Oaktree
Super Member
Didn't know about that kit at the time, but that's the gist of what I did...installed a new relay in the starter solenoid circuit.
OK. Would a bad battery make the solenoid click but not turn the starter?
I think you definitely need a new battery. That is more than likely your problem, although your starter might be on the way out. I'd put in a new battery before doing anything else. Also, make sure that the battery terminals are clean and tight. Diesels require an enormous amount of current to start - a battery that is fine for a car won't necessarily turn over a diesel.
JayC
I bought this tractor in the spring and it started and ran fine.
A couple of months ago it started spraying coolant so I had the water pump replaced. No more fluid.
Now it doesn't always start. Sometimes it starts up fine - I just turn the key and away it goes.
But sometimes it's totally dead. I turn the key, get one click, and then nothing. After that -
- Sometimes I just wait for awhile and try again, and then it starts right up.
- Sometimes I try jumping it off my truck battery. At that point, it starts clicking like crazy and the engine moves and slowly seems to try to turn over, but doesn't "catch".
- Sometimes I try banging on the starter with a hammer, and once in awhile it starts. But not always.
I had the battery checked at autozone, and they say it's fine. But it's weird that I get no clicks with the tractor battery, but clicks and movement with the truck battery... right?
Any ideas? I'm a newbie, so maybe I'm just overlooking something obvious.
I'll try that next time it does it.I have a 318 JD, but my experience may give you a clue. It does the same thing yours does; it's not the starter or battery. If it doesn't start (most of the time it does start) is the same time I'm turning the ignition key, jiggle the PTO switch up and down. The motor will cough, release the switch and key, and then turn the iginition key again. It will then start. Must be a short in the safety switch or something like that. I guess one of these winters I will have to have a professional fix it; but for now, it's working. Hope this helps.
I tested my battery and it was showing around 500 Cold Cranking Amps. So I bought a 925 CCA battery and hooked that one up. First try, started right up. I skidded some logs for about an hour, then turned the tractor off to connect the bushhog. When I tried to start the tractor again, got the same click-click-click as before.
Then I started throwing things and cussing. After that I took the ground wire off again, recut it again and rebolted it to the frame. Then I took the positive connections apart from the battery to the starter and cleaned them again. After that it started right up and has been working fine all week.
I'm not sure if all of that fixed it or if I'll eventually have the click-click problem again. If it happens again I'll try the ignition booster kit.
Thanks to all for your advice and help.
OK. Would a bad battery make the solenoid click but not turn the starter?