24D. Ran it last week for a couple of hours and it fired right up as always. Shut it off, got on it later and while hitting the key I got that click, click, click then it started. Yesterday when I went to start it there was silence. Nothing. Hooked it up to a jump battery and it started easily. Ran it, shut it down. After charging the battery all night it again was dead at the key. Checked battery with meter and she reads 12.4. Hooked jumper battery up and nothing. Jacked around a bit with key, then it started. Ran for an hour just now. Shut it down. Tried restarting her, crickets…
Battery still reads 12.4. Solenoid? Ignition switch? Neutral safety switch?


elksnout

[andersonjk4]

If your battery is only reading 12.4V after being charged, then I would suspect a bad battery.  Battery should be up around 14V at full charge. 

[Farmer72]

Not true a new battery should be somewhere in the 12 1/2 to 13 volts. charging systems are 14 volt in cars but a fully charged resting lead acid battery is close to 2.2 volts per cell.

Not to say it cant be the battery. There is more to batteries than just voltage. there is also load draw. you can have a battery that shows good voltage but once you put a load to it you get nothing.

[headshot5]

Always check easy/cheap things first.  Here is what I would check for.

Make sure your all your PTO levers are disengaged completely.  I believe it will cut out if they are partially engaged.  You may have to hold it in the off position while using your key in the ignition.

If that doesn't work.

1).  Pull battery cables and clean posts. (Use baking soda and water to clean corrosion) Make extra sure your negative cable is well grounded on the other end.
2).  Pull fuse cover and check fuses, (use multimeter set to ohms to check resistance).  Resistance is good. 
3).  Turn on your key and see if your display panel lights up.
4). You can jump from a spare battery to your starter to see if your tractor will turn over.  If so your starter is good.

If you have problems beyond that I'd start testing safety switches, relays etc.


 

[bear]

Check for loose connections at the battery.  Sounds exactly like what I had

[Ridgeratt]

The first thing I would do is take the battery and have a load test done on it.
But I might not be the best person to ask.
When you are getting the load test done make sure you have clean post on the cables.

[Bareback]

I have a tc30. The first couple of years owning it I kept it immaculate. Pressure washing, keeping it clean. Then the electrical gremlins showed up. I replaced safety switches and the problem would go away temporarily. Eventually i found a bad relay.

I haven’t washed the tractor for years. I just blow it off with air and have not had a problem since.

[elksnout]

Battery connections are tight on each end of both cables. Battery posts are clean. I’ve checked and rechecked positions of my PTO levers. Dash lights up with key complete with idiot lights and fuel gauge. Headlights do not come on except when jumper battery is hooked up. Thinking my battery is shot but now the tractor won’t even start when hooked to jumper battery ?

Got to leave to pick up grandkids from school then baseball practice. Try again tomorrow. Thanks for ideas.

elksnout

[chukardogs]

Sounds like a switch, solenoid or the ground to me. If when it starts, it fires right off as normal, that tells me the battery is doing its job. If possible, bypass the ignition switch to rule it out. Ground is easy to clean and tighten. Good luck!

[Gentrys]

Bad connection at battery.
If battery is at 12.4V, it should be at least trying to fire up.

[Willowemoc]

You really have to be able to test cold cranking amps if you’re trying to test a battery. Just because it’s showing 12.4 volts or whatever it’s showing doesn’t mean the battery is good.

[Alchase]

I just went through this with my Zero Turn. Started right up first time in his year. Shut it down to go do poop patrol. Went to start it up again click click click.
I hooked up my jump starter, cranked it right up. Got the front mowed, then not thinking shut it down to open gate to backyard, and went to restart, and nothing. Looked up my receipt 4 year old one week ago. It has a 3-4 year lifespan.
Drove down to O’Reily’s and picked up a new higher cranking amps battery, and I started right up and has been flawless since.

[Encore 280]

Can you short the starter out at the solenoid terminals and see if it kicks in? I have a POS Jinma I was having problems with. Ended up pulling the starter and found out the brushes weren't all hitting the armature they were stuck in the brush housings. Freed everything up and put it back together, all is good now.

[LDennis24]

Neutral safety switch is bad

[LDennis24]

There are multiple safety switches on those from the PTO levers and the gear selector. Might have a relay of some sort tied into them as well.  Good luck!