Colt Case Ingersoll Garden Tractors

My 444 has a Kohler 321 with a starter generator and all of a sudden the other day wouldn't turn over unless the clutch was engaged. It will start with the clutch engaged and as soon as it starts I disengage it. The wiring all seems to be in order according to the schematic and it's confusing to me why all of a sudden this is happening. Anyone that has any ideas please send reply's ASAP?

Keep the Peace
Harry

@Harry is this a manual clutch? I am thinking there is malfunction in the Clutch engaged safety switch or wiring to that switch.

Harry , Are you using a 5 pin relay to run the electric clutch wired in to the safety switches ? If so change the relay .

Just a guess, but bad engine to frame ground.

Noel

Propane57 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 5:36 am Just a guess, but bad engine to frame ground.

Noel

Not a bad guess ,or to the starter from block . A jumper cable from battery to block then starter would confirm that .

This 444 has a manual clutch. I'll have to check the ground situation, then take out the battery and battery box to get into the safety switch.
Thanks to all who replied.

Keep the Peace
Harry

The weird part is that it behaves exactly the opposite of what the contact switch should do. Either something happened to the switch, or the wiring to the switch got pinched? You said you already checked the wires and they're fine, so that only leaves the switch itself. If you have better access perhaps you can jumper the switch over with a wire, on the other side where you have more access. That would tell you exactly that the switch or the wiring to it is the problem.

I had a few minutes today so I tried a jumper cable from the battery to the block and then the battery to the starter generator and it made no difference. So I guess I will take out the battery and the battery box to get into the switch and see what's going on in there.
This GT was free to me when I purchased the rototiller that was on the back. The PO said it just stopped running and he parked it behind his barn. I've found a few other issues that would have made it stop running so far. On with the debugging to get this rascal back working as it should. Thanks for the suggestions guys!

Keep the Peace
Harry

I took out the battery and the tray to get to the switch. Moved the clutch engagement lever and could see the switch was closed when lever engaged and open when disengaged. So I disassembled the contacts and cleaned them up with emery cloth, then reassembled and adjusted so the swith was open when engaged and closed when disengaged. All back together and working fine now. I think I have most of the bugs worked out now, but never say never.

Keep the Peace
Harry

Good troubleshooting @Harry ! Glad it's fixed!