JD 5045 E Not starting

[Tx Jim]

There's a starter listed on Amazon for $107 with free shipping. RE553507

 

[gatornapper]

Jim -

Wow....never woulda thunk I'd find one there - but then again, there is nothing in the world that's NOT on Amazon! I should have known and checked.

Getting it now -

Cannot thank you enough - you just saved me $400.......

GN

There's a starter listed on Amazon for $107 with free shipping. RE553507

 

[gatornapper]

A Mystery.

Guys, felt like I had to update all of you with strange happenings here. Today original starter engaged and started the engine. The question is: why? how could it?

Follow the events. Engine repeatedly would only crank one revolution or so before starter quit, as in low or bad battery. Jump starting, battery-booster box starting, 50 Amp "Start Mode" on a large battery charger - nothing would work as before when battery got low.

I took battery (JD - 2 1/2 years old) for testing: battery good, delivered 630 cold starting amps.

Brought battery home, did complete R&R on all battery connections. Starter would not engage, but starter solenoid would click and engage. Put full charge on battery for several hours, tried again. Same thing.

Pulled end cover off of starter, and with fully charged battery, did a direct jump from 12+ to battery connection on starter to winding on starter. Nothing. A smaller than expected spark. Resistance on starter windings about 2.5 ohms.

As direct jump on starter leads (#4 solid copper wire) with fully charged good battery did nothing, I concluded that starter was bad. Think any good mechanic would agree.

Just for keeping battery in top shape, last night I put a BatteryMinder trickle charger on the battery overnight.

Something crazy in me this morning said, "Try to start the engine." So I did.

Amazingly, the engine TRIED to crank again - maybe one revolution - then starter died again. NOTE: This has not happened for several days. Starter has not engaged at all for several days.

Battery voltage is strong, so I wait a few minutes and try again. This time the starter turns the engine over for 2 or 3 revs before dying. Weird.

I wait another few minutes. Try again. This time the starter turns the engine very slowly - like a bad battery again - but for 4 or 5 revolutions - and the sweet 4-banger diesel starts right up!

My mechanic son (Army mechanic for 5 years, Chevy/Buick dealer mechanic for 3 years, later trained as aviation mechanic) is saying it's a bad starter. He's heard of starters that work intermittently. I, on the other hand, have never heard of a starter working intermittently. They are either good or bad.

Anyone hear heard of a starter that works sometimes, and sometimes doesn't?

New starter arriving Monday, but don't want to install it if I don't have to.

One last possibility: corrosion on the + connection from the battery + wire on the starter. While the tractor is 10 years old (bought it new), the + terminal from the battery on the starter looks new and is totally without any indication of corrosion. But hidden corrosion on that connection would or could explain all that happened. I will R&R that connection tomorrow or Monday before installing new starter.

TIA to all,

GN

 

[super55]

I would definitely check the post connections from the battery to main wires. I had a similar intermittent problem with my JD 4400 a few years ago and just last week had an issue with my boat. Postive terminal had enough good wires to run accessories and such but when it came to cranking it didn't have a good enough connection to carry a large amp carrying load. In fact when I just replaced the terminal on my boat there were only about 15 strands that weren't broken on a 6 ga wire.

 

[gatornapper]

Thanks for the suggestion, please read the whole post. Did complete R&R on battery cables & posts - they are like new. Your suggestion was my initial thought as well. But I had no resistance across the connections, even before R&R'ing them.

BTW, I am both an electrical engineer and Master electrician. One reason this has been so puzzling - normal problems and fixes have not worked here.

GN

I would definitely check the post connections from the battery to main wires. I had a similar intermittent problem with my JD 4400 a few years ago and just last week had an issue with my boat. Postive terminal had enough good wires to run accessories and such but when it came to cranking it didn't have a good enough connection to carry a large amp carrying load. In fact when I just replaced the terminal on my boat there were only about 15 strands that weren't broken on a 6 ga wire.

 

[Zebrafive]

When brushes reach the end of their life/travel, starters will not work. The old trick is to hit with a hammer hard. That sometimes jars the brushes enough to make contact and the starter works, but only for a short time.

Years ago I stopped to help women whos' car would not start/crank. After jumping it with no success, I took a T post that was in the back of my truck and snaked the end to the starter and "rapped" it hard as I could. Then the car started. I told her she needed to have the starter replaced.


So starters are not either good or bad, some can be revived for a few more starts.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

You say you're son is a trained mechanic and he has given you his diagnosis to the problem , go with what he says.

 

[gatornapper]

Z5 -

I had totally forgotten about this, but remember doing this a number of times when I was young on old cars. AND on motorcycles - especially old Harleys.

Kinda doubt that's my problem with only about 410 hours on the tractor, but who knows? Could very well be the case.

If it's just brushes, I can R&R those once the new starter is in - sure not throwing this young one away.

Thanks.

GN

When brushes reach the end of their life/travel, starters will not work. The old trick is to hit with a hammer hard. That sometimes jars the brushes enough to make contact and the starter works, but only for a short time.

Years ago I stopped to help women whos' car would not start/crank. After jumping it with no success, I took a T post that was in the back of my truck and snaked the end to the starter and "rapped" it hard as I could. Then the car started. I told her she needed to have the starter replaced.


So starters are not either good or bad, some can be revived for a few more starts.

 

[gatornapper]

Good idea. When he was really young, like 6, I'd be working on a tractor or truck, and he's say, "Daddy - I know how that works." I'm thinking, no way. He's too young. But he was often correct. A few years later, "Daddy, I know how to fix that." "Ok, son - show me." And he would. I am known as a pretty good mechanic. He's a mechanical genius. 5 years in Army, then got an aviation-related B.S. degree Summa *** Laude.

So it's not unusual for me to bow to his wisdom.

I do feel pretty good though when he gets stumped on something (yes, rare) and I can help him with the solution.

We are a lot alike and love being together - an 80 mile motorcycle ride together on the 4th.

GN

You say you're son is a trained mechanic and he has given you his diagnosis to the problem , go with what he says.

 

[gatornapper]

Lived in Gainesville where my father's family is from.....my uncle was mayor there long ago. Later lived in Orlando, Miami, Naples, born in Miami Beach in WWII........love FLA from Gainesville to Ocala.......

GN