[KennyP]

Aaron just came up and woke me. Asked why the Toro was running! WTF?????? Sure enough, it sat out there idling. All I can figure is the showers shorted the switch and started it up. This is the Mitsubishi K3D. I had to reach down and hold the kill solenoid in to kill it. Got some wrenches out and unhooked the battery. But, still need to figure out how it could have energized the fuel pump and starter. Had to be the ignition switch.

 

[wilberj]

Um..........

 

[superaben]

I had a tractor that was brand new. Every time it rained, the battery would go dead. We couldn't figure it out until I drove by one time by accident during a rainstorm and saw all the headlights were on. Water had snuck into the light switch.

Ben W.

 

[MH81]

Wow, sounds like a Gremlin. This might be really tough to track down.
Might be a good idea to put a fast disconnect on there and do it every time.
With a problem like that, you really want to watch working in it. Have your fingers in there and the starter kicks over... Shudder... Just be careful.
Two things: was the key in it and is there a seat switch?

 

[HANKG]

Alien TRACTOR ENTHUSIASTS ? WAS THERE A BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE SKY?

 

[JDBrian]

If you have a diagram it should be easier to find the culprit. Thats another safety feature of having an interlock switch of some sort in series with the ignition switch. It sounds like it could be the ignition switch but also could be a short in the wiring of the start circuit. It's also odd because start and run are 2 different contacts on the switch. Was the starter still engaged? Ghost rider? A haunted Toro!!

 

[Littledeere]

Had a 316 that I sold a friend about 6 months after he got it he gave me a call seems it was setting in the back yard cranking over.This also was after a rain shower the switch had shorted

 

[New.Canadian.DB.Owner]

Wife went out to her VW the other day & the radio was on. No key in the ignition. No one had driven it in a couple of days.

 

[KennyP]

What is hard to figure is the fuel pump has to run for it to start as the tank is under the seat. Also the seat was leaned up onto the steering wheel. So the switch had to short to start. Key was in the off position. The shut-off solenoid will shut fuel flow off, but resets to start position after a few seconds. I have work today so will see if I can figure something out this evening if it isn't raining again. The battery is disconnected, so it can't run away from home.

 

[crittersf1]

Had an F750 wrecker that would start itself in the rain.

 

[KennyP]

Wow, sounds like a Gremlin. This might be really tough to track down.
Might be a good idea to put a fast disconnect on there and do it every time.
With a problem like that, you really want to watch working in it. Have your fingers in there and the starter kicks over... Shudder... Just be careful.
Two things: was the key in it and is there a seat switch?

Seat switch isn't hooked up. I'll be looking into that! Gotta make sure the switch works first!

 

[JDBrian]

This is a good one Kenny. It will be interesting to see what's up.

 

[LilysDad]

How much do you trust Aaron???

 

[lyall]

it was waiting for you to drive it around

it was bored just sitting there

 

[DougT]

It was probably trying to get in out of the rain. Some people can't get their tractor to run and Kenny can't get his to quit.

 

[classic]

I worked with a guy who was a bit slow at figuring things out. While hauling his mower to town for repairs he noticed a mower just like his passing him on the left in the other lane...

 

[KennyP]

How much do you trust Aaron???

A Bunch!

 

[LilysDad]

Okay! Just covering all the possibilities.

 

[olcowhand]

That sure would be strange to find my mower running like that!

 

[KennyP]

That sure would be strange to find my mower running like that!

My biggest issue is that it always takes a bit of cranking and glow plug to start it. How it did that on it's own baffles me!