Help John Deere 320 Kawasaki Engine Won't turn over

[moresnow]

Help everyone. I am afraid I might be the victim of the plastic cam issue but here is what is going on.

1. Plowed the Drive this AM ...no isssues
2. Came home from work and tried to fire up the machine and when turning it over there is a rapid clicking noise coming from the starter.
3. Tap the starter thinking its the solenoid and then when trying to turn it over it just clicks once....

What to do help? Snow piling up....

 

[topstoy]

Sounds like your battery to me. Check your battery termanals, water level, put a charger on it. Start er up.

 

[sunnyside360]

Sounds like your battery to me. Check your battery termanals, water level, put a charger on it. Start er up.

I agree. You can confirm very easily by jumping the battery. Either bad battery or connection(s).

 

[moresnow]

Interesting. The lights turn on and the starter clicks really fast. Even more strange one of the terminals on the battery puffs some smoke? Is something crossed? Or could there be a short... Or is the darn battery just old dead and needs replaced?

 

[Ironhand]

Dead battery, corroded battery connections, or bad ground. Definitely rule out the simple stuff first.

 

[beenthere]

Yup, as mentioned, looks like an easy fix too.

To help with battery terminal corrosion, drill a hole in a penny and zip-tie it to one terminal so it lays on top of the battery. The copper in the penny will eat away, instead of the buildup at the terminal. It eats up the electrons that travel across the battery when damp.
Has worked well for me, since the days when the batteries were lead, and the penny could just be imbedded into the top.

 

[moresnow]

Ok. I will clean and check for ground faults etc. but if I need a new battery which one. I checked the parts lookup at JD and found two different batteries. I went to Interstate and found....which one should we get...

1. MEGA-TRON - 75 MONTHS - 450 CCA
Product ID: MT-22F(Automotive Truck)
Amps: 565
Cranking Amps: 565
Cold Cranking Amps: 450
Voltage: 12
Termination: A
Pro-rata Warranty: 75
Weight: 30.9
Width: 6.88
Length: 9.38
Height: 8.13

2. LAWN & GARDEN - 340 CCA

Product ID: SP-40(Commercial)
Amps: 425
Cranking Amps: 425
Cold Cranking Amps: 340
Voltage: 12
Termination: L
Weight: 18.5
Width: 5.13
Length: 7.5
Height: 7.19

 

[sunnyside360]

Interesting. The lights turn on and the starter clicks really fast. Even more strange one of the terminals on the battery puffs some smoke? Is something crossed? Or could there be a short... Or is the darn battery just old dead and needs replaced?

The smoke at the terminal indicates a poor connection. Look for corrosion or glassy looking surfaces between the post and clamp. It is easily fixed by cleaning the post and clamp. I use a wire post/clamp tool available at most automotive parts stores. Might as well clean both terminals and ensure getting a full 12 volts to the starter when starting.

 

[moresnow]

That fixed it! Thanks everyone. Now to figure out why the oil filter seams to leak oil.

 

[moresnow]

Here is the beast