Kioti Dk35 HSE won't start

BDougherty · Jun 7, 2016

Hello, my first post as I just purchased a used Kioti DK 35hse with 143 hrs. About a month ago. I am having a problem starting the tractor. I have reviewed a bunch of the threads on Kioti starting problems but I can't find an exact replica to my problem.

The tractor had the starting problem the other day. I took out all the fuses cleaned them and she fired right up. The tractor ran and started for 2-3 hrs of work and probably over 20 starts with no problem. Today the same issue occurred and I can't get it started.

I have made sure the tractor is in neutral, PTO cruise etc. are all off. When I turn the key to warm the glow plugs I hear a click, when I go to start the tractor there is a very quite click.

What I have tried:
I purchased a new starter relay, no start
I switched the start and stop relays, tractor tried to turn over (which it hadn't done before) but it would not fire.
Check the battery and it has plenty of juice
Sprayed electric cleaner into the ignition switch

Not sure what else to do, I am thinking maybe a bad ignition switch? Any ideas and advice appreciated.

Thanks,
Bryan

murphy1244 · Jun 7, 2016

BDougherty said:
Hello, my first post as I just purchased a used Kioti DK 35hse with 143 hrs. About a month ago. I am having a problem starting the tractor. I have reviewed a bunch of the threads on Kioti starting problems but I can't find an exact replica to my problem.

The tractor had the starting problem the other day. I took out all the fuses cleaned them and she fired right up. The tractor ran and started for 2-3 hrs of work and probably over 20 starts with no problem. Today the same issue occurred and I can't get it started.

I have made sure the tractor is in neutral, PTO cruise etc. are all off. When I turn the key to warm the glow plugs I hear a click, when I go to start the tractor there is a very quite click.

What I have tried:
I purchased a new starter relay, no start
I switched the start and stop relays, tractor tried to turn over (which it hadn't done before) but it would not fire.
Check the battery and it has plenty of juice
Sprayed electric cleaner into the ignition switch

Not sure what else to do, I am thinking maybe a bad ignition switch? Any ideas and advice appreciated.

Thanks,
Bryan

Jump the ignition with a screwdriver down by the starter. If it starts might be bad switch.

k0ua · Jun 7, 2016

Hmmm....I switched the start and stop relays, tractor tried to turn over (which it hadn't done before) but it would not fire.

Tried to crank or DID crank? If it cranked, (crankshaft rotated) Then the problem is the original start relay. It should NOT have started, because now the fuel solenoid would not have received its 1 second pulse from the fuel relay.

You mentioned you purchased a new start relay.. I assume you installed it, and did the engine crank? In other words there is no reason to expect a different result from replacing the start relay vs. switching the start and fuel relays. Could it be one or both of them are defective.

All that said, did you spray your favorite lube in the key switch and work it a few dozen times while spraying removing and cleaning the key? I used Fluid Film a couple of years ago to repair mine. It is available now at Lowes. Wonderful stuff. Come to think of it I haven't sprayed in now in over a year. The key switch is a known failure point especially if rainwater is allowed to get in it.

Good luck and get back with us.

BDougherty · Jun 7, 2016

So when I switched relays it did crank but didn't start. I installed the new relay, it was purchased from Napa. I don't know much about relays but they said it was the same one? Do I need a Kioti specic relay? Anyway he new relay produced the same results as the original no crank. This is where I became confused as i got it to crack with the stop relay.

I sprayed the ignition with lectra-motive electric parts cleaner did not do a few dozen times but multiple times, will try that again.
Thanks for all the help already!!

murphy1244 · Jun 7, 2016

Lets start at the top. What is the battery voltage? Check cables with a ohm meter.

BDougherty · Jun 7, 2016

It was tested at Napa, 12v and 640 cold cranking amps.

murphy1244 · Jun 7, 2016

BDougherty said:
It was tested at Napa, 12v and 640 cold cranking amps.

Did you check the cables. Its a known problem on these.

Barrettseq · Jun 7, 2016

Usually the ground wire bolted to the frame is corroded. clean that and you should be ok.

k0ua · Jun 7, 2016

BDougherty said:
So when I switched relays it did crank but didn't start. I installed the new relay, it was purchased from Napa. I don't know much about relays but they said it was the same one? Do I need a Kioti specic relay? Anyway he new relay produced the same results as the original no crank. This is where I became confused as i got it to crack with the stop relay.

I sprayed the ignition with lectra-motive electric parts cleaner did not do a few dozen times but multiple times, will try that again.
Thanks for all the help already!!

OK, when you swapped the start relay, and the fuel relay, (the larger one in the middle is the glow plug relay) you say it cranked but would not start.. GOOD NEWS you have found the problem.. now the tractor cranks right? Of course it will not start, because now there is no fuel going to the injectors as the fuel rack is not pulled back by the fuel solenoid because the old start relay, which is now in the fuel relay position is defective.. I say again, the good news is that it DID NOT START. If it had started, that would be BAD NEWS in that you would have no idea what fixed it. So take out the defective relay, and get a good one. The one from NAPA should have worked, if it is the same type and wired the same as the original relay. Many people have replaced them with generic relays with good results. Perhaps the one they gave you is no good as well or is defective in its own right.

But if you swapped them back to original configuration, and now it won't crank. Then you have found the problem.. Get another proper relay. If you need to repeat the experiment a couple of times to convince yourself then do so. But I believe you got a result and did not realize you have diagnosed the problem. Now all you have to do is replace the defective relay and be done.

BDougherty · Jun 7, 2016

James,
Thanks for the reply, I thought I had found the problem when I switch the relays when the new one did not work that's when I went to panic mode! Will check the new relay to make sure it is a match and or swap it out with a new one from Napa. Hoping the new part is defective and when I get a new one all will be well and good. Also, going through the battery connections and cleaning those up. Stupid question but can someone point me to where the ground in bolted to the frame?
Thanks again to all what a great site!
Bryan