No juice to starter

[Redclip]

I stalled my 76 Cub today, and when I turned the key to restart I got- nothing, not even a click. So I cleaned all the battery cables connections, still nothing. I ran a jumper cable from the battery to the starter, and it turned the engine just fine, but it wouldn't start. What should I check next?

[tst]

that year has a clutch safety switch if its hooked up, also there is a metal rod that pushes the button on the switch make sure they are working or bypassed

[Jim Becker]

Use the jumper to turn the engine again. This time check for ignition spark. My guess is there will be none. If there isn't you probably have a bad connection somewhere between the battery and the ignition switch. Power has to reach the ignition switch for both turning over and ignition. Narrow down the problem with a multimeter.

[Eugene]

All of the above ideas. There is probably a switch magnetic, (solenoid), involved with the clutch safety switch.

You will need the correct wiring diagram for the tractor to find the fault. - - - - And then figure out any "farmer fixes".

[Redclip]

It was a wire that got pulled loose from the clutch safety switch, from running over some brush in the woods. The wiring diagram calls this a "starting switch", and the key switch is referred to as the "battery ignition switch". Kind of confusing. The previous owner had removed the part that the clutch pedal moved. I'm guessing that this safety feature wasn't very popular.