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.

Here's Something To Ponder For A Bit!
#3
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 04:52 AM
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.
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#4
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 05:24 AM
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?
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#5
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 05:35 AM
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#6
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 05:36 AM
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!!
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#7
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 06:33 AM
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
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#8
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 06:40 AM
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.
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#9
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 06:45 AM
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.
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#10
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 07:50 AM
Had an F750 wrecker that would start itself in the rain.
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#11
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 07:53 AM
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!
#12
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 07:56 AM
This is a good one Kenny. It will be interesting to see what's up.
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#13
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 08:29 AM
How much do you trust Aaron???
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#14
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Posted May 27, 2014 - 09:07 AM
it was waiting for you to drive it around
it was bored just sitting there
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Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: toro 322d, mitsubishi k3d, diesel starting by itself
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