IH 404 stopped running

I did search the site for a wiring diagram but got nowhere. My old 404 has been a workhorse and doing some hogging when it just died. I was in some heavy briars and some wire must have pulled loose. The tractor has some wiring issues as the previous owner did some work on it. Some bad connections, red paint on everything. I tried putting some loose wires back together but I need a diagram and a plan to work out just where the problem is. Right now I hit the push button and get nothing. Worse is it's down in the hollow and I can't get it back to the tractor shed.

Where do I start to work this out systematically? I have a tester but wires look to be cobbled together in multiple places. Any ideas on where to start? I need to get more work done while the getting so good. Thanks for looking.

So my answer is aimed at getting it back to a shop, etc.

I'm assuming here that you have wiring like my 460U, where its a key switch, pushbutton start, distributor ignition, negative ground.

First have to verify function of the B+ and chassis ground cables (large cables), make sure they are connected and tight.

I believe the dash power comes from the connections on the starter solenoid itself. So you'd need a wire going from B+ to the key switch, key switch "on" terminal to one side of the pushbutton. Other side of the pushbutton to the coil terminal of the solenoid. That should get the tractor to crank.

Next, ignition needs power. Key switch "on" terminal needs to goto ignition coil positive wire. Assuming the connection from the points to the coil is not disturbed I think that's all you need to get running again and get back to your shop.

Imo time to tear the entire harness out, make a wiring diagram, and start over. Its a pain but it has always been worth it to me. Armed with "my" as-built diagram and good solid connections, all the days of fiddling with this or that for an hour or so before I could go drive (or same but in the middle of a work session) are behind me.

Assuming it’s a spark ignition engine, there is another way. As previously stated, make sure the battery cables are conducting, both on the battery ends and on their other ends.
Then run a small jumper wire from the battery + to the coil +.
This will energize the ignition system.

Set the choke and throttle as necessary.

Make SURE it’s in neutral!!! Then using a screwdriver or another jumper wire, connect the big terminal on the starter to the small terminal. This should energize the solenoid and spin the motor. (Release this connection as soon as the engine starts.)

LPakiz has a good idea.

And below, is a link to wiring diagrams (in .pdf format).
404 diagrams

use your tester on your battery to make sure it didn't die.

Thanks for this tip. With the jumper wire I got it running and back to the tractor shed. I worked the problem back from the coil and found where the wires behind the key switch were burned up, power gets to the key switch but not past the switch so the wires may be burned up further into the bundle. Taped up all I could but still no go. May now just have to go ahead and rewire the whole thing. I'll need to pull the dash panel so will order new switch and push button too. Will I need any special puller to remove the steering wheel? Any other tips appreciated, thanks.

(quoted from post at 11:12:04 11/13/18) Assuming it’s a spark ignition engine, there is another way. As previously stated, make sure the battery cables are conducting, both on the battery ends and on their other ends.
Then run a small jumper wire from the battery + to the coil +.
This will energize the ignition system.

Set the choke and throttle as necessary.

Make SURE it’s in neutral!!! Then using a screwdriver or another jumper wire, connect the big terminal on the starter to the small terminal. This should energize the solenoid and spin the motor. (Release this connection as soon as the engine starts.)

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