L3901 Intermittent Starting

[DAA2018]

I have an L3901 4x4 gear-drive with just over 1000 hours that doesn’t want to start. It’s been going on about a month. When I turn the ignition, I hear the fuel pump kick in and two lights on the dashboard, but nothing else. No sound at all. If I switch the key off/on several times it will eventually try to start… a few more times then it starts up. Once going it operates fine.

I’ve checked all the safety switches, got a new battery and clutch a year ago, cleaned all connections, PTO is off, transmission in neutral, seat down, regular maintenance up to date, fuel is clean. I’m at wits end. I was thinking starter, but then saw the price and I’m hoping it might be something else. Any thoughts?

 

[cthomas]

ignition switch? You could clip a test lamp/light to the small terminal of the starter and the other end to the negative battery post(or any good ground). Then watch light, if key is turned should light up.... if not probably ignition switch related. Do you have a WSM? If not go here. https://www.kubotabooks.com/AutoIndex/index.php?dir=Tractor Owners Manuals/

 

[trial and error]

I'm gonna second worn ignition switch contacts, I could be way off base and it could still be a starter but that's my educated guess based on the info given

 

[DAA2018]

I’ll give that a try tomorrow. Many thanks.

… and I pulled down a copy of the WSM, so I’ll go through that too.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I have an L3901 4x4 gear-drive with just over 1000 hours that doesn’t want to start. It’s been going on about a month. When I turn the ignition, I hear the fuel pump kick in and two lights on the dashboard, but nothing else. No sound at all. If I switch the key off/on several times it will eventually try to start… a few more times then it starts up. Once going it operates fine.

I’ve checked all the safety switches, got a new battery and clutch a year ago, cleaned all connections, PTO is off, transmission in neutral, seat down, regular maintenance up to date, fuel is clean. I’m at wits end. I was thinking starter, but then saw the price and I’m hoping it might be something else. Any thoughts?

I would be looking very hard at the safety interlocks.

Dan

 

[Danmd]

I would be looking very hard at the safety interlocks.

Dan

 

[Danmd]

Check/clean the battery ground strap at the chassis.