I searched the forums and didn't find my specific issue so I'm starting a new thread ...
I have a B7800 (that I really like a lot, bought used with 250 hrs on it) that has had various issues due to being stored outdoors all its life.
The current issue is with the fuel solenoid. Intermittently it will "stick" in the off position. It never sticks for very long and once I hear that distinctive sharp "click" she starts right up in any weather.
I've learned to listen for that click when I turn the key on. If I don't hear it she's gonna crank but won't start. Presumably due to lack of fuel.
I can leave the key on and go grease whatever implement (usually an ancient, decrepit finish mower deck) and while I'm doing that I'll hear the fuel solenoid go CLICK! and then the tractor will start just like it should. So it's never more than a few minutes between turning on the key and when the fuel solenoid disengages and the tractor will run.
Then it stays running just fine.
It doesn't do this every time, only about one out of ten startups if that.
I discovered the solution because I shut it off once and then it wouldn't start. I accidentally left the key on and while I was tinkering around with some other stuff I heard the telltale CLICK! The tractor started up after that so I've made a note of listening for the click before cranking and if I don't hear it I don't crank until I do.
If I do not hear that CLICK then it most certainly will crank but not start. This also seem to me to rule out any safety switch issues. If a safety switch is active (like having the PTO engaged) it will not crank.
It almost acts like it needs to have the key on and "warm up" for a few minutes when this happens. I'm thinking that might be a relay or some such. It doesn't matter what the ambient temperature is. It will do it in the heat of summer or the dead of winter and the symptom is the same. It also doesn't matter if the engine is warm or not, nor if it has been run recently or has sat for a while.
It has a new battery as of this summer and the battery is charging up just fine via the onboard alternator/dynamo, whatever it's called on this engine.
So what I'm wondering is if anyone else has had this issue and if so how they solved it? I can put a new fuel solenoid on it, that's not a problem but they're kind of spendy so I don't want to buy one just to find out that it's something else.
It's not a real big deal, the time elapsed from turning on the key to when that solenoid goes CLICK! is never more than just a couple of minutes.
I probably wouldn't even bother except that I'm concerned whatever the problem is -- It's going to fail completely one day and I won't be able to start my little tractor until I buy and install either a relay or a new solenoid. Which means waiting for a part to get here. I'd rather get it fixed before that happens and I need to use it but can't someday.
I have a B7800 (that I really like a lot, bought used with 250 hrs on it) that has had various issues due to being stored outdoors all its life.
The current issue is with the fuel solenoid. Intermittently it will "stick" in the off position. It never sticks for very long and once I hear that distinctive sharp "click" she starts right up in any weather.
I've learned to listen for that click when I turn the key on. If I don't hear it she's gonna crank but won't start. Presumably due to lack of fuel.
I can leave the key on and go grease whatever implement (usually an ancient, decrepit finish mower deck) and while I'm doing that I'll hear the fuel solenoid go CLICK! and then the tractor will start just like it should. So it's never more than a few minutes between turning on the key and when the fuel solenoid disengages and the tractor will run.
Then it stays running just fine.
It doesn't do this every time, only about one out of ten startups if that.
I discovered the solution because I shut it off once and then it wouldn't start. I accidentally left the key on and while I was tinkering around with some other stuff I heard the telltale CLICK! The tractor started up after that so I've made a note of listening for the click before cranking and if I don't hear it I don't crank until I do.
If I do not hear that CLICK then it most certainly will crank but not start. This also seem to me to rule out any safety switch issues. If a safety switch is active (like having the PTO engaged) it will not crank.
It almost acts like it needs to have the key on and "warm up" for a few minutes when this happens. I'm thinking that might be a relay or some such. It doesn't matter what the ambient temperature is. It will do it in the heat of summer or the dead of winter and the symptom is the same. It also doesn't matter if the engine is warm or not, nor if it has been run recently or has sat for a while.
It has a new battery as of this summer and the battery is charging up just fine via the onboard alternator/dynamo, whatever it's called on this engine.
So what I'm wondering is if anyone else has had this issue and if so how they solved it? I can put a new fuel solenoid on it, that's not a problem but they're kind of spendy so I don't want to buy one just to find out that it's something else.
It's not a real big deal, the time elapsed from turning on the key to when that solenoid goes CLICK! is never more than just a couple of minutes.
I probably wouldn't even bother except that I'm concerned whatever the problem is -- It's going to fail completely one day and I won't be able to start my little tractor until I buy and install either a relay or a new solenoid. Which means waiting for a part to get here. I'd rather get it fixed before that happens and I need to use it but can't someday.
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