682 Shutoff while running - what could it be?
 

I was running along just fine when my 682 stumbled a few times then just shutoff without any big bangs or unusual noises. A turn of the key to restart immediately after the shut-down did nothing. I immediately assumed a dead battery since I wasn't even getting a sound out of the starter. Pushed her the 20ft back into the garage and hooked up the charger. It indicated a low battery, so I charged it all night. Battery now has a full charge, and when I turn the key I get nothing. I can hear the hour meter ticking away, but I don't get a single noise out of the starter. Items I should note:

1. I was running with the hood/nose off at the time, with the headlight wiring secured to the frame (and all contacts covered in electrical tape to avoid a short to the frame). I was doing this so that I could observe an unrelated oil leak.

2. I just purchased this tractor a few weeks ago and it does look like the previous owner might have done some shadetree re-wiring.

3. The headlights did not work even when hooked up and the hood/nose was installed.

Any suggestions on prime items to investigate? At this point I'm just going to start checking every wire, and every connection one by one. I figure it has got to be electrical.

Well...she's running again. I think I'm going to need new safety switches on the brake pedal and the seat. They seemed to have been the cause of the inability to restart. In the meantime I've removed the fuse to the headlight circuit and it seems that the battery is now charging properly while the motor is running. I'm definitely going to re-do all of the wiring when I tear her down this winter for painting.

Dad's 782 would have similar issues- the batt. would seem drained even fully charged as indicated by how strong the headlights come on. Attempting to start it would cause a click click click click buzzing noise. It was normally a dirty corroded over battery line at the terminal. Cleaning it off and working the wire around caused the problem to go away.

PS someone re did the wiring before and all the safety features were gone. IE pedal, seat, mowing in reverse, etc.

Glad you got it going sdk131 :ThumbsUp:

Congrats on getting your cub running!

...I second that.

Cub Cadet 123

I dislike safety switches, BUT the one for the clutch, on any equipment, is a must.
So many folks were hurt or killed by a tractor/equipment starting inadvertently.
I myself have had a few close calls working on older equipment without switches.