I had probably the "freakiest" experience I've ever had with a tractor ever today. Background: My 2N was really dirty after bush hogging this summer, and not covering it up while in storage, so decided wash it today. After washing it, I parked it in the barn as always. I always turn the gas off and put it in gear (usually in reverse), and set one of the brakes (to prevent it from rolling.) I walked away from the tractor and did several other things that I needed to do around the farm. About an hour (or more) later, I was standing in the barnyard and heard a very strange sound.
It sounded like someone was trying to start my tractor!! But who?! Nobody was anyway around the barn except for me!! I thought, who in the world is pushing the starter button on my tractor?! Yes, the sound I was hearing was definitely the starter motor on my little 2N coming from inside the barn!! So... I start walking from the barnyard up towards the barn. When I get about halfway there, I see the craziest sight! My little gray 2N was backing itself out of the barn. It was backing itself out of the barn, with every crank of the starter (12V so moving a decent pace) and pushing the barn door out with it!! I thought "OH NO! It's going to tear off the barn door!!" (Still not having any idea how the starter could POSSIBLY be engaged, having not touched the tractor in over an hour?!!?!) I start running towards the barn, to try and get on the tractor before it tears off the barn door completely. I get on the tractor and put it in neutral. Can't get the starter to disengage, so I put it in 1st and allow the starter motor to "drive" the tractor forward, to release the barn door from the rear tires (Which by this time is pushing outward and upward!)
Now that the tractor is safely in neutral, I grab a wrench to loosen the battery cable terminal. Pull off the cable from the battery, and FINALLY get the starter motor to stop (it's nice and WARM by now!!) SOOO... What the heck?!!
Figured out what MUST have happened: MOISTURE from giving the tractor a WASH must have built up inside the starter switch (the OLD style linkage switch) causing it to arc across the terminals. It was still wet on the outside, so evidently some of that water found its way inside the little round can switch.)
Talk about freaky... anyone else ever have a similar experience with something like this happening??
It sounded like someone was trying to start my tractor!! But who?! Nobody was anyway around the barn except for me!! I thought, who in the world is pushing the starter button on my tractor?! Yes, the sound I was hearing was definitely the starter motor on my little 2N coming from inside the barn!! So... I start walking from the barnyard up towards the barn. When I get about halfway there, I see the craziest sight! My little gray 2N was backing itself out of the barn. It was backing itself out of the barn, with every crank of the starter (12V so moving a decent pace) and pushing the barn door out with it!! I thought "OH NO! It's going to tear off the barn door!!" (Still not having any idea how the starter could POSSIBLY be engaged, having not touched the tractor in over an hour?!!?!) I start running towards the barn, to try and get on the tractor before it tears off the barn door completely. I get on the tractor and put it in neutral. Can't get the starter to disengage, so I put it in 1st and allow the starter motor to "drive" the tractor forward, to release the barn door from the rear tires (Which by this time is pushing outward and upward!)
Now that the tractor is safely in neutral, I grab a wrench to loosen the battery cable terminal. Pull off the cable from the battery, and FINALLY get the starter motor to stop (it's nice and WARM by now!!) SOOO... What the heck?!!
Figured out what MUST have happened: MOISTURE from giving the tractor a WASH must have built up inside the starter switch (the OLD style linkage switch) causing it to arc across the terminals. It was still wet on the outside, so evidently some of that water found its way inside the little round can switch.)
Talk about freaky... anyone else ever have a similar experience with something like this happening??