Broken down in the woods again

Trike1946

New member

Equipment
B21
Jun 22, 2013
8
0
0
Medford, NJ, USA
Hi, it seems I only break down where I can't get the machine out. 2004 B-21. (200) hours.
It worked 2 days ago. No problems. Today it will not do anything. When I turn the key the dash lights do not go on. The glow plug light will go on if I have a battery charger hooked up but not the others. 12.54 volts at battery. There is power to the one side of the starter salenoid. Power to the ignition switch. The switch seems to work right, I tested it with a meter. The fuses on the side are all ok. With the switch on, the relay under the dash, I think it is the starter relay keeps clicking. The PTO lever is up.

Anybody have any ideas of what to look for? I appreciate any help.
Thank you.
Bob
 

85Hokie

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Check ALLLLL your safety switches....
and clean all the cables......I mean - take off - clean 'em and attach them again.

Get another battery too..... batteries can "look" good, and then not be.
 

Trike1946

New member

Equipment
B21
Jun 22, 2013
8
0
0
Medford, NJ, USA
Check ALLLLL your safety switches....
and clean all the cables......I mean - take off - clean 'em and attach them again.

Get another battery too..... batteries can "look" good, and then not be.
I pulled the cables and cleaned them. The battery is about 1 year old. I put a tester on it and it was good. I tried with a battery charger but it didn't do anything.
The only safety switch I know about is the PTO handle. Where are the others?
 

redmaher

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Jun 23, 2016
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62
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Make sure you have a good ground connection from the battery.

Sent from my LG-H901 using Tapatalk
 

CountryBumkin

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BX2370 w/LA243, Bucket, Grapple, QA Pallet Forks, 60" MMM, rear blade & rake
Sep 27, 2015
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Central FL
I pulled the cables and cleaned them. The battery is about 1 year old. I put a tester on it and it was good. I tried with a battery charger but it didn't do anything.
The only safety switch I know about is the PTO handle. Where are the others?
Possibly there's one under the seat too. And on the HST pedal (if you have that system).

if you are hearing the starter relay click (when you turn the key to crank position) that is a sign of low battery voltage (it could be a bad battery, a bad cable, or bad starter solenoid (a.k.a. starter relay)).
 
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Trike1946

New member

Equipment
B21
Jun 22, 2013
8
0
0
Medford, NJ, USA
Possibly there's under the seat too. And on the HST pedal (if you have that system).

if you are hearing the starter relay click (when you turn the key to crank position) that is a sign of low battery voltage (it could be a bad battery, a bad cable, or bad starter solenoid (a.k.a. starter relay)).
I tried to jump the starter on the salenoid but it would not do anything.

What is the pedal system? I have the forward and reverse pedals.

I was always able to start it by pushing the pedal down and reach across to turn the key. Never had to be in the seat.
 

hodge

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John Deere 790 John Deere 310 backhoe Bobcat 743
Nov 19, 2010
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B21 has a clutch, right? There is also a safety switch on the clutch pedal. PTO, hydro pedals need to be in neutral, seat switch. Have you tried rocking the hydro pedal while turning the key?
 

Trike1946

New member

Equipment
B21
Jun 22, 2013
8
0
0
Medford, NJ, USA
B21 has a clutch, right? There is also a safety switch on the clutch pedal. PTO, hydro pedals need to be in neutral, seat switch. Have you tried rocking the hydro pedal while turning the key?
I tried rocking the pedals. I can see the PTO switch working. I have to look at the other switches.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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Jun 9, 2013
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Sandpoint, ID
I tried to jump the starter on the solenoid but it would not do anything.
Either your not doing something right or you have a bad starter / battery / or cables.

Set the parking brake, if available put tractor in neutral.
Put the key to run.
Jump from the large terminal on the starter, that has the battery cable attached to it, to the small (usually spade terminal) and it should crank and start.
 

Tooljunkie

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L1501,home built carry all, mini plow blade.
May 13, 2014
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If a jumper on starter solenoid battery cable side to small terminal to crank it and nothing happens then its battery,cables starter or solenoid. Nothing else. Well not exactly. If engine is siezed then it wont turn over either.
 

Trike1946

New member

Equipment
B21
Jun 22, 2013
8
0
0
Medford, NJ, USA
I will check the fuse in the morning.

I appreciate all the input. I will report back tomorrow.
Well I made some progress. I put it in neutral and it started. Before that I messed with the safety switches, so I am not sure if that did anything. I did bend the tab on the switch on the clutch pedal so it made better contact. I hate it when I don't know how it happened. I won't know what to look for if it happens again.

It was not in 4x4 so I guess that didn't have anything to do with it.

So it seems to be okay for the moment. I will try it again in the morning to make sure. I have a small job waiting all week for me to get there.

Again I do appreciate the help from everyone.
 

rbargeron

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L5450, L48, L3250, L345 never enough attachments
Jul 6, 2015
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western ma
Glad you're running again - no fun having a machine dead in the woods. If it happens again maybe the cause will be clearer. Take care, Dick B
 
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Southernfarm

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Equipment
2014 BX25D
Jun 8, 2016
109
1
0
Southern MB
A battery at 12.54V is low. Should be about 13.25v somewhere. Also you can have full voltage but have reduced capacity to deliver the amps required to turn the motor over. With a fully charged battery, check the voltage of the battery at rest, then continue to check the voltage while starting the engine. The engine will to draw current and reduce the voltage. Any sag below 12v while attempting to start the engine, would indicate a poor battery.