L2900DTGST starting issues

[Tenfthover]

Having a problem with starting my L2900 and hoping some of you have some insight to the solution. First here is some back ground information...

I had just used the tractor for several hour earlier in the day with no issues what so ever. I had a few parts to replace that I had picked earlier from the dealer... a spring for the front latch, a new pin for the bucket, and a new combination light switch (my head lamps didn't work). Got everything replaced tested the lights and they worked. Put everything back together and tried to start the tractor back up and nothing. In the on position I get my charge light and my oil pressure light (normal) when I go to the start position everything just goes blank and won't come back until several minutes later with the same results.

Here is what I have done...

The battery tested good but tried jumping it with the same result.
Tested the ground wire and it was suspect. Put a new one on and repositioned it to a better spot on the frame (good continuity after moving it).
Checked power going to the starter from the battery and I have power going to the main switch.
I think the main switch might be going bad but I tried to start it by running a wire directly from the battery to the solenoid on the starter....same result ( when I make contact with the wire everything goes dead for a while).

So I am at a loss. Any thoughts?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If you are truly jumping the starter (large terminal to the small solenoid terminal or wire) and every thing is going dead you have a bad battery or a bad cable or connection.
Pull the battery and take it to a auto parts store and have it load tested.

 

[Dave_eng]

I am with Wolfman in that the first and easiest step is to have the battery load tested.

Another owner found after removing the starter and cleaning all mating surfaces with the engine block solved his problem. The starter relies on contact with the engine block for its ground.

Dave M7040

 

[Tenfthover]

So I ready had the battery checked...it checked fine. I did see the post about removing the starter and cleaning the matting surface. I'm picking up a new ignition switch and positive battery lead today to try that and I'll check the starter matting surface when I work on it again. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[rentthis]

You said "Put a new one on and repositioned it to a better spot on the frame (good continuity after moving it". Did you check continuity with your multi meter? That situation would probably show continuity whether it was ample or not. You might want to move it back to it's original position and try it again. clean the surfaces good first. you might have just moved your ground problem.

 

[Tenfthover]

Status update: Success so here is what I did. I got a new master switch in and the same thing happened. Turn it on and I get my panel lights. Go to start and everything just goes blank. I test the new switch in accordance with the service manual and the results were different so everything being the same. I put the original ground wire back on and in the same spot and with the new master switch it fired right up! Thanks you all for your help and ideas