Countax D18/50 cuts out
Discussion
Hi,
I'm in France and have a 2001 Countax D18/50 tractor/mower. Just had a new electric clutch fitted and the mechanic says all is well. However as soon as I got it back it started all right but cut out as soon as gears were engaged (lever pushed forward from park). The mechanic who's not real familiar (if at all) with Countax is mystified. Has anyone any ideas?
thanks
Brendan
I'm in France and have a 2001 Countax D18/50 tractor/mower. Just had a new electric clutch fitted and the mechanic says all is well. However as soon as I got it back it started all right but cut out as soon as gears were engaged (lever pushed forward from park). The mechanic who's not real familiar (if at all) with Countax is mystified. Has anyone any ideas?
thanks
Brendan
Do you mean the handbrake lever, there is a switch underneath the tractor connected to it,a real devil to get to, which you'll have noticed won't let you start the engine unless the handbrake is set, that can need adjustment sometimes, the switch under the seat can also cause problems, mine is shorted out with a jumper cable.
Possible there is a plug loosened on one of the circuit boards or the ignition switch is misbehaving.
I have a problem sometimes which I still haven't tracked down yet, I can be driving along and everything cuts out, the display is dead altogether, turn the ignition off and back on again and it works OK, but it's very odd, it might do it 5 times within 10 mins, but then go a fortnight without any problems and then do it again.
There are relays on the PCB which could also be the culprit.
The man who used to come from the dealer knew them inside out, the one who replaced him does not seem to have a clue, and just keeps replacing parts until he thinks he's cured it.
Possible there is a plug loosened on one of the circuit boards or the ignition switch is misbehaving.
I have a problem sometimes which I still haven't tracked down yet, I can be driving along and everything cuts out, the display is dead altogether, turn the ignition off and back on again and it works OK, but it's very odd, it might do it 5 times within 10 mins, but then go a fortnight without any problems and then do it again.
There are relays on the PCB which could also be the culprit.
The man who used to come from the dealer knew them inside out, the one who replaced him does not seem to have a clue, and just keeps replacing parts until he thinks he's cured it.
Many thanks
I'll have a look underneath the seat to see if anything's disconnected and a general look for any loose connections. Bit strange really, as it was working when the guy delivered it then as soon as he was gone it cut out.
The lever is the one that's in park when you start up then you push forward to engage the gears.
I'm just worried that it might be the gear box which I couldn't afford to replace.
But overall it appears that it's electrical which should be cheaply fixed when found.
I'll keep you in touch with events.
Thanks
Brendan
PS - a little confused by the use of the lever to the right of the seat - it has engaged and disengaged icons but nothing in the user guide that I can see refers to it.
I'll have a look underneath the seat to see if anything's disconnected and a general look for any loose connections. Bit strange really, as it was working when the guy delivered it then as soon as he was gone it cut out.
The lever is the one that's in park when you start up then you push forward to engage the gears.
I'm just worried that it might be the gear box which I couldn't afford to replace.
But overall it appears that it's electrical which should be cheaply fixed when found.
I'll keep you in touch with events.
Thanks
Brendan
PS - a little confused by the use of the lever to the right of the seat - it has engaged and disengaged icons but nothing in the user guide that I can see refers to it.
Had a look:
The switch wires are connected under the seat, but the seat cut off has never happened so I can't see why it should be a problem now.
However the tractor can be pushed (with it out of park) with or without the hydrostatic bypass valve pulled out. If somehow the connection has been broken inside the gearbox (it is the gear box between the rear wheels? I'm very much an amateur I'm afraid) would that make it cut out when taken out of park?
Yes, netherfield - that's the lever - thanks.
I think there is some confusion here.
Is the lever referred to by Netherfield the one that you are saying takes it out of park? This lever when in the down position tensions a belt which drives the power take off, this in turn drives the sweeper brushes at the back. It's not a transmission lever. Does your machine have two pedals on the RHS,?Depressing the large one causes the machine to move forward, the small one to reverse.
But I'm not sure that the controls on a 2001 machine look like the ones depicted by Netherfield.
I would email you a PDF instruction manual which ought to help. but your profile does not allow me to do so.
