Electrical Problem with 425

[BobRip]

You might want to consider soldered cables and corrosion protectors. You can get the latter at Autozone, Kragen, etc. They sell both sprays and felt disks. I have used both, and both help. I have found Del City to be a great supplier of cables, and electrical items, like heat shrink terminals and splices with built in adhesive to seal the connection against water, acid, life... I like to fix things once.

Bouncing around does a pretty good job of spilling electrolyte, which will corrode all sorts of things. You can try washing the battery periodically with a paste of bicarb to reduce the effects of spilled acid. Extra heat doesn't help either.

All the best,

Peter

From the discussion here, I would not bet that the cables have actually failed, although it can happen.

 

[ponytug]

Dear Bob,

Excellent point, I was looking at Dale's prior posts that made it sound as if the cables corroded to the point where the performance was spotty and he needed to replace them. Granted, not quite tlb's problem by the sound of it. (bad solenoid or starter?)

Dale: If you think you have a loose ground issue, you might want to run extra ground lines from the negative battery ground point on the engine to the rear chasis, and the front chasis. It falls into the it never hurts category, and may improve the performance of your lights.

If you think that you have a leak to ground from the positive terminal, I'd hook a continuity tester to the + terminal and probe around looking for it. Bear in mind salts on the top of batteries can be pretty conductive, and can run batteries down just by having them there.

All the best,

Peter

From the discussion here, I would not bet that the cables have actually failed, although it can happen.

 

[scarg]

Bobrip- I didn't get any electrical information with my 2004 model 422. Could you send me a copy? steve@auxprosys.com

Thanks,

Steve

 

[BobRip]

Bobrip- I didn't get any electrical information with my 2004 model 422. Could you send me a copy? steve@auxprosys.com

Thanks,

Steve

Here is it.

 

[J_J]

JJ, Tim,
Thanks for the feedback. I will try this later today after work.

JJ,
The picture you attached looks correct.

I am attaching pictures I took this morning. I checked the connections and they seemed tight but will remove them and re-attach. Is there any way to bypass the solenoid so I can at least start the engine?

Thanks,
-Tim

Tim, Just curious of you ever figured out your starting problem.

 

[tlb]

JJ,
We've had unusually cold weather and rain so have not been able to do anything yet. My dog (PT425) sleeps outside cause I don't have a shed or barn.
-Tim

 

[tlb]

JJ,
I tried to spin the starter as you suggested by connecting my truck battery to the 425 battery and shorting together the two lugs on the solenoid. I used a phillips head screwdriver and jammed it across the lugs.

After the inital sparking, I could hear what sounded like the starter spinning but it was not engaging the engine flywheel, just free-spinning. I tried it a 2nd and 3rd time with the same result. At this point the screwdriver started glowing red and welding itself to the lugs so I stopped.

Does this sound like a solenoid or starter problem?

Thanks,
-Tim

 

[BobRip]

JJ,
I tried to spin the starter as you suggested by connecting my truck battery to the 425 battery and shorting together the two lugs on the solenoid. I used a phillips head screwdriver and jammed it across the lugs.

After the inital sparking, I could hear what sounded like the starter spinning but it was not engaging the engine flywheel, just free-spinning. I tried it a 2nd and 3rd time with the same result. At this point the screwdriver started glowing red and welding itself to the lugs so I stopped.

Does this sound like a solenoid or starter problem?

Thanks,
-Tim

Since the starter is spinning, but not engaging into the engine, it sounds like the solenoid is bad.

 

[J_J]

JJ,
I tried to spin the starter as you suggested by connecting my truck battery to the 425 battery and shorting together the two lugs on the solenoid. I used a phillips head screwdriver and jammed it across the lugs.

After the inital sparking, I could hear what sounded like the starter spinning but it was not engaging the engine flywheel, just free-spinning. I tried it a 2nd and 3rd time with the same result. At this point the screwdriver started glowing red and welding itself to the lugs so I stopped.

Does this sound like a solenoid or starter problem?

Thanks,
-Tim

You did good, you proved that the starter is good. Your solenoid is bad, because it will not throw the pinion gear into the starter ring gear. Get a new solenoid. I went on Ebay and found lots of starters for the Kohler, at different prices. If you see one you like, ask the seller some questions. I am bidding on a new starter that has the solenoid that I need.

 

[tlb]

JJ, BobRip,
Replaced the starter & solenoid this morning with new one. Turned the key and it did exactly as before........nothing. Any more suggestions would be appreciated.
-Tim