[AT] OT-Problem with Cub Cadet 1641

[Larry D. Goss]

Mike, as an early step in troubleshooting, I would use a heavy jumper
wire and short out the starter solenoid terminals directly.  That will
bypass the ignition switch and all the safety switches and let you know
if the battery is at fault (which I would suspect.)  If the engine
cranks with the solenoid bypassed, then use the jumper wire to energize
the solenoid itself.  That will test whether the big contacts inside the
solenoid are working properly.  Since you get chatter when you turn the
key, I would guess that the ignition switch and all the interlock
switches are OK.  BTW- there's no need to turn on the ignition switch
for either of these tests, that way you are less likely to get hurt
because the engine will not run even though it cranks.

I can't remember exactly which battery the 1641 uses, but I think it's
one of the lawn & garden size rather than an automotive size.  They can
show a full charge but not be able to crank an engine.

Larry

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Mike S
Meulenberg
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 9:04 PM
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: [AT] OT-Problem with Cub Cadet 1641

Hi All,
I have an interesting problem with my mowing tractor, a Cub Cadet 1641.
I
was mowing with the tractor, and shut it off, when I went to restart it
,
all I got was a rapid clicking sound from the solenoid next to the
battery. I've checked all the grounds I could find, and cleaned them up,
still the problem persists. The voltage reading across the battery
terminals is 12.07 v. The battery had been getting weaker for the last
several weeks, sometimes requiring a jump to start the tractor. I tried
charging the battery, as well as jumping the tractor from my truck with
no success. I called the dealer's service dept. and they thought it
might
be an ignition switch, or a bad ground.
I'm not sure how to test an ignition switch. Any thoughts.

Thanks much,
Mike
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