Dresser 850 won't start

[farmer45]

Our township's Dresser 850 motor grader won't crank using the starter button. It will start if I use a jumper wire ar the starter solenoid. We had some other work done on it and the machanic thought the problem was the switch on the left side beside the motor but after I replaced it it still won't work. When I put a test light on the starter button I have power but when I press the button I lose power. When I turn the key off and back on I have power again untill I press the button. Where do I look for the problem?
 

[wd9garymn]

I had same problem on a different type of tractor. It turned out to a poor ground--exactly the same symptoms. Clean up all ground connections.
 

[BCnT]

could be a ground or the ignition switch itself...try wiggling the key instead of turning it off and on...if it has power,you found the gremlin.
 

[farmer45]

I checked some of the wires and tried it again. The first time that I pushed the button it still didn"t work but when I pushed it again it started. I shut it off and restarted it several times. I don"t know for sure what I did but it is working now. Thanks.