L2501 would not start today!

[LMTractorGuy]

I have had it one month, 22 hours and have started it 100 plus times. Today after is was turned off it would not start. Tried 8-10 times, it only clicked, lights on dash, clicking, but the starter not turning over. I checked the seat switch, pto was off, rocked the hst peddle to make sure it was centered and the clutch was depressed. Looked under tractor for sticks or obstructions, nothing obvious. Got back on the tractor and it started and worked the rest of the day without any problems, starting at least 10 more times today. Any idea what happened or what to look for in the future. Thanks for the help.

 

[mdhughes]

So it started after you got off the tractor? Did you do anything while you were off the tractor? Like open the hood or anything like that? What were you doing before you shut the tractor off just before it wouldn't start?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Clean the battery cables and connections.

 

[LMTractorGuy]

I looked at the seat switch while I was off the tractor. Looked underneath tractor for branches, bent or broken safety switches. I made sure the clutch linkage was moving. I moved pto to engage and then off again. I lowered the FEL and 3 point to ground to relieve hydraulic pressure. I did not open the hood. I was pulling a small tree with a chain in reverse before turning the tractor off. After several times on and off the tractor and repeated tries of starting, I moved the range lever from L to M and it started. Does the range lever have any kind of safety switch that will not allow the tractor to start?

 

[chim]

My L3200 acted sort of like that and it was the switch on the rocker pedal. The switch was adjusted so close at the factory that simply rocking the pedal didn't always make it work:

http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21816&highlight=L3200+start&page=2

 

[mdhughes]

Wolfman, I wouldn't think on this new of a tractor the battery terminals would be dirty.

LMTractorGuy, I'm wondering if they could have forgotten to tighten the battery cable clamps.

Since you heard a click each time you tried to start it, it sounds more like a power issue and not a safety issue. Along with checking the battery cables at the battery end, I would check the connections at the other end of the cables.

 

[LMTractorGuy]

The click I refer to is when the key is turned from off to on and a few lights on the dash turn on. Sounds like a solenoid under the dash, maybe the glow plug solenoid. No additional click when key turned from on to start position. The starter did not try to engage. I will check the battery connections today and report back. I will also let you know if it fails again today, hopefully no problems. Thanks for all the help.

 

[LMTractorGuy]

I checked the battery terminals today. They were tight. I did nothing. The tractor started fine all day. At least 30-40 times with no problem. I will post if it ever happens again.

 

[mdhughes]

The click I refer to is when the key is turned from off to on and a few lights on the dash turn on. Sounds like a solenoid under the dash, maybe the glow plug solenoid. No additional click when key turned from on to start position. The starter did not try to engage. I will check the battery connections today and report back. I will also let you know if it fails again today, hopefully no problems. Thanks for all the help.

LMTractorGuy, based on this information I would say it was one of the safety switches. The first one that comes to mind would be the HST pedal, then maybe the seat. I'm not sure if the safety switches are all the same on the L2501 and the L3901 (what I have).

Like you said in your post, keep us updated so we can figure this out and leave some good data for the next person that has problems.

 

[graywolf7973]

My l2501 did it once to me only once has started everytime since just rolled 70 hours awesome tractor.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[LMTractorGuy]

Graywolf, thanks for the input. Only happened once also. Mine has not happened in the last 50 plus times of starting. There is a new thread "L3901 safety switches" that sounds like the same issue. His sounds like it has happened multiple times. Maybe we can figure something out with the use of this great forum.

 

[LMTractorGuy]

Would not start today. Rocked the HST peddle, still not turning over. Lifted the seat and flipped the seat switch twice, started right up. I think it is a intermittent seat switch failure. Any advice is welcomed. Thanks.

 

[85Hokie]

Would not start today. Rocked the HST peddle, still not turning over. Lifted the seat and flipped the seat switch twice, started right up. I think it is a intermittent seat switch failure. Any advice is welcomed. Thanks.

That was my guess as I read the entire post(s)........re-align it or bypass it for a bit of time, and then see if it goes away.....then order another switch.

 

[lugbolt]

The seat switch is not in the starting circuit, or at least I don't' think it is? Anyone want to verify this? On the HST tractor, just push the clutch pedal down and it should start as long as the PTO is off and HST pedal in neutral.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'm with Lugbolt, normally the seat switch is not part of the cranking safety circuit.
It's usually either a PTO, clutch pedal / shuttle shifter, or HST pedal issue.

 

[mdhughes]

I can tell you that it (seat switch) isn't part of the cranking safety circuit on the L3901DT I have. As long as the forward/reverse lever is in the neutral position and the PTO level is down, you can start it standing next to the tractor.

 

[LMTractorGuy]

Thanks for all the quick replies. I will try to start it today in the follow way. I will confirm the pto is not engaged, lift the seat, depress the clutch while off the tractor and try to start. If it will start that confirms the seat switch is not part of the starting circuit. I will post results once I have tried this starting method.

 

[LMTractorGuy]

Started today while off the tractor holding the clutch with my hand. I guess that rules out the seat switch.

 

[chim]

Check the thread LMTractorguy referred to:

http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27609&highlight=l3901+safety+switches

My hydro pedal must have had a very small sweet spot for the safety switch. It wasn't the obvious culprit. The thread has a couple pictures of my switch and its location.

 

[WoodyBlue]

A REALLY bad fart in the seat could have cooked the sensor, LOL. My bet is the switch in the seal was acting female and was messing with you.