2240 is dead as a doornail

Chickengrower · Jan 21, 2015

Hello all, wanting to get some opinions before I go any further. I have a 77 model John Deere 2240 that will not turn over the engine. I mean not even a sound. Totally dead. Lights work and the gauges function correctly. Sadly, I am a novice with a meter. Have continuity at the neutral safety switch when in neutral, so i assume its not the problem. Have a known good battery and have replaced both pos. and neg. cables. Replaced solenoid (Ac Delco) today and still nothing. Again, I am a novice with a meter but when i checked voltage after putting the new solenoid on today I was getting 12.6v on battery side of solenoid but only getting 10.5v to the starter. Also, the new solenoid is warm to the touch, even with key off. This isn't normal right? For some time now, the pos. battery cable was getting hot to the point of melting the insulation and was hard (sometimes impossible) to start in cold weather (40 degrees). Starter looks like a beast to take off because of the loader in the way. Thank you for reading.

beenthere · Jan 21, 2015

Sounds serious, for sure. Hot pos. cable is not good, and indicates a short.

Tx Jim · Jan 21, 2015

Did you relocate battery ground cable from battery box to starter mounting bolt or engine block? Battery boxes have been known to loose good continuity between box & clutch housing. Hot battery cable indicates poor connection.

jenkinsph · Jan 21, 2015

Agree with Jim but the solenoid should not be warm with the key off either. I would check your wiring again.

Chickengrower · Jan 21, 2015

Thank you for the tips. I have not tried relocating the ground cable. I will do that today if i have a chance to go to town. I will look for a place on the engine as the starter mounting bolts are well hidden behind the loader.

Tx Jim · Jan 21, 2015

Is starter solenoid warm before attempting to start engine?

Chickengrower · Jan 21, 2015

I think so Tx Jim. The solenoid seemed to get warmer and warmer the longer we left the battery hooked up so we ended up disconnecting it. I will hook it back up this afternoon before attempting to start and see what it does.

Zebrafive · Jan 21, 2015

I am guessing you have an internal short in the solenoid. Maybe the terminals in the end of the cap? Or the coil windings?

Tx Jim · Jan 21, 2015

Chickengrower said:
I think so Tx Jim. The solenoid seemed to get warmer and warmer the longer we left the battery hooked up so we ended up disconnecting it. I will hook it back up this afternoon before attempting to start and see what it does.

Disconnect the ground cable and insert a test light in it's place. If solenoid is getting hot when at rest test light should burn.

Chickengrower · Jan 22, 2015

Zebrafive said:
I am guessing you have an internal short in the solenoid. Maybe the terminals in the end of the cap? Or the coil windings?

I put a brand new solenoid on yesterday but i suppose its possible it could be bad.

I am getting around 12.75v on battery side of solenoid. With key on I'm getting 10.5v on the small terminal and 10.5v on the copper link going to the starter. Anybody know if these voltages are close to where they should be? I haven't checked it while turning the key to crank.

Tx Jim,

I was wrong on the solenoid getting hot with the key OFF. It gets hot when we leave the key ON. VERY HOT. I checked it today with a temp. gun and it was 200 degrees. It should not be this hot even with the key left ON for 45 mins should it? I mean the key would be in the ON position with the normal operation of the tractor.

I relocated the negative cable and it did not make a noticeable difference that I could tell. Also tried the test light trick that you mentioned and the light would not come on. I gave the starter a little tap with a hammer today and when I tried to crank it gave a little grunt one time but then nothing after that. I'm thinking my next step is to try and get the starter off and go have it tested.