No start after hosing out the deck/MZ-5424S

[lonestarjeff]

My 1st mow of the season was really messy(described in my other post), so I hosed the deck from the underside when I was done this weekend. I have used the hose attachment fitting on top of the deck, but it's not enough when there's major buildup under there. In that situation I use my engine hoist with a sling on the front frame & tilt the entire machine up to about 35-40 degrees then get after it with the hose. I've done this maybe twice a season since I've had it with no problems, but this time somehow I've shorted or tripped one of the safety switches. There is no sound whatsoever when I turn the key. I'm assuming it's a safety sensor/switch because I can hear the blade engage relay when I push/pull the knob. Any thoughts on what I've done?

Here's what I've checked:

1) battery is good
2) no loose wiring connections(that I can see or feel)
3) parking brake is on
4) steering levers in their locked positions
5) blade engage knob is down(I can hear the relay when I try it)
6) seat sensor is still attached(it has some wiggle in it)

I didn't think to check oil level after I mowed, but it was full before I mowed. I left the mower tilted up a good hour before I let it down again. That might have tripped the low oil switch? How long would it take for the switch to reset?

I might have played with it for 15 minutes before I had to get back to the city, so I disengaged the drive units & pushed it into the shop. Hopefully, I'll have a few ideas from you guys when I go back out there.:ashamed:

Jeff

 

[MRCo.]

The oil switch would be fine as soon as you righted the mower and the oil level came back. Got enough oil?

Have you tested the switches with a multimeter? Simple continuity test is all you need.

 

[lonestarjeff]

Whatever it was reset itself. Went out this morning & it fired up 1st hit on the starter. Oil level was fine, btw. All I can think is either the low oil switch tripped when I hoisted the front of the mower up to hose out the deck, or I got something wet that shouldn't be when I hosed it out.

Jeff