1 year old tractor won't start after idle winter

poltroon · Apr 29, 2007

I completely serviced my JD 3320, gave it its first oil change, checked all the fluids, etc. It has 60 hours on it and it has sat for 5 months. The small amount of fuel in it had stabilizer and the battery was charged.

When you turn the key, the starter motor makes a nasty,
RRRRAT, RRRAT, RRRAT, RRRAT noise. You can also hear a solenoid click. We tried jumping it to see if there just wasn't enough power; no dice.

What could be going on? I don't see how the starter motor could be bad after just a year and a half. Could it be seized somehow? Could it be related to something else I did?

Yeah, I should've started it once a month, but because I was late servicing it I didn't. Yeah, I'm really really sorry; I won't ever deprive myself of monthly fun with the tractor again.

thcri · Apr 29, 2007

Is the connections on your battery good. And when you put the charger on it did you leave it on for a while before trying to start??

murph

poltroon · Apr 29, 2007

Cleaned the connections on the battery. Hazard lights and headlights work.

diyDave · Apr 29, 2007

Ditto to what thcri said. Most likely culprit imho is the battery. Especially if its a small battery, just haven't had much luck with them lasting more than 1 winter.

thcri · Apr 29, 2007

You don't have glow plugs do you? If you did you could cycle them and see how your light react. But I have seen many batteries when just doing the lights will make the lights do great until you put a load on them. And if the battery is not taking a charge putting jumper cables on them and then trying to start right away doesn't work to good either. I would put a car or pickup on it and jump that way. Let the vehicle run ten minutes or so first.

murph

randy41 · Apr 29, 2007

battery...no doubt. instead of jumping it disconnect it and try a good battery. your car battery should work.

thcri · Apr 29, 2007

Oh yeah one other thing. Next year either take your battery out and charge every so often or buy a battery tender for $15.00 I like the battery tender thing best.

murph

art · Apr 29, 2007

I'd test the battery as they should last longer then a year. You might find the problem on the starter end of the wires.

poltroon · Apr 29, 2007

Okay, so even with the jump (from a F-250) the consensus is that if the battery is toast, that it won't start? Is there any way to test it other than just getting a new battery?