Deere 955 Won't start - good battery and starter

k0ua · Jul 4, 2018

Kish318420 said:
You might want to google using this "best practice use of copper star washers in electrical circuits"

Lots of PDF white papers on using proper ways for connections in high voltage and high current circuits. I'll go with experienced journeyman electricians and electrical engineers.

So how come the ground cables on tractors don't use them?
iF you crank down the fastner and use a star washer so that the star washer is crushed, and makes more surface contact then it will work ok, but what is the point of using a star washer. Star washers are often used under the standoffs of electronic circuit boards to bite into an aluminum chassis and/or a solder pad, All well and good and a needed item, but not under your huge ground cable. That is all I am saying, and I laid out good reason not to use one. If you want to use one please do.

Kish318420 · Jul 4, 2018

Cost fact, risk analysis used to boost profits (ie bean counters) for the company. We are at the end of a chain when its comes to tractors. If this was a production plant, hospital or similar, the cost for not doing it correctly for a company has huge monetary, and possible life implications . For us; it time and a couple of dollars. Again it is their equipment, I was making a recommendation on how to do it, since I've had the same connection issues not just in tractors but vehicles to. I've resolved them by using cooper star washers that crush into making a better connection.

Enimo · Jul 5, 2018

Tested both positive and ground cables today. Ground had 6 volts when I turned key and positive had 4.3 but new cables had the same. I decided to try and jump the starter again since it only sparked last time. Did nothing this time so I took it off and bench tested it. Only way it would spin is when ground was to ground and hot was to housing so it is bad. Hopefully this is all. Will update after I get new one in.