brand new tractor ...need help

yukonhunter · Mar 17, 2014

I have a brand new jd 4520 sitting in my pole barn...its been a terribly cold winter and I haven't started it since November...I went to start it this weekend and it made a fast clicking sound when trying to start it...any ideas what it is...dying battery??? Thx guys

Happy Gilmore · Mar 17, 2014

Fast clicking sound could be a battery in need of a charge, especially if it's been sitting all winter.

uglyboywith11fingers · Mar 17, 2014

I'm with Happy... sounds like the starter relay clicking due to low voltage.
I keep a trickle charger on my vehicles that don't get used for months over the winter.

Pete

GManBart · Mar 17, 2014

Fast clicking is almost always a dead battery. A battery maintainer is a really good idea if you're going to let it sit for long periods of time (the battery will last a lot longer that way), and the good thing is, they're inexpensive.

flusher · Mar 17, 2014

Battery needs recharging. If you don't plan to use the tractor during the cold months, remove the battery, charge it up fully and put it on a trickle charger.

devildog1 · Mar 17, 2014

Your in N.Y. where I am, been below zero many times out in the country. Buy a Battery Tender, it will maintain the charge and never over charge like trickle chargers will. I have 4 , motorcycle , Kubota, Truck, Small lawn tractor, and have used them for years. About $50.00 @ Wallys.
DevilDog

john_bud · Mar 17, 2014

Fast click is the starter relay.

Modern electronics do not like low / variable voltage. Sure fire way to cause expensive failures is to let the battery fail.

If you do get a trickle charger, get a good one. The cheap ones can actually damage the battery by continuously putting too much juice in after it's fully charged. The above post on a battery tender is good advice!

juddspaintballs · Mar 17, 2014

Wal-Mart, of all places, sells a really good float charger. It's made by Schumacher. I have the on-board version mounted in my Suburban's engine bay and wired in with the block heater so when I'm heating the block, I'm keeping the batteries topped off too.

Schumacher SE-1-12S-CA Fully Automatic Onboard Battery Charger - 1.5 Amps : Amazon.com : Automotive

Ford850 · Mar 17, 2014

I used to have this issue for many of my engines, big or small. Part of my problem was how I moved the equipment around before storing it. I was starting something, moving it out of the way, shutting it down within a couple minutes and then leaving it sit for weeks. The batteries weren't charged properly before storing because of that, so they sulfated and wouldn't hold a full charge. Leaving a battery sit for weeks drains them too. Now I use battery minders on everything at least once a month, if not on continuously. My batteries are holding a charge like new again.