I got hurt. (Sorry if this is a little graphic)

[JSinMO]

I’m still not sure how this could happen and I thought one of you guys might have some insight.

So the 2N lost spark AGAIN! I pulled it into the shop with the 446 and was trying to figure out what the heck could be happening. I had the switch on and was checking voltage to the coil with my meter and the engine started cranking on its own! My hand was at the front of the engine and the alternator grabbed my thump and ripped it open.

I was at the front of the tractor, the starter button, solenoid, and wire to the starter all at the opposite end.
How in the world could this happen? There’s no way voltage should be going to the starter.
I got to spend the evening at the hospital getting sowed back together.

So now I’m working one handed with a bag over the wound and a thumb that useless for awhile.
This is confounding to me. The only thing I can come up with is there is a path to ground either in the starter button or the solenoid. Have you ever heard of something like this? And why did it decide to crank at that moment? In my mind power still has to get through the solenoid.

Anyway I’d like to hear your thoughts. I hate getting hurt but if in someway someone else can see this and it keeps them from having an accident at least that’s something positive.

[DavidBarkey]

I’m still not sure how this could happen and I thought one of you guys might have some insight.

So the 2N lost spark AGAIN! I pulled it into the shop with the 446 and was trying to figure out what the heck could be happening. I had the switch on and was checking voltage to the coil with my meter and the engine started cranking on its own! My hand was at the front of the engine and the alternator grabbed my thump and ripped it open. IMG_4515.jpeg

I was at the front of the tractor, the starter button, solenoid, and wire to the starter all at the opposite end.
How in the world could this happen? There’s no way voltage should be going to the starter.
I got to spend the evening at the hospital getting sowed back together. IMG_3870.jpegIMG_3875.jpeg

So now I’m working one handed with a bag over the wound and a thumb that useless for awhile.
This is confounding to me. The only thing I can come up with is there is a path to ground either in the starter button or the solenoid. Have you ever heard of something like this? And why did it decide to crank at that moment? In my mind power still has to get through the solenoid.

Anyway I’d like to hear your thoughts. I hate getting hurt but if in someway someone else can see this and it keeps them from having an accident at least that’s something positive.

It pains me to say this , but been there done that . I have a scare that goes from the crotch between my finger and thumb back almost to my wrist. left my left hand useless and in a bag for weeks . I won't get into how it happened . As for how it happened to you . You just prove that you have an intermittent short in the system somewhere that back fed power to the starter solenoid . Without being there and doing my own test , I can only guess , but I would start by changing the ignition switch. That to me is the common denominator.
Ps . Hope you heel quickly .

[RoamingGnome]

Ouch! Hope you make a speedy recovery and are feeling better soon...

[Timj]

I won't give you a thumbs up for your post there's nothing good about it other than it wasn't worse. Hope you get healed up and back to work with two hands quickly.

[propane1]

That’s nasty Jeff. I’d be changing the ignition switch, starter button and solenoid, to start with. Then looking at all the wires.

Hopefully it heals quickly.

Noel

[Eugen]

Ouch! I'm sorry it happened Jeff. hope you recover quickly. I must say though, thank God you didn't lose your whole thumb or worse. Our flesh and bones isn't a match to any moving parts on the tractor.

[Spike188]

Jeff, Like others I can relate to having stiches in the same area almost 40 years ago and have a nice centipede scar to prove it.

My thoughts are also the ignition switch or that all of the wires leading to the switch might be bundled or wrapped together for neatness. If wrapped together and wire insulation is deteriorating, then that is the most like cause of the short and false start.

Heal soon.

[Harry]

Getting hurt is never a good situation. All I can say as mention the system shorted out some where. Just goes to say you can never be to careful. Hope you heal soon! Harry

[JSinMO]

Thank you for the comments fellas, I appreciate it.
No pun intended, but on one hand I feel pretty stupid about this, on the other hand this shouldn’t have been an issue that could have happened. I felt like i was in that horror movie Christine!

I did wrap my hand in a bag and go have a look. There are only 3 wires I didn’t replace so that’s on the list. This is a simple push button starter switch. I took it off the tractor and it was covered in oil and grime.

I’m not comfortable saying this is the issue but it COULD have been the problem. As stated I’ll have to replace it

I doubt I’ll be getting much wrench turning done for a little bit. Hopefully this won’t take long to heal. I’m thanks again guys!

[Chad]

Ouch Jeff! Hope you heal quickly, you'll have it sorted in time and as always with some great input from our many experts.

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