Last Saturday I went to the farm to cut the lane, trails, and about 5 acres of food plots. Needless to say, my M4050 wouldn't start. Initially it would heat the glow plugs, but when I turned to ignition it would give me a dull thud (wouldn't turn over). I've had the issue in the past, and could normally work thru it by gently engaging the starter, but this time it didn't work. I got my screwdriver and started pulling the dash off to look at the wiring. First issue was as soon as I lifted the dash, a filthy mouse was looking back at me. After it ran off, I could see a pretty good nest inside. Worse yet, the last time I hit the glow plugs it cut off all power
. Needless to say, I got 0 done last Saturday.
First thing I did was order a new ignition switch, just in case. I needed to get it running before the weekend to have any chance of getting my necessary things done. Left work early yesterday and loaded up the truck with all the tools that could be needed. Pulled the dash apart to find the beginning s of a new nest which I removed and replaced with some mouse poison. Found some wires chewed on which I remedied. Then I pulled the starter switch and installed the new one. All seems easy, except its like solving a Rubix Cube getting the dash off without pulling the steering wheel. While I was in there I noticed an open wire with a male beanie end. Didn't see the female anywhere. I proceeded to get the new switch in to test. Turned the key and had power! Turned to glow plugs and the indicator heated! Turned to start and............nothin!
Sat for a few and thought about the male beanie. With all the wires close to their normal positions, I saw the female end and said a prayer. Got them together and went thru the process again and she came to life!!! Hooked up my brush hog and cut a couple acres of my spring buckwheat plots to prep for planting on Saturday. Switch was definitely the issue, but pretty sure the chewed wires created the no power issue.
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