Ignition problems

[catldavis]

I’m really new to tractors. Have a Long 350 that ran rather well. I allowed my son to use it and when I went to start it up again, there were two longer brown wires hanging down by the brake pedal. I tried to start the tractor but the push button didn’t do anything. I took the dash loose and realized the two brown wires were for the ignition switch. I checked voltage on the side that was still connected and it showed 12.39V. When I push in the starter button, I get the same 12.39V on the brown wires. The problem is there are cut wires everywhere and I have no idea where the brown wires go to start the engine. I’ve attached pictures of the push button (with wires) along with a picture of the starter (The wire hanging from the starter I think was already like that.). Anyone have any idea where the brown wires should connect?

 

[used red MN]

My guess would be they go right here as shown in the photo. I would suggest trying shorting that terminal to the one on the solenoid with the battery cable on it. I am thinking it will engage the starter. Make darn sure it is in neutral or you have someone holding down the clutch. Looks like they felt the one brown they apparently had available was not heavy enough so they used two. I would think one 12 gauge wire would do. I suppose you could use a 10 gauge but in most cases that is overkill for engaging a solenoid. Just a guess, but the disconnected wire with the eyelet on it sticking out by the starter looks like it could be the original wire to the solenoid. Maybe it was abandoned to bypass a neutral or clutch safety switch that they thought was giving trouble.

 

[Tgrasher]

If the engine dies by the throttle lever, I'll go with used red's guess. If not, then one of the wires might go to the fuel pump to activate a solenoid.

 

[used red MN]

If the engine dies by the throttle lever, I'll go with used red's guess. If not, then one of the wires might go to the fuel pump to activate a solenoid.

Best I can tell and by what he said the wires come from the starter button. If so and you ran one to the fuel pump solenoid it would only power it when cranking. If another wire is powering it in the run position it would back feed and keep the starter solenoid engaged. Your proposed idea could be workable if the fuel pump solenoid has a pull in coil that this wire would connect to.

 

[catldavis]

My guess would be they go right here as shown in the photo. I would suggest trying shorting that terminal to the one on the solenoid with the battery cable on it. I am thinking it will engage the starter. Make darn sure it is in neutral or you have someone holding down the clutch. Looks like they felt the one brown they apparently had available was not heavy enough so they used two. I would think one 12 gauge wire would do. I suppose you could use a 10 gauge but in most cases that is overkill for engaging a solenoid. Just a guess, but the disconnected wire with the eyelet on it sticking out by the starter looks like it could be the original wire to the solenoid. Maybe it was abandoned to bypass a neutral or clutch safety switch that they thought was giving trouble.

You nailed it! Amazing work! I can’t believe you got it from a picture. I touched the brown wires to that terminal and it turned it over fine. This site is great.

 

[used red MN]

I can’t believe you got it from a picture.

Thanks! All you have to know is how a basic system works then apply a little investigative searching in the photos.
Edit to add: It gets quite a bit more difficult when the wires are not strung out in the open but instead are hid inside a harness.

 

[Caryc]

Thanks! All you have to know is how a basic system works then apply a little investigative searching in the photos.

Yep...that's pretty amazing thinking right there. Nothing like seeing a customer walk away happy!!! That seems to be the premise of this forum.