engaging starter

[phonfixerupper]

Hi First time posting . I have a cub cadet 2135 , having a problem with starter ,when turning key to start position the starter doesn't always engage thought it was a solenoid problem and replaced it but still have problem . I have 12v at solenoid when turning key and a good battery , when shorting across battery and f terminal it always turns over, is there something I can test between key and solenoid , voltage regulator ? , turning key off and on sometimes after 7 or 8 tries will engage . Any ideas Thanks for any help Larry

 

[KYErik]

You could remove the wire on the starter solenoid that gets 12 volts from the key switch and probe it with a test light to be sure that it gets 12v every time when you turn the key to the start position. A test light would be better than a voltmeter because you need to be sure that enough amps are getting to the solenoid to operate it. A handheld voltmeter may show that it is getting 12 volts, but that could be just a tiny trickle of current- not enough to actuate the solenoid.

 

[puckgrinder85]

Is there power on the motor wire when the solenoid is engaged? Sounds like the solenoid isnt shutting completely. If you have 12v at the solenoid and the solenoid clicks everytime you turn the key than its nothing 'upstream' from there. Maybe the starter isnt shimmed correctly and the solenoid cant throw the drive deep enough into the flywheel to allow the contacts to touch. Sounds like whatever your problem is solenoid related.

 

[murphy1244]

:welcome:

 

[phonfixerupper]

I'll give that a try , haven't got a 12v light today , have always just checked with a meter , as soon as I get an opertunity will check with a light , like I said it doesn't always happen , but it's annoying when it does

 

[Soots]

sounds to me like a poor connection of a wire. Could be anywhere in the system, at the ignition, or the starter, or anyplace in between.

 

[phonfixerupper]

OK . I'm not a mechanic . I've got 12v at solenoid hotwire from battery and 12v when key is engaged at terminal wire. Which is the motor wire , on the 2135 the solenoid is mounted directly to the starter , ground comes off the solenoid and goes directly to the starter , also as far as the shims It is the original starter haven't changed that .

 

[phonfixerupper]

can you give me a rundown on the path of the ignition key thru starter , is there a voltage regulator involved that could be causing a problem , I figured if I was getting 12v at the solenoid terminal it was good from key to starter if it always happened it would be easier to trace

 

[Soots]

When you turn the key and it doesn't engage the starter, does the solenoid click?

 

[phonfixerupper]

I'll check that when I get a chance , you don't hear that when the engines turning over , I beleive there is a click but not sure it's the solenoid , I'll get back to you on that cold and getting dark in Md. If it's not clicking [meaning the solenoid is engaging ? ] Then what ?

 

[Soots]

if no click, then check for power supply, bad connection of some sort. elect. connection corrosion is a big problem in fla. you said you replaced solenoid. i'm not familiar with your tractor. just general troubleshooting, like i was told here. "work cheap to expensive, easy to hard."

 

[sox3]

Check all the battery terminal connections and ground connections. The start circut runs thru the clutch pedal
switch and the PTO switch. If your getting 12 volt to the solenoid and its not engaging the starter, could be
solenoid or starter. If you run 12 volts to the small wire on the solenoid (by passing all systems) it should crank
over, if not look at starter/solenoid or cables and grounds. If it does crank, problem would be between key switch to solenoid.
Some of those units have Plastic Housing Ignition switches and they go bad easily.

 

[phonfixerupper]

:thumbsup:Thanks for all the replies , I've found out that I always have 12v at f terminal with key and that sometimes don't have 12v even when the solenoid engages , I've taken the starter off and took off cover and cleaned the motor armachure and contacts , put it back together and OK so far , don't know why it wasn't getting 12v on the out side of the solenoid when it was engaged but there wasn't , going to try this and replace starter/solinoid combo if it's not OK now . they've got one on ebay for $60 Thanks for all your help !!!!

 

[kevin37b]

I have a little J.D STX 38 that did the same thing , fought it for a couple years . After reading various web sites , I found the solution. These machines have so many saftey switches that current has to go through .If that starter does not get ALL 12 volts , it will not engage . The solution is a simple relay from surplus center , about 5 bucks . Brad on MTF explains the installation nicely . Very simple , cheap , does not bypass any safety's , and 100% effective . Hope this helps .

 

[phonfixerupper]

Thanks for the reply kevin , What's MTF and you got a website or a little better direction so I can find this relay info I also check it today after taking it aprt and cleaning the starter some and hasn't happened yet , not going to do anything else yet but would like to look at the relay

 

[kevin37b]

Google My Tractor Forum . com Do a search on STX-38 starter improvement . I would get the link for you , but I'm not real good at that stuff . Hope this helps .

 

[kevin37b]

phonefixer , I tried that search and it did'nt work .I then went to JD forum , searched STX-38, scrolled through threads and found it .It is STX - 38 starter prolem fix .Lots of pics and details . Good luck . BTW, this is on My Tractor Forum . com . Hope i did not confuse you .