Equipment info
• DR Power Field and Brush Mower Pro 26 14.5 HP
• Brush Mower Model: AT45026BEN
• Engine Model: 31R6770017G1 (Model 310000 in the manual)
Situation
I have a DR Mower Pro26. It has mostly sat for the last year - inside in the garage. Oil is clean and fresh, Battery was on a trickle charger over the winter and shows charged ~12 volts.
I went to use it a week ago. It cranked fine and started right up. I had it in first gear and mowed about a 20 foot section. I attempted to shift into reverse to back up and the cable used to downshift broke. the engine remained on but I was unable to downshift out of first. I shut down the engine and pushed it back to the garage.
I jerry-rigged a temp fix for the cable while I awaited the replacement cable. I am now able to move thru all the gears.
Problem
Now to Problem. When I turn the key, nothing happens. no buzzing, no attempt to start, nothing.
Troubleshooting so far
1. I went back to the manual and re-read the starting instructions. PTO must be disengaged to start, and the gear must be in neutral. There is also a "plug" for the neutral disengage switch below the handlebars on the lower part of the engine area that appears to be solidly plugged in.
- I verified that all of these seemed fine. When in gear it is very difficult to roll the mower by pushing, and when it is in neutral, it of course rolls well. So I am positive the engine is in neutral when I am trying to start it
2. Verified the battery connections are secure and the battery has at least 12 volts. All check out
3. Verified the PTO was disengaged
4. Verified the switch for the key has all the connections still securely attached.
5. For what it is worth, I tried cranking with and without the "operator present" handle engaged with no effect (even though this is irrelevant to the normal starting procedure).
So... My guess is, that because it was cranking, starting, running fine, and then, after a clean shut down following a shifting problem, it stopped working, my theory is that some kind of safety switch has disabled the ability to crank. Likely either something is telling the machine it is still in gear, or the PTO is on when it is not. I have exhausted the checks I can think of. I will be removing some of the cowlings and such to replace that cable so perhaps something will pop out to me when I do that.
Anyone have this issue before or have ideas to check?