MF 50 Gas No Start

SaveMy50

Member
Ran my 50 no issues yesterday, shut down and it won't start today, no turn over at starter, have 12.5 v there. Can't even roll start it? Any ideas? Is the key switch jumpable?
 
make sure the tractor is in neutral before trying anything
give the starter a hit with a hammer not to hard but not to light either
and try again
if no joy then he proper way is to check for power first to the starter
there will be two big posts top one will have large cable on it and possibly other smaller wires
see if you have voltage there most likely you will
bottom big post connets to the starter windings if you hear a clicking noise coming from the solinod
check the lower post for voltage with the key in te start position if no power comes out the its a bd
solinod
if no clicking noise from starter
next your starter could have one or two small posts
the one closest to the motor is your start wire and should get full voltage when you turn the key to
the cranking position if you get no voltage then you have a broken wire from the starter back to the
switch or you have a broken wire from the switch to the battery source which could come from the big
top post on the starter were the battery cable connects to it
if you have power to the small back post then either your starter has lost it's ground to the block
and I suggest you connect your ground cable direct to one of the mounting bolts if still no joy then
take starter to a shop and have it tested
a quick test is take a screw driver and make a hot jump from your big top post and the small back
post by the motor
BTW the other small post closest to you if it has one is only to supply full voltage to the coil for
starting only and for testing the starter problems ignore it
good luck and let us know what you find out
 
Thanks for the comments, will confirm neutral of course, and do some more voltage and wiring checks as noted. I did find a MF35 diagram that may be helpful as well.
38289.jpg
 
The 50 is pretty much the same tractor as the 35 except the 50 uses some of the same parts as the 65 (the 50 is a in-between size of a 35, and 65).
 
So found power at solenoid, but not through it. Confirmed power to and through the regulator. Confirmed the push start and neutral switch both work (continuity check on multimeter). Confirmed key switch works and found power to coil, so bomb started for now.

Pretty sure solenoid, but want to trace wiring around neutral switch is correct, a few people worked on tractor ahead of me.

In general wiring similar to what I posted above, but missing ammeter and a few other minor changes, but tractor has been wired this way for the 25 years we've had it.
 
By chance I found the key switch to be faulty (unless wiring was recently changed as others troubleshot ahead of me). Accidentally overturned the key to Ign/Lights and the starter briefly engaged. Put it in neutral and pressed the start button and she started right up! Maybe I'll have a closer look at that wiring before I buy anything. Also picked up an Autolite 3116 to try in #1 (black fouling).
 

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