2013 L3800 won't start!

[quazz]

While I was away we were hit with two massive blizzards. There was a little rain to start just to make it more annoying by coating everything in ice.

So I get home dig my way to the tractor and turn the key and the lights come on but not even a click from the starter.

I checked the seat safety switch - it is moving freely
PTO is off
Battery seems charged
Checked & replaced starter relay fuse

I assume something is iced up but I am at a bit of a loss. Could it be the clutch safety switch which I can't seem to find.

Any ideas?

I have mountains of snow to move!!

 

[85Hokie]

While I was away we were hit with two massive blizzards. There was a little rain to start just to make it more annoying by coating everything in ice.

So I get home dig my way to the tractor and turn the key and the lights come on but not even a click from the starter.

I checked the seat safety switch - it is moving freely
PTO is off
Battery seems charged
Checked & replaced starter relay fuse

I assume something is iced up but I am at a bit of a loss. Could it be the clutch safety switch which I can't seem to find.

Any ideas?

I have mountains of snow to move!!

Based on what you are saying - check all those that you HAVE checked again, wiggle the levers, bounce on the seat ......some ol safety switch is stuck, bent or frozen !!!

check battery voltage for shytes and giggles.....12.6+

check connectors to and from battery ......

take your wife's hair dryer to the switches........JUST DONT tell her!!!!!!!!!!

 

[quazz]

Based on what you are saying - check all those that you HAVE checked again, wiggle the levers, bounce on the seat ......some ol safety switch is stuck, bent or frozen !!!

check battery voltage for shytes and giggles.....12.6+

check connectors to and from battery ......

take your wife's hair dryer to the switches........JUST DONT tell her!!!!!!!!!!

I don't have a wife anymore partly because of things like that. I prefer the tractor anyway. lol

I have a heat gun I'll try that on low.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

One of the switches my 3800 had an issue with is the HST pedal switch. If it hasn't been lubed in awhile, it can stick slightly in FWD or REV and that will interrupt current to the starter. Rock that pedal and make sure its centered.

If yours isn't an HST model, disregard!

Good luck.

Ray

 

[quazz]

One of the switches my 3800 had an issue with is the HST pedal switch. If it hasn't been lubed in awhile, it can stick slightly in FWD or REV and that will interrupt current to the starter. Rock that pedal and make sure its centered.

If yours isn't an HST model, disregard!

Good luck.

Ray

Yeah Ray it is HST. I rocked it back and forth and then tried to start and nothing so I wiggled it back and forth a bit while trying to start and nothing. The pedal returns a little slow so the problem may still be that switch.
I got underneath and looked for the switch but was rewarded with a full face full of powder snow which is always an unpleasant surprise at 0 degrees F. This was after snowblowing and digging out compacted snow that is higher than the rear wheels.

I will have a beer now and start again in the AM.

 

[Jim L.]

L3800HST:

Clutch switch is above the pedal and below the fuse panel.

HST pedal switch is on right side by your foot. The mechanism is under the foot plate, the switch itself above the foot plate. If water froze, it may have pushed the switch assy up in its rectangular holder. The switch will pull up so that you can get your finger on the plunger.

 

[quazz]

Well I can't find either one of those #$@% switches. Does any one have a picture that shows where they are?

 

[Jim L.]

Pictures of switches.

Clutch switch below fuse panel, below connector.

HST switch: Look at 40A in picture center, move right to plastic case, move right to vertical wall. Switch is mounted on flange.

 

[quazz]

Thanks Jim I'll work on these in the morning!
Safety schmafety is how I feel at the moment.

 

[quazz]

It was the clutch safety switch. It was caked in snow and ice and the lever couldn't depress the switch. I couldn't even see the switch but knew where it was from Jim's picture so I took a heat gun to the area, melted it all and it started right up. I have been moving snow all day. Thanks to all of you!

 

[Bluegill]

Park that dang thing under a roof or something. It's goin to have a short life if
left out in the elements.

 

[quazz]

Yeah I know but I couldn't afford a garage and a tractor. This summer I will build a garage for it.