L3130 no electrical power / no start

[Leviticus]

My parent's L3130 does not power on the IntelliPanel or turn the starter over when the main (key) switch is switched to ON or START. I tested with a multi-meter, and there is power to the terminal / wire on the back of the main switch (power from the battery), and full voltage shows up on the related terminals when the key is switched to ON, as well as START. I've traced the wiring harness all the way up the the dash, and all wires are in good shape, except for the Key Stop wire (black and red wire in the harness from the fuse panel that sits over top of the battery), which has a small scrape exposing the bare wire, but the wire itself is still in workable condition and is not grounded. As a note, I believe that /was/ causing issues by grounding against the frame previously, but I've since corrected that, and the tractor has started since then (albeit intermittently, and now not at all)

It started as an intermittent issue that I initially was able to rectify by cleaning up the ground to the frame, but now there is no response at all. Odd thing, though, the electrical system would /occasionally/ respond when I reattached the side panels, along with a a spark when the metal contacted on the mounting points (the panels were removed on both sides to access the engine). Now, there is no response whatsoever.

I've checked all three grounds on the tractor, they are all well grounded to the frame.

Any pointers or suggestions?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Have you checked the interlock / safety switches.
have to know what type of L3130 you are dealing with, DT, HST, GST?

 

[Leviticus]

Ah, sorry about that. HST model

PTO, seat, clutch, and HST safety switches are functioning correctly. When there IS power and the IntelliPanel lights up, the tractor starts as normal. A thought on that, though, if any of the safety switches were malfunctioning, the IntelliPanel would still light up, correct? The tractor would just not start?

The last time I was able to get it started, it was while the side panels were off. It started up and ran until I turned the tractor off. Then, when I turned the key over to ON, there was no power, nothing. The next time it showed any response is when I put the (right side) side panel on. It sparked and the IntelliPanel came on. Tried starting it, it clicked and the IntelliPanel shut off again. No power or response since, even after removing / putting the panel back on.

 

[Henro]

First, getting beyond the theory, if you jump between the main power terminal on the starter and the starter solenoid terminal, will the tractor start?

Of course with the tractor range selector in neutral, between gears...

Try this first. I don't know your tractor. But this tid bit of info will help others who do.

Again, tractor range selector in neutral, not in one of the speed ranges. Also parking brake being set would be wise as well.

The more info you can provide the better help you will get here.

 

[Russell King]

Okay I will state the obvious thing about the sparks when applying the side panels:

That is NOT normal and should not be happening.

That will blow fuses and may damage the electronics on the tractor.

The sparking indicates a bare wire touching the metal of the tractor and the cover becomes the ground path when installing the cover.

Start looking at the wiring harnesses for damage and for rodent nests.

 

[6869704x4]

I don't know if all IntelliPanels are the same but mine will tell me if one of them is not met.

 

[PaulL]

I'd be working out why the side panel sparks when attaching. As noted above, that's not normal. I'd guess one of the mounts that the panel is connecting to is somehow providing an earth path, in turn indicating that the earth is poor. You could try with your multimeter checking the ohms between various bits of metal on the tractor and the negative terminal on the battery. Basically every bit of metal (that isn't painted - so bolt heads and the like) should have very low resistance to the -ve on the battery. If it doesn't you have an earth problem, then it's a case of working out what it is.

All the description sounds like an earth problem to me, but the bit that most makes it sound like an earth problem is sparking when putting the side panels on. That means one bit of what the side panel is touching isn't earthed, and another bit is, and that's giving the sparks. But it also means that there's current trying to flow....which there shouldn't be with the key turned off. So another question is why anything would spark when the machine is turned off - what is still live? So that may in turn suggest a short somewhere.