L3450 dies, no dash lights, starts again after half hour

[bcolwell]

I have a l3450. This just started. I am blowing snow after about an hour(guessing at the length of time) it just dies. No lights on the dash, no start. After some time, maybe half hour, all dash lights light up, starts right up and runs until I put it away. At one point during that no lights period, I jiggled the wiring around the switch, lights came on, but that could have been just the right amount of time. With the ignition switch to the on position, and jiggling the wiring I could not get it to react. Another time it died and I tried the wire jiggling, nothing. I turned the light switch, I got a flash of dash lights, then nothing. The same time, I got a flash of dash lights when I moved the shuttle into and out of gear. Took the engine covers off, it started and ran strong. The battery is at full charge13+volts, alternator putting out 14 volts. It seems to be time related. Temperature gauge shows in normal range, outside temperature is -15 degrees Celsius. It does not want to die when I am looking for the issue, does die when I am far from home base. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

When the switch loses power to it or out of it, then it will die, if you want to eliminate this issue in an emergency just disconnect the stop solenoid, that will let it keep running.
Pull the manual stop under the right side of the dash to stop it.
You can also Jump the solenoid at the starter and get it started if it dies in the middle of things.

Go to the starter and look at the wire feeding the switch, make sure it's got a good connection and that the fuse and fuse holder are in good condition.
Remove the left hand side panel just behind the bash and make sure the connector and the grounds are in good shape.
If all of that is well, spray some WD-40 in the key slot.
If it continues you will need to use a meter or test light to find out if the power is staying constant in to the switch and out of the switch.

 

[bcolwell]

When the switch loses power to it or out of it, then it will die, if you want to eliminate this issue in an emergency just disconnect the stop solenoid, that will let it keep running.
Pull the manual stop under the right side of the dash to stop it.
You can also Jump the solenoid at the starter and get it started if it dies in the middle of things.

Go to the starter and look at the wire feeding the switch, make sure it's got a good connection and that the fuse and fuse holder are in good condition.
Remove the left hand side panel just behind the bash and make sure the connector and the grounds are in good shape.
If all of that is well, spray some WD-40 in the key slot.
If it continues you will need to use a meter or test light to find out if the power is staying constant in to the switch and out of the switch.

Thanks for the thoughts, I had not thought of doing what you suggest , (when out on the road and wanting to get home), put the wire off of the stop solenoid and then jumping the starter.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re: It does not want to die when I am looking for the issue

Yes that's normal, Mr. Murphy's nearby, welcome to my world.

Really need to see the wiring diagram to 'follow the electrons' to offer what might be the cause.
? Any additional , aftermarket wiring ( lights,winch, radio,? ) ??
? How old / hours on it

Since it seems to magically 'reset' itself after a 'time interval' it could be something is overheating and opening up ,cools down, is fine. Big problem is nothing has 'fried' which suggests a wiring issue or maybe ignition switch has internal problem.
Obvious things to check are each and every connector, vibration can cause weird, random , PITA problems.