4115 - dead as Elvis

[McZook]

Hello TBN saviours.

I have a 4115, less than 300 hours.

I was back blade plowing for about 35 minutes the other night and she quit on me in the middle of the road. luckily, the first motorist by was able to help me push it back into the driveway. I have been unable to tow it up my considerably hilled drive to get it back into a heated area.

Symptoms:

- turn the key, one small click, then nothing. it does not try to do more.

Things I have tried/checked:

- fuses look ok
- added ISO to fuel.
- The diesel in it was fresh, but untreated for winter. The temps here have been in the 20s - not cold by our standards.
- I added a small amount of newly treated fuel.
- jumping makes no difference. it does seem to draw some from the 4x4 I was jumping it with though.
- the battery is about 2 months old. However, corrosion killed the battery. The clamp was corroded too and has not yet been replaced. it is on pretty sturdy as is, but could be better.

Anything else I am overlooking? I am a total newbie to this stuff...

Thanks in advance...

 

[sandman2234]

The click could mean low battery, but it dieing in the middle of the road doesn't follow that route. Most diesels will continue to run, even with dead batteries. A diesel takes a lot of juice to start, and is hard on batteries, so they require really good batteries. My JD has weak batteries, and if I use cheap jumper cables, it makes almost no difference at all. I have to have a good battery behind a good set of jumper cables.
The starting problem may be tied to the dieing problem, but I would look into why it died first, before trying to start it.
Due to the age of the tractor (2002 or so??) could it still have an original battery in it, alternator died, and the computer didn't like it? All guess work on my part, so take it with a grain of salt.
David from jax

 

[ToadHill]

Charge or replace the battery, If jumping won't work, you could have a short in the battery itself. If battery has a short it won't take a charge.

 

[McZook]

I left out a piece... the battery is about 2 months old. However, the clamp was corroded and has not yet been replaced. it is on pretty sturdy as is, but could be better.

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[SFish]

Hi McZook:

The click and nothing usually suggests a bad starter solenoid, but the fact that it died when running suggests a loose connection. If the bad connection carries just a little current it can click the solenoid, but not pass enough amperage to turn over the motor. Presumably you have jumped to the cable clamps on the battery, which eliminates the battery connections as a problem. As a first shot, check both the ground and hotside battery cables where they connect to the tractor.

My best guess, Steve

 

[Mike058]

If the battery cable clamp is corroded, I'd bet any, if not all, ground cable connections are in pretty rough shape too. I'd start by removing all the ground connections, cleaning them, putting some dielectric grease on them and reattach them. If the cables look corroded, replace them. The connections on the battery need to be corrosion free too. I don't think corroded cables or connections caused the tractor to stop after it was running, but you have to start somewhere and getting power to the starter is the first step. Actually, getting the battery load tested at a battery shop would be the real first step. Even new batteries can be defective. It's rare but it'll drive you nuts if that's what the issue is. Once you have a known good battery hooked up with clean connections and good cables, you can start to check out things like starter solenoids and starters themselves. After the starter's cranking really well, you can move on to fuel delivery problems. I'll bet at that point you'll see what caused the tractor to quit in the first place. I hope you'll keep us informed about your progress. That's how we learn around here.

 

[McZook]

ok, my head is spinning... I am a total newbie in all things mechanical and partiulcarly tractors. I bought this tractor with the house and learning as I go.

I am going to try a few of these. I will let you know.

 

[dbdartman]

Replace the battery cables. If it's as corroded as you say it was, it won't take a jump, & it WILL make the engine "just quit" because the fuel shut-off is electric. Remove the battery & see if it'll take a charge, or have it charged & load-tested. Remove the alternator & regulator (if it's externally regulated) & have both tested. Failure to do all this may cause one of the untested/replaced components to fail, injuring other of the mentioned components.

 

[JoeDirt2008]

- The diesel in it was fresh, but untreated for winter. The temps here have been in the 20s - not cold by our standards.
- I added a small amount of newly treated fuel.

Still cold enough to turn it into pudding, without the proper and enough treatment. Battery being the other issue

 

[B8FISH]

Agree with most of the above regarding the battery etc. Yes, 20 is not cold by our standards but all of the fuel should be treated. I would add enough treatment to do the entire tank after you get it to start turning over.