DK35 Dead - Won't Start

[Patches]

Before you tear the console apart, check the start terminal on the solenoid for voltage when the key is turned to start. If you have 12 volts at the start terminal, it's the solenoid thats bad. You can check this by "jumping" from the start terminal to the battery terminal of the solenoid with a stout screw driver(JUST BE SURE EVERYTHINGS IN NEUTRAL) If you have no voltage at the start terminal, you have a switch/wire issue

 

[pafoodplotter]

Before you tear the console apart, check the start terminal on the solenoid for voltage when the key is turned to start. If you have 12 volts at the start terminal, it's the solenoid thats bad. You can check this by "jumping" from the start terminal to the battery terminal of the solenoid with a stout screw driver(JUST BE SURE EVERYTHINGS IN NEUTRAL) If you have no voltage at the start terminal, you have a switch/wire issue

There are 3 connections on the solenoid: positive (bolt), ground (bolt), and switch wire (clip of some sort). On Sunday I had 12+volts between the Positive and ground (i was checking for continuity issues between the ground and positive...no issues). I jumped them with a screwdriver, bolt to bolt (while in neutral), but nothing happened. But I did not check the start wire to the ground when switching the ignition. So since I jumped the pos and ground and the solenoid didn't switch, its the solenoid? Okay...makes sense to me. So I should be able to check the switch wire by measuring volts across the wire clip to ground when turning the key?

Thank you. I will check and recheck, and re-post tonight.

 

[pafoodplotter]

12v across neg and pos on the solenoid...jumped with a screwdriver and no movement in the starter. bad starter right?

 

[Coyote machine]

The battery cable connections to the frame and at the battery MUST be solid, and show no signs of corrosion. Pafoodplotter, if you were having problems at the battery terminal it could be bad, and is easily changed out by cutting it off and stripping back the jacket and replacing it with another terminal end. I tend to coat all my battery connections either with an anti-seize compound or battery terminal spray, either helps prevent oxidation/corrosion. One other thing to verify is that the actual cables have no shorts/opens by moving the cable with gloves on while trying to turn over the motor. If you have 12Volts and no voltage drop when turning the key its likely either the ignition switch or solenoid, but I'd tend to lean toward the switch.

 

[Coyote machine]

12v across neg and pos on the solenoid...jumped with a screwdriver and no movement in the starter. bad starter right?

Now disconnect your negative battery terminal and then disconnect the hot wire to your starter. Then go with jumper cables directly to the starter, from a known good battery, while tractor is in NEUTRAL, with the brake locked. One negative jumper wire to the chassis of tractor and positive to starter terminal that the positive wire from the battery was connected to previously. No sound/ spinning of starter/engine, then likely starter is dead. You could further diagnose after removing the starter, having done the above test first. If the starter DOES turn then its NOT the starter, and back to square one- battery, ignit switch, solenoid, etc.

 

[pafoodplotter]

Now disconnect your negative battery terminal and then disconnect the hot wire to your starter. Then go with jumper cables directly to the starter, from a known good battery, while tractor is in NEUTRAL, with the brake locked. One negative jumper wire to the chassis of tractor and positive to starter terminal that the positive wire from the battery was connected to previously. No sound/ spinning of starter/engine, then likely starter is dead. You could further diagnose after removing the starter, having done the above test first. If the starter DOES turn then its NOT the starter, and back to square one- battery, ignit switch, solenoid, etc.

ok, i'm on it. thank you.

 

[Coyote machine]

You're welcome. Take your time, and have someone work with you if possible to keep the wires where you need them to be, safety first.

 

[pafoodplotter]

damned gremlins..the positive wire on the battery was loose (i replaced the neg and not the pos. last week when this first started)...it had probably been wiggling all this time. thank you for the lessons.

 

[pafoodplotter]

You're welcome. Take your time, and have someone work with you if possible to keep the wires where you need them to be, safety first.

Agreed!

 

[Coyote machine]

So, problem solved?