If you would like me to send this PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you
Is the lever referred to by Netherfield the one that you are saying takes it out of park? This lever when in the down position tensions a belt which drives the power take off, this in turn drives the sweeper brushes at the back. It's not a transmission lever. Does your machine have two pedals on the RHS,?Depressing the large one causes the machine to move forward, the small one to reverse.
But I'm not sure that the controls on a 2001 machine look like the ones depicted by Netherfield.
I would email you a PDF instruction manual which ought to help. but your profile does not allow me to do so.
If you would like me to send this PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you
On the advice of Ariens I got rear wheel off the ground and found they turned freely in both directions when the park brake was on or off or whether the bypass lever was in or out. Ariens suggest that the key ways were not replaced by my French mechanic. I was rather confused that when wheels were off ground when I turned one wheel forwards the other wheel turned the other way!!! And I can’t see how that would effect the engine cutting out when park brake was disengaged.
Any thoughts?
Brendan
PS thanks for the offer of a PDF Etratat but I already have the (woefully inadequate) users manual – what I really need is a workshop manual but it appears that, sadly inevitably, this one doesn’t have one.
Thanks also for the picture of the right hand lever, Netherfield, – it was just out of curiosity really (it’s not mentioned in the users guide – at least I couldn’t find it). My questions refers to the park brake.
Any thoughts?
Brendan
PS thanks for the offer of a PDF Etratat but I already have the (woefully inadequate) users manual – what I really need is a workshop manual but it appears that, sadly inevitably, this one doesn’t have one.
Thanks also for the picture of the right hand lever, Netherfield, – it was just out of curiosity really (it’s not mentioned in the users guide – at least I couldn’t find it). My questions refers to the park brake.
I was rather confused that when wheels were off ground when I turned one wheel forwards the other wheel turned the other way!!!
That is normal as it should be.
And I can’t see how that would effect the engine cutting out when park brake was disengaged.
There will be a cut out switch on the seat, if you were to fall off the machine the engine would cut out. I assume that you are sitting on the seat when disengaging the handbrake and then the engine cuts out? The seat switch could be faulty, find the wire going to it, remove from the switch and join the ends together to test whether this eliminates the problem. Some people do this as a permanent measure.
Let us know how you get on
That is normal as it should be.
And I can’t see how that would effect the engine cutting out when park brake was disengaged.
There will be a cut out switch on the seat, if you were to fall off the machine the engine would cut out. I assume that you are sitting on the seat when disengaging the handbrake and then the engine cuts out? The seat switch could be faulty, find the wire going to it, remove from the switch and join the ends together to test whether this eliminates the problem. Some people do this as a permanent measure.
Let us know how you get on
Hi Etratat,
Initially I assumed that it was the seat cut out - even though it has never or very seldom ever worked. I thought the French mechanic had reattached wires wrongly. Anyway, I disconnected the wires from under the seat and attached them together but no good - as soon as it goes out of park the engine stops!
Should I assume the fact that the machine can be pushed with the hydrostatic lever in has nothing to do with the engine cut out when the park lever is pushed out of park? (you are supposed to pull it out to freewheel the machine).
One other thing I've noticed is that when the engine is running (in park) and I flick the cutter switch up and the cutter starts, when I turn the machine off with the key (in park) then the cutter switch should turn off - it doesn't.
All very frustrating!
Brendan
Initially I assumed that it was the seat cut out - even though it has never or very seldom ever worked. I thought the French mechanic had reattached wires wrongly. Anyway, I disconnected the wires from under the seat and attached them together but no good - as soon as it goes out of park the engine stops!
Should I assume the fact that the machine can be pushed with the hydrostatic lever in has nothing to do with the engine cut out when the park lever is pushed out of park? (you are supposed to pull it out to freewheel the machine).
One other thing I've noticed is that when the engine is running (in park) and I flick the cutter switch up and the cutter starts, when I turn the machine off with the key (in park) then the cutter switch should turn off - it doesn't.
All very frustrating!
Brendan
Hi Brendan
I have downloaded an operators manual for your machine and it works the same as my 2010 one.
