MF135 starter won't engage

The battery has enough juice to make the lights nice an bright, so I don"t think that is the problem.

I checked around and gave it another try, and still nothing, but this time I notice a whisp of smoke come up from the wire that is connected what seems to be the starter switch for the range selector. I felt the wire, and it felt a little warm.

Can anybody suggest what would be the likely cause of this, and how I should go about fixing it?

Thanks for any help!

I should have mention that this tractor has the three cylinder Perkins diesel.

1. The safety switch is provided so that YOU, the owner, don't stand adjacent to the tractor and start it in gear.....hence running over yourself and causing you serious pain and maybe DEATH, or injury to a friend or loved one starting the tractor!

2. If the wires are fried, or getting warm even, have to understand why. If the switch is on the high side of the starting solenoid, it runs 12v in and back out to the sole. If the switch has malfunctioned and no longer isolates the 12v from the metal housing of it (hence tractor chassis ground) it could explain the hot wires.

Otherwise, you may have a wire that has had the insulation worn off and it is touching ground or you have a problem elsewhere.

Do this. Feel the wires going to the switch and back out. If only one is hot the problem is the switch. If both are hot the problem is associated with the sole.

For switches that are in the ground circuit, any shorting out would cause your starter to stay energized as long as you have the ign key energized and you would know that immediately. Starter would be a hummin.....not your problem; sole is not clicking and not energizing.

With an ohmeter, I found continuity to ground on both terminals of the switch. I guess that means the switch is bad?

How are those wires attached, do the connectors just slip off?

Thanks

I have called the local Massey dealer about getting a switch, and they are going to get back to me.

In the meanwhile, I will be very careful, as always!

Thanks for steering me in the right direction.

Remember be safe and replace that switch if necessary. Good Luck.