I have trouble trying to start my L2500. Many times when I turn the key to start, it just clicks. Most of the time if I continue to turn the key it will hit one of the times and turn the engine over & it will start. I removed the starter, and completely went through it. On the bench it works perfectly, but back on the tractor I have to go through the clicking thing. I also replaced the positive cable, and bought a new ignition switch, which I haven't installed yet. Any ideas? Thanks a bunch.
Starting problem - electrical
- Thread starter MEAKN
- Start date
KWentling
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Were the contacts in the starter solenoid OK? I would take a volt meter and run one lead to the battery positive and the other to the starter main lug to be sure you don't have a significant voltage drop. What ever the volt meter reads is what voltage you are loosing. Sure sounds like a bad connection. You could try taking jumper cables and go direct from the battery ground to the starter case to eliminate a bad ground as the cause. If it works with the jumper cable you know you need to work on the grounding side.
Kim
Kim
Willl
Elite Member
Good as guess as any. 
Thomas
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Might want to check ground wire also.
KWentling
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K7LN: What I was meaning by using the jumper cable was to bypass the ground cable and its possible bad connection by going direct from the battery to the starter case.
I gather there is a separate starter relay (as apposed to the contacts built into the solenoid) on this tractor.
Kim
I gather there is a separate starter relay (as apposed to the contacts built into the solenoid) on this tractor.
Kim
NH_Dave
New member
MEAKN,
Do the JD Relay solution!
I did it on my 1980's L3750 after experiencing the same clicking problem.
Prior to the relay install, I did voltage measurements at the battery vs at the starter.
There was a voltage drop.
I opened the instrument panel and cleaned all the wire harness connectors that carried voltage from the battery to the starter.
I cleaned the battery and ground connections.
I replaced the fused link and battery.
After all this the voltage drop was reduced by 50%, and it worked great for six months.
Not wanting to go through this all again, I installed the relay.
I have not had a problem in two years.
Dave
Do the JD Relay solution!
I did it on my 1980's L3750 after experiencing the same clicking problem.
Prior to the relay install, I did voltage measurements at the battery vs at the starter.
There was a voltage drop.
I opened the instrument panel and cleaned all the wire harness connectors that carried voltage from the battery to the starter.
I cleaned the battery and ground connections.
I replaced the fused link and battery.
After all this the voltage drop was reduced by 50%, and it worked great for six months.
Not wanting to go through this all again, I installed the relay.
I have not had a problem in two years.
Dave
This is a common problem, not just JD; it takes a lot of current to activate the starter solenoid, as much as 30 amps. The wiring and switch contacts are not rated for such a large current. That is why a relay with larger cable is installed to handle the current.