BX23S Won't Start

[AJB#1957]

I was using a box scraper on the driveway. Stopped the tractor. Now it will not start. When turning the key, dash lights up but just clicks and will not engage the starter. Watched a ton of videos. Checked to make sure the PTO lever was not engaged. Checked the pedals to make sure that there was no debris in the linkage. Just can't get it to start. Any guidance on what to look at next is greatly appreciated.

 

[CalG]

Click, but no starter?

How bright are the head lights?

Check battery voltage when engaging the starter.

Might be a corroded battery terminal.

 

[JWR]

I was using a box scraper on the driveway. Stopped the tractor. Now it will not start. When turning the key, dash lights up but just clicks and will not engage the starter. Watched a ton of videos. Checked to make sure the PTO lever was not engaged. Checked the pedals to make sure that there was no debris in the linkage. Just can't get it to start. Any guidance on what to look at next is greatly appreciated.

This sounds like the classic standard problem with small Kubotas (and Deere, and others.) First of course check your battery condition AND clean all the terminals and the ground at the chassis too. Assuming the problem persists it is almost certainly the voltage drop from the battery to the solenoid (slight voltage drops in every safety which leaves marginal voltage by the time it gets to the solenoid. That's the underlying problem.)

Do this: 1) Try hooking a battery charger, not a jump start battery, to your battery. See if it will start while the charger is connected. [What happens is the charger puts out put MORE voltage than a jumper battery, around 13.8v instead of 12v, and often that overcomes the voltage drop in series through all the dern safety interlocks. 2) If the charger works you can operate in that nuisance mode for a while [I did that for month or two in 2023 on a BX2200] but that is not a permanent fix. 3) To confirm the issue, run a heavy jumper cable from the positive batt terminal to the large output wire of the solenoid which is the input to the starter. Turning the key with that solid connection would start it. Actually I suggest having someone else hold the key into the start position with the clicking going on while you do the jumper. Not sure what happens in the other order.

4) Longer term permanent solution is that the Kubota dealers around here sell a "hard start kit" which means a new relay that is triggered by the normal small wire from the start switch circuit but runs the direct battery voltage to the solenoid bypassing the safeties. The safety features are still preserved since the small wire runs in series through all those.

Deere dealers sell the kits too and it is the same stuff.

You will find MANY threads here in TBN describing this problem and solution.

 

[AJB#1957]

This sounds like the classic standard problem with small Kubotas (and Deere, and others.) First of course check your battery condition AND clean all the terminals and the ground at the chassis too. Assuming the problem persists it is almost certainly the voltage drop from the battery to the solenoid (slight voltage drops in every safety which leaves marginal voltage by the time it gets to the solenoid. That's the underlying problem.)

Do this: 1) Try hooking a battery charger, not a jump start battery, to your battery. See if it will start while the charger is connected. [What happens is the charger puts out put MORE voltage than a jumper battery, around 13.8v instead of 12v, and often that overcomes the voltage drop in series through all the dern safety interlocks. 2) If the charger works you can operate in that nuisance mode for a while [I did that for month or two in 2023 on a BX2200] but that is not a permanent fix. 3) To confirm the issue, run a heavy jumper cable from the positive batt terminal to the large output wire of the solenoid which is the input to the starter. Turning the key with that solid connection would start it. Actually I suggest having someone else hold the key into the start position with the clicking going on while you do the jumper. Not sure what happens in the other order.

4) Longer term permanent solution is that the Kubota dealers around here sell a "hard start kit" which means a new relay that is triggered by the normal small wire from the start switch circuit but runs the direct battery voltage to the solenoid bypassing the safeties. The safety features are still preserved since the small wire runs in series through all those.

Deere dealers sell the kits too and it is the same stuff.

You will find MANY threads here in TBN describing this problem and solution.

Turns out it was the safety switch underneath on the right rear tire side. Cleaned the mud and gunk off of it and the tractor started right up. I did clean up the battery first though. Unfortunately, when I got it started, I lifted up the box scraper using the 3-point hitch and then it would not lower. Calling it a day because it's about 25 degrees here and I am over tractor issues for the day.

 

[RJ04]

Turns out it was the safety switch underneath on the right rear tire side. Cleaned the mud and gunk off of it and the tractor started right up. I did clean up the battery first though. Unfortunately, when I got it started, I lifted up the box scraper using the 3-point hitch and then it would not lower. Calling it a day because it's about 25 degrees here and I am over tractor issues for the day.

Did you happen to take any pictures? I'm having a similar issue w/ my BX. Any more info on the safety switch I can check?

 

[dougtrr2]

On my BX 24 I had a starting issue. It was the PTO safety switch under the fender on the LEFT side. It was slightly out of adjustment. If you let the PTO engagement lever snap back to the off position, it would work most of the the time. Eventually it quit all together. Simple adjustment, loosen two screws, move switch closer to lever. Never an issue since.

It is the only safety switch I have had an issue with.

Doug in SW IA