If you get off the machine with the handbrake "off" (what you are describing as being in "Drive" and the engine running the engine will cut out. If you get off with the handbrake on and the cutters engaged the engine will cut out. Both safety feature.
The manual says that both scenarios earth out the fuel supply on the diesel injector pump.
So it seems that there must be a switch/sensor on the handbrake.
I don't know how this works but have a theory. Bear with me.
The microswitch on the handbrake has two wires. One goes to earth. The other goes to the seat sensor. When the brake is "off" the switch completes the circuit. When you sit on the seat that switch breaks contact, but if you get off it now makes circuit, the output from that earths the supply supply to the diesel fuel cut off.
Hopefully there is someone else out there who knows whether this is correct so we can progress a bit further.
At least being in France you can hopefully have another glass of wine!
I have downloaded an operators manual for your machine and it works the same as my 2010 one.
If you get off the machine with the handbrake "off" (what you are describing as being in "Drive" and the engine running the engine will cut out. If you get off with the handbrake on and the cutters engaged the engine will cut out. Both safety feature.
The manual says that both scenarios earth out the fuel supply on the diesel injector pump.
So it seems that there must be a switch/sensor on the handbrake.
I don't know how this works but have a theory. Bear with me.
The microswitch on the handbrake has two wires. One goes to earth. The other goes to the seat sensor. When the brake is "off" the switch completes the circuit. When you sit on the seat that switch breaks contact, but if you get off it now makes circuit, the output from that earths the supply supply to the diesel fuel cut off.
Hopefully there is someone else out there who knows whether this is correct so we can progress a bit further.
At least being in France you can hopefully have another glass of wine!
Hi Etratat,
Many thanks for good exact information - though somewhat i the dark as to exactly what a microswitch is, I have enough info to continue my explorations and will keep you in touch. My main problem is resisting the temptation to bash the bugger (the tractor not the mechanic) with my sledgehammer! Still, I am convinced that the machine simply cannot be too complicated (no computer thank God!) to fix.
The mechanic said he would come yesterday with a colleague "who knows more", but didn't - hopefully they'll appear today.. Am prepared for much Gallic shrugs and hand flapping and little more.
In the sticks here and the electrics been out for 16 hours - tragedy in the ice box - time to break out the booze!
cheers
Brendan
Many thanks for good exact information - though somewhat i the dark as to exactly what a microswitch is, I have enough info to continue my explorations and will keep you in touch. My main problem is resisting the temptation to bash the bugger (the tractor not the mechanic) with my sledgehammer! Still, I am convinced that the machine simply cannot be too complicated (no computer thank God!) to fix.
The mechanic said he would come yesterday with a colleague "who knows more", but didn't - hopefully they'll appear today.. Am prepared for much Gallic shrugs and hand flapping and little more.
In the sticks here and the electrics been out for 16 hours - tragedy in the ice box - time to break out the booze!
cheers
Brendan
Hi Brendan
Did the man turn up?
Microswitch explanation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_snap-actio...
Did the man turn up?
Microswitch explanation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_snap-actio...
Hi Etretat,
Sorry for the delay - the man (actually men) did turn up - one lifted the machine on its side while the other delved into its workings with a spanner - end result it worked! Then the cutters didn't work - thank God they were still there! More lifting and the taking away of a long connecting rod - an hour later everything was working!!!
Sadly today for the second time the cutter blades belt came off! A mystery - perhaps the belt needs replacing (looks a bit frayed) or perhaps the spring does. Anyway as I write the wife is gaily cutting the lawn and all, for the moment is well! Thanks a lot for your interest and, again, sorry for the delay in response.
Brendan
Sorry for the delay - the man (actually men) did turn up - one lifted the machine on its side while the other delved into its workings with a spanner - end result it worked! Then the cutters didn't work - thank God they were still there! More lifting and the taking away of a long connecting rod - an hour later everything was working!!!
Sadly today for the second time the cutter blades belt came off! A mystery - perhaps the belt needs replacing (looks a bit frayed) or perhaps the spring does. Anyway as I write the wife is gaily cutting the lawn and all, for the moment is well! Thanks a lot for your interest and, again, sorry for the delay in response.
Brendan
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