So another 4 months have gone by!
It’s not so much that I haven’t had things to share, it’s finding the time.
Winter has dumped snow on a regular basis, three inches here, 8 inches there.
It is getting tiresome shoveling snow out of a 600 foot drive way.
Oh Yeah! By hand. Seems the tractor suddenly decided to take February off!
After much wailing and gnashing of teeth I have finally determined that the fuel shutoff solenoid sticks when it is very cold.
Sure, it runs fine when it is above freezing.
As soon as it snows, no go.
After the usual fuel filter and air filter replacement, fuel additive addition, fuse and relay checks, no change.
I checked that the correct hold and start voltages were being sent to the solenoid.
I did notice that the PTO switch would freeze and would not move.
Aha! Changed the PTO switch (part of the interlock system).
Nope, still no go.
Saturday I paid a visit to the John Deere dealer in Battlecreek, MI.
I related my troubles and trials to a guy behind the counter, he had the name Todd on his shirt.
He said that the 4600 Hydrostatics had been known to have a bit of trouble with the fuel shutoff solenoid.
He suggested that I try to start the tractor and if it would not start to then use a hair dryer to warm the solenoid up until it was just warm to the touch.
Ta Da! It started right up! 1:45 hour later the road and drives were clear.
Seems the solenoid is sticking when it gets below freezing and prevents the shutoff from releasing.
No release, no fuel.
So it looks like I get to replace the fuel shutoff solenoid.
In 5 years of abuse this is the first instance of trouble (except dead battery) encountered.