1998 Deere 590D Excavator Starter Problems

kpk · Mar 9, 2018

Hi,
I'm trying to figure out why a 1998 Deere 590D excavator keeps burning up starters. The original starter died slowly after an audible click was heard when the ignition switch was turned and a tap of a hammer got it to turn over a few times. Eventually it died. An aftermarket starter lasted for 10-20 starts until one day we heard a screeching/squealing sound after about 5 minutes of running the engine and shut it down. Upon trying to restart the engine a couple of minutes later we heard a clicking sound of the solenoid but it didn't crank over. At that point we thought that maybe the ignition switch stuck in the start position and the starter was turning the whole time. We also smelled a burned electronics smell around the starter area. So a third starter was installed. The switch was turned to start and deliberately back to run, the engine started and it ran for a few minutes. Then smoke was seen coming from one of the ports of the starter and it died. After that third starter was removed the armature doesn't turn at all.

Any suggestions of where to start or how to diagnose this?

Thanks

MORRISONSTEEL · Mar 9, 2018

Could you have possibly installed a 12v starter instead of 24v?

mike48130 · Mar 13, 2018

Is it a separate solenoid? Could be sometimes the solenoid or the key is sticking. I have a bobcat that has a solenoid on the starter and a separate solenoid. Doesn't make sense why they did it that way but the stand alone solenoid was acting up and I thought it was the starter since there is very little current their the first solenoid.

I would check the solenoid to key first to make sure it is not staying on. Check the flywheel as well to make sure the gear is not sticking. Not likely the cause but will cause starter issues.