Bobcat X231 Excavator starter clicking

[mitchelljerore]

Hello all,

Just recently bought a 1993 Bobcat Excavator X231 and it was starting fine, then turned the key and it was turning over fine, then sounded like the battery was getting low and started to slow down cranking then so stopped and tried to start again and was getting clicking from starter. check the battery and it was at 70% so charged it up to 100% then tried again. same clicking, pulled the starter off and starter check out to be in good shape when we gave it voltage. checked Ignition fuse also and that checked out to be OK.

Could use any advice so thank you.

 

[Bigkrank]

Had exact same symptoms on a Bobcat skid steer. Ended up pulling on the positive battery post and it came out of the battery. Started right off every time before.

 

[Xfaxman]

Do you have a multimeter?

Check the voltage on the battery posts when cranking, then check from the block to the starter stud, not the cable connector, when cranking.

Post the voltages.

 

[McGraw99]

Also a good idea to check the ground cable connection to the chassis. Could be loose or corroded.

 

[flyerdan]

Clean all the battery post / cables / grounds, and if that doesn't fix it, it's probably the solenoid. They will bench test fine, but won't work on the engine. Had this happen on the forklift; pulled the end cap off the solenoid and there were two square head copper bolts that had half their heads eroded from the contact disc. Turned them 180 degrees so the new part engaged the disc, buffed everything up on a wire brush and it works like new.