New to me 317, already dead...

[shiner2001]

This is my first post and I wish it was under better circumstances, but unfortunately the 2007 317 I brought home today is a non-starter just a few feet from the trailer. This is my first skid steer, just loaded it up and brought it home today. After unloading, I noticed that the front work lights were not working, and shortly thereafter (just a couple minutes after unloading), it beeped at me and then died. I smelled what seems to be electrical smoke. I THINK what happened is that the ignition switch is bad and stayed in the "start" position instead of turning back to the "run" position when I let go of it. That would explain why the work lights wouldn't come on when it was running, but would turn on after it had died and I turned the key to "run." Anyway, I think with the key stuck in the "start" position, the solenoid or the starter fried itself. All fuses are still good, but my boom is down so I can't get too much engine access. After looking around online, apparently the cab folds away, but I haven't messed with that yet since it was already dark outside. I've literally only owned this machine a few hours and it's parked just a few feet from the trailer it came home on, so please forgive me if I am missing something that's very elementary to those with more experience. Anyone have any advice or troubleshooting ideas? Many thanks in advance for any help yall might be able to send my way!

 

[jerry]

Generally when the starter stays engaged it makes enough noise that you know something is wrong. It does sound like that is what happened though.
If you have a dealer close by get a service book to find out how to lift the cab and raise the boom. It does sound like a bad deal , did you buy it from a dealer? A good dealer should give you help in this situation. Sorry I can be of no help though.

 

[shiner2001]

Generally when the starter stays engaged it makes enough noise that you know something is wrong. It does sound like that is what happened though.
If you have a dealer close by get a service book to find out how to lift the cab and raise the boom. It does sound like a bad deal , did you buy it from a dealer? A good dealer should give you help in this situation. Sorry I can be of no help though.

I would have also thought that with a starter spinning that long I would have noticed it. The machine was throttled down pretty low, so it wasn't running too loudly. There is a JD dealer in town, as well as a tech that makes house calls that was recommended by the seller, which is a little used equipment/ATV dealer in town. I'd be willing to bet he isn't gonna offer too much assistance with the matter, although I'll be checking with him tomorrow for sure. As with any vehicle (or anything with an engine) that I buy, I'm already looking for a good service manual. I hoped to find one accessible online, but could only come up with a few different ones on ebay (varying lengths and prices). Any recommendations on that? And because I'm not going to be able to sleep with this thing sitting outside needing some attention, I just went out and checked out how the cab flips up. Looks pretty straightforward. So is there a way to raise the boom manually? I don't have any other equipment like a forklift or anything readily available at the ranch to lift it with, but it looks like raising the cab should give me pretty good access to start diagnosing the starter and and solenoid tomorrow. We shall see! Any special instructions for raising the cab? I'm guessing it's also a pretty simple ignition switch and not something I need to worry about getting a dealer part for a replacement. I'm going to pull the panel off in the morning and check it out. Surely I can find a suitable replacement at Tractor Supply.

 

[jerry]

I would have also thought that with a starter spinning that long I would have noticed it. The machine was throttled down pretty low, so it wasn't running too loudly. There is a JD dealer in town, as well as a tech that makes house calls that was recommended by the seller, which is a little used equipment/ATV dealer in town. I'd be willing to bet he isn't gonna offer too much assistance with the matter, although I'll be checking with him tomorrow for sure. As with any vehicle (or anything with an engine) that I buy, I'm already looking for a good service manual. I hoped to find one accessible online, but could only come up with a few different ones on ebay (varying lengths and prices). Any recommendations on that? And because I'm not going to be able to sleep with this thing sitting outside needing some attention, I just went out and checked out how the cab flips up. Looks pretty straightforward. So is there a way to raise the boom manually? I don't have any other equipment like a forklift or anything readily available at the ranch to lift it with, but it looks like raising the cab should give me pretty good access to start diagnosing the starter and and solenoid tomorrow. We shall see! Any special instructions for raising the cab? I'm guessing it's also a pretty simple ignition switch and not something I need to worry about getting a dealer part for a replacement. I'm going to pull the panel off in the morning and check it out. Surely I can find a suitable replacement at Tractor Supply.

Have no idea how the cab on that one tilts but if it is like the new hollands a few years earlier it is not a simple job. you can raise the boom some by loosening the lift cyl fittings and using a jack under the attachment plate. If you do so it has to be absolutely blocked up so it can't come down or it will kill or crush you. First try to get access to the battery and put a charger on it, then find the start relay and check it out as best you can to make sure it is not stuck closed. If you can charge the battery and the ignition switch seems to operate and the relay seems to be ok I'd try it again. If possible get someone to either turn the key or be ready to disconnect the battery though.
Do you have a parts supplier close? I put a $10 disconnect switch in the negative cable to the battery on my New holland so if things went south it could at least remove electrical power to everything. good luck and hope a JD mechanic comes along here soon.

 

[jerry]

Have no idea how the cab on that one tilts but if it is like the new hollands a few years earlier it is not a simple job. you can raise the boom some by loosening the lift cyl fittings and using a jack under the attachment plate. If you do so it has to be absolutely blocked up so it can't come down or it will kill or crush you. First try to get access to the battery and put a charger on it, then find the start relay and check it out as best you can to make sure it is not stuck closed. If you can charge the battery and the ignition switch seems to operate and the relay seems to be ok I'd try it again. If possible get someone to either turn the key or be ready to disconnect the battery though.
Do you have a parts supplier close? I put a $10 disconnect switch in the negative cable to the battery on my New holland so if things went south it could at least remove electrical power to everything. good luck and hope a JD mechanic comes along here soon.

Look closely at the machine also, some of them now have external battery connections so you can jump or charge them without access to the battery.

 

[antfarmer2]

Look closely at the machine also, some of them now have external battery connections so you can jump or charge them without access to the battery.

With a new butt in the seat and coming off a trailer I would check the seat safety switch and safety bar switch

 

[shiner2001]

With a new butt in the seat and coming off a trailer I would check the seat safety switch and safety bar switch

Both the seat safety switch and the seatbelt switch are in good working order. The battery also tests good. About to dig a little deeper...

 

[antfarmer2]

Both the seat safety switch and the seatbelt switch are in good working order. The battery also tests good. About to dig a little deeper...

Any new info?