1250 starting problem?

[bkw3614]

This warm and humid morning, I was preparing to take the 1250 to a parade, and use it to pull a float sponsored by my employer.

As normal, I checked the oil and started the engine, backed it out of the garage and shut it off to fill the gas tank. After fueling, the tractor would not start. It clicked when turning the key, but no cranking occurred. About five minutes later, the tractor started but a few clicks were heard prior to the engaging of the starter. I left the tractor home.

About four hours later, I returned home, and tried to start the tractor. It started normally. I did notice the amp gauge was charging a bit more than normal.

Thus, is my battery starting to fail, is my starter starting to fail, or is there something else I should do to correct the problem? I really don't want my tractor to be unreliable. What should I be looking for?

[cooperino]

It is likely a problem in wiring, key switch... if you did not charge the battery in between it starting and not starting I would not think that's the issue. Start by checking battery and load test of course. But if battery tests good I would then clean battery terminals and terminals at starter including grounds. If the problem still persists, check ignition switch

[R Bedell]

It could be any of the following:

* Bad Ignition Switch
* Bad Safety (Pedal) Switch
* Bad PTO Switch
* Bad wire and/or Terminal

The only way to figure this out, is get the Wiring Diagram and a Meter, and start tracing.

[Bob95065]

I had the same problem with my 1000. It turns out the ground was bad and acted intermittently. I filed the lug at the end of the wire and where the lug bolted to the frame. I haven't had a problem since.

This happened a few days before I was going to pull a trailer that had my wife and boys in it for our town's Memorial Day parade. It wound up being a happy ending. I hope you get your tractor fixed too.

[sawdustdad]

I'm voting for a bad ground.

Bad switches (ignition, pedal safety, pto safety) would not allow the starter relay to click. The fact that it did start, indicates starter is OK. Fact that battery could crank and start it, even after several failed attempts, indicates battery is good.

Most likely is bad/dirty connection in the starter circuit. Clean battery terminals, frame ground at battery and frame ground at starter. 80% of the time those are the culprit. Well, actually 81.35%, but whose data you wanna believe??

[Workingstiff]

I recently went thru this also, one one of my other mowers. It could have been any of the above. Mine was actually a bad ground wire itself and not the connections.

[bkw3614]

Thank you all for the positive comments and the hints as to where to look for the problem.

I was convinced that the problem lied in my six year old battery. I took the battery to my local NAPA, where they tested the battery for several characteristics. While the battery isn't great, it isn't shot, either.

The negative battery connector didn't look the healthiest, and it had been cut off and replaced once too often. I bought a new cable, cleaned the ground area, added dielectric compound to the joints, and the 1250 came to life as it should.

You'll see it in the Potato Days parade on Saturday.

[sawdustdad]

Well, that just upped the statistics to 84.24% for bad grounds..

Glad you got it fixed!!

[R Bedell]

Well, that just upped the statistics to 84.24% for bad grounds..

LOL. How many times have we stated this, and OP don't believe it.