DK 45 won't start - any ideas besides starter?

[rtimgray]

My trusty DK 45 (old style) laid down on me last night. We were hauling hay and it was running fine - backed a load up to the barn and unloaded - then when we went to start it up - nothing. No click at the starter - nothing.

I checked my PTO to make sure it was in neutral. All the gear shift levers are in neutral - still nothing. We swapped batteries with a known good one - nothing either.

Does anybody have any suggestions on what other things to look at besides starter - or how to tell if the starter might be bad? If I do the "screwdriver start" at the starter, that should bypass all of the other relays/safeties, won't it? (And I will make sure that the tractor is neutral!)

So basically, just looking for any suggestions on other items to look at for a unit that was starting perfect and then went to nothing at all.

I appreciate any suggestions.

While I was typing this, I thought of something - if the PTO switch on the dash is in neutral but the green button on the fender is pushed in, will the tractor start or not? I will need to check that when I get home (at work now) - but does any one know offhand?

Thanks again.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Just tried it...

Starts in neutral, auto and manual.
Is the switch at the clutch gone? I need to engage clutch to start mine - safety feature.
I would also check ground from battery and starter.

Good luck.

Lloyd

 

[rtimgray]

Good point on the ground - I need to make sure that it's not a simple problem - maybe something just finally corroded enough or fell off or something.

Thanks for the help.

 

[cmsmithx]

I've had my clutch safety switch get loose and not engage when the clutch is pushed, and also had it come unplugged. Another thing to check...

 

[rtimgray]

One other thing that I forgot to mention - when I said that there was no noise when I turned the key, that wasn't entirely correct. There is no noise when I turn the key to start, but when I let off of it, there would a buzzing (sounded like it was coming from under the dash and to the right side of the tractor - opposite side from the starter) that would go on for 10-15 seconds and then quit.

Any ideas on that?

Thanks again, fellas.

 

[MikeD74T]

One other thing that I forgot to mention - when I said that there was no noise when I turned the key, that wasn't entirely correct. There is no noise when I turn the key to start, but when I let off of it, there would a buzzing (sounded like it was coming from under the dash and to the right side of the tractor - opposite side from the starter) that would go on for 10-15 seconds and then quit.
Any ideas on that? Thanks again, fellas.

When I had those symptoms (DK45S) it was a bad battery cable clamp. Clean & tighten is short term fix. After several repeats I cut off factory clamps & replaced with new. MikeD74T

 

[rtimgray]

Fantastic news, guys! It turns out it was either a bad ground (the bolt had rusted/corroded badly or a bad positive (the connection between the battery cable end and the wire was rusted/corroded very badly. It may have been one or the other or a combination of both, but either way, I cleaned up all of the connections and replaced the battery cable ends with new ones and it fired right up.

It has been so rare for me with repairs that it actually turns out to be the easy, simple fix, but this certainly seems the case. I appreciate you guys reminding me to check the little, simple, cheap, easy, quick stuff first and rule it out before moving on to the more complex stuff.

I'm going to have to add checking out the battery connections to my PM's that I try to do every 50 hours or so. That could save me some trouble in the future.

Once more, thanks for the help. Take care.

 

[dourobob]

Mine turned out to be a loosened bolt where the battery ground wire is attached to the frame.

Hope yours is that simple to fix.

Bob

Must have been typing mine while you were submitting your success story - aren't those simple fixes great!!!!