2305 Won't Start

[GeaugaDeere]

I'm about 90% finished cleaning the 1' of snow off of my drive when my mother in law stops over. I parked my 2305 out of the way and figured it's as good a time as any for a break and proceed to turn of my tractor. About 10 minutes later I hop on it and try to start it back up, and nothing. It sounds like a car does when the battery is nearly dead, so I hook up a battery charger. After 20 minutes, again nothing. I checked all four of the smaller fuses and the larger fuse assembly, and they all appear to be ok. When I turn the key to initiate the glow plugs, a buzzing sound starts coming out of (what appears to be) the lower section of the dash. The buzzing sound dies out after a few seconds, but the tractor still fails to turn over. The battery light and engine oil light stay on during the buzzing...I checked the oil and it is fine.

I'm open to suggestions....

 

[Willl]

Take a volt meter and take some readings.

If you don't have a volt meter to check battery condition and the connections look good, your going to have to pull the battery and run it up to parts house and get them to check it.

Unless you've got another to swap in ?

 

[GeaugaDeere]

I don't think it's a battery issue, but certainly could be wrong. There's a small "door" down by the brake pedal on the operators left hand side. The loud buzzing noise seems to be coming from one of the components behind this door, not sure what it is though. I removed the small door and could feel this part vibrating and hear it buzzing loudly when I turned the key. The lights all come on, after having charged the battery, so that's why I'm guessing the battery is ok.

 

[davkir]

It's hard to tell from the picture in the manual, but it looks like these four components might be behind the access door on the left side.
Do you have a schematic?

S- K4 Engine Preheat Relay
T- N1 Voltage Regulator/Rectifier
U- K3 Safety Relay 2
V- K5 Safety Relay 1

 

[atschirner]

The buzzing sound is most likely the glow plug relay buzzing because there in not enough voltage to hold it closed when the glow plugs are in circuit. When the relay closes the voltage drops and the relay contacts open; with open contacts there is sufficent voltage to hold the relay contact closed; repeat, repeat, repeat. That's the buzzing.

Now, why low voltage. A few things come to mind. Since you added the charger to the battery let's leave it for last. Before that a loose primary batter cable either to the starter or the engine ground are my personal favorites. You can't get much farther without a volt meter with the exception of turning the headlights on and then activate the glow plugs. Do the headlights dim? If so back to the loose cables theory.

You may have a battery that decided it was time to go away but that is rare. If you were blowing snow or the alternator became wet from melting snow that may be the root problem. These are less likely than loose battery cables.

Please let us know what you find.

 

[bird1148]

Replace battery and problem will be cured. Had the same issue with my 2305.

 

[kennyd]

Make sure your PTO is not engaged (could have moved the lever when exiting the tractor) and the shifter is in neutral.

 

[markb74]

My first thought is to blame your mother-in-law...

Beyond that, I agree with what most of the other posters have suggested... I'm looking in my 2210 technical manual for some other ideas, and there are multiple tests you can do with a volt meter.

Personally, I've never had much luck charging an auto/tractor battery. I'd try jumping the battery for a one time start to help me conclude its not the battery. I know I've charged a battery until it had a nice 12.6 volt reading and go to start it and nothing (or not much). The fact the lights come on doesn't give me much faith its not the battery. There are specific tests in the manual, but if I'm reading it correctly the minimum volts should read 12.4, with 9.6 volts immediately after you try to start it (after a 15 second load test). If it's below 9.6, indications are the battery may need replaced.

Good luck and let me know if you'd like me to look anything up in the TM if you don't have one already.

 

[GeaugaDeere]

So most of you guys have pointed to the battery as the culprit, which is hopefully going to be the cheapest thing to fix. Cheapest meaning there's no truck from the dealership coming to pick up my tractor and then diagnose it back at their shop. I'll try to jump it Monday Morning to try and rule out any other parts, and I certainly hope that does the trick. Any particular battery brand that anyone cares to suggest?

 

[FastPauly]

It certainly does sound as though the root cause is the Mother In-Law......I would think she should be held totally responsible for any expenses incurred on getting the machine back to working order.

....just kidding of course....hopefully it is just a bad battery issue