520xi won’t start

[jarheadvet 0]

Hi

i have a 520 xi that won’t start. When this first appeared I figured it was the starter or solenoid. I replaced them with a new one. The problem persists. All fuses are ok. When I turn the ignition switch on, I get lights on the dash. When I continue and turn to start nothing happens. I hear a faint click like a relay is closing but that is all. I have searched for wiring diagrams and component locators to try to find the interlock switches but to no avail. I do not use this tractor for mowing but for snow plowing and dirt moving/landscaping. Any help is appreciated. The model number is 73540, serial number 8900494. 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,389]

Welcome to Red Square.

This file should help. The starter circuit has it's own diagram

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,389]

I believe there is a diagram in the illustrated parts list that shown where the components are located

 

[roadapples 6,983]

[Pullstart 65,779]

 

The Xi series is super strong and well cut out for work, however there is a design flaw in the front axle pin if you ask me.

 

it might be worth jacking the tractor up FROM THE FRAME to see if the front axle wobbles.

 

 

[953 nut 59,238]

The majority of "won't start" problems can  be resolved by cleaning and tightening ALL electrical connections including grounds and having your battery Load Tested to be sure it is up to the job at hand. If a connection is not tight or is corroded it will act like a big resistor and rob power that should be going to the starter.

Here is a step by step process to check for bad cables or components. Rather than wasting time and money replacing good parts it is better to find the bad one and replace it.

 

Why won’t my starter turn over from the key switch?

Lets take a logical step by step inspection of your starter problem.

Is your PTO in the ON position, a wheel horse will not start with the PTO on.

Have you had the battery load tested at an auto parts store?

Have you cleaned and tightened all electrical connections including grounds?

Are all fuses good and fuse holders cleaned?

If these have all been done, we can check components of the starting system as follows; don’t skip a step or you may miss the problem.

Be sure the transmission is in neutral and the parking brake is set.

Take a pair of automotive jumper cables and connect the black cable to your battery  "-" and a good clean spot on the engine. Now connect the other cable to the large post on the starter and touch the other end to the battery "+" terminal, does the starter turn over? If the starter turns over the battery and starter are good. If it didn't turn over try the same steps with the battery in your car/truck, if that cures the problem then the "good" battery wasn't so good.

Presuming the starter turned over move the jumper wire from the starter post to the other end of the wire going to the starter which is one of the large posts on the solenoid. If the starter turns over when the battery is touched by the jumper as before then that cable is good, if not you have found your problem.

Presuming the starter turned over move that jumper to the other terminal of the solenoid, connect the other end to the battery and use a small piece of wire to temporarily connect the battery "+" terminal to the small terminal on the solenoid, this should cause the solenoid to close and the starter to turn over. If not, the solenoid is probably the problem.

If this was successful remove the large jumper cable and use the small jumper wire to the small terminal of the solenoid, the solenoid should close and the starter turn over. If not the cable to the battery is the problem.

Presuming all of these have been successful remove the black jumper wire and repeat the small jumper to small terminal, if the starter turns over the ground is good.

If all of these components test good then remove your ignition switch, be sure the transmission is in neutral, parking brake on, clutch depressed and PTO off. Use a small jumper to connect the terminals that were connected to the “B” and “S” terminals of the ignition switch. If the starter turns over then the PTO switch and other safety switches are operating properly and your ignition switch may be bad.

[JoeM 8,164]

 

@953 nut Hope you don't mind but I took that check list info and put it into check list style. Pretty good stuff!

I have it in an excel file if you want it I will email it to you JoeM.

 

	Why won’t my starter turn over from the key switch?
	Let's take a logical step by step inspection of your starter problem.
1		Is your PTO in the ON position, a wheel horse will not start with the PTO on.
2		Have you had the battery load tested at an auto parts store?
3		Have you cleaned and tightened all electrical connections including grounds?
4		Are all fuses good and fuse holders cleaned?
	If these have all been done, we can check components of the starting system as follows; don’t skip a step or you may miss the problem.
5		Be sure the transmission is in neutral and the parking brake is set.
6		Take a pair of automotive jumper cables and connect the black cable to your battery  "-" and a good clean spot on the engine. Now connect the other cable to the large post on the starter and touch the other end to the battery "+" terminal, does the starter turn over? If the starter turns over the battery and starter are good. If it didn't turn over try the same steps with the battery in your car/truck, if that cures the problem then the "good" battery wasn't so good.
7		Presuming the starter turned over move the jumper wire from the starter post to the other end of the wire going to the starter which is one of the large posts on the solenoid. If the starter turns over when the battery is touched by the jumper as before then that cable is good, if not you have found your problem.
8		Presuming the starter turned over move that jumper to the other terminal of the solenoid, connect the other end to the battery and use a small piece of wire to temporarily connect the battery "+" terminal to the small terminal on the solenoid, this should cause the solenoid to close and the starter to turn over. If not, the solenoid is probably the problem.
9		If this was successful remove the large jumper cable and use the small jumper wire to the small terminal of the solenoid, the solenoid should close and the starter turn over. If not the cable to the battery is the problem.
10		Presuming all of these have been successful remove the black jumper wire and repeat the small jumper to small terminal, if the starter turns over the ground is good.
11		If all of these components test good then remove your ignition switch, be sure the transmission is in neutral, parking brake on, clutch depressed and PTO off. Use a small jumper to connect the terminals that were connected to the “B” and “S” terminals of the ignition switch. If the starter turns over then the PTO switch and other safety switches are operating properly and your ignition switch may be bad.

[jarheadvet 0]

Hi everyone 

Thanks for the insight you provided. There were three things wrong. The starter solenoid was bad (it was bench tested). I replaced the starter. Still nothing. Taking the advice given above, I cleaned the ignition contacts. Nothing. Bypassed the seat interlock. Crank and starts! I had bypassed the switch earlier and it still didn’t work.

So I figure it was a combination of the starter dying, the ignition switch contacts in bad shape, and the seat interlock switch not working properly. 

 

Thanks everyone for your advice and help. I have my beast back! Now if I could only find a front end loader for it…