I’m a new tractor owner and brand new to this forum so please bare with me if my problem has already been answered. I have an older New Holland TC40 with starting problems. It intermittently just clicks when I try to start. Then at other times starts up perfectly. I have not been able to find any discernible reason. Every time I have someone look at it it starts perfectly. I may be able to run it for days with no issues at all then out of the blue get the problem again. It may last for an hour or all day then without doing anything starts perfectly. I am open to any and all suggestions. Right now it is in one of its moods!
Intermittent starting problem
- Thread starter Aueuftgr
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AWSubie
Platinum Member
Two areas I would look at are
1) battery circuit corrosion. Check battery posts for corrosion and follow the cables to the alternator and frame and check for corrosion there as well.
2) solenoids. Many tractors have engine cutoff and start solenoids that can begin to fail intermittently. Sometimes the solenoids are the same for each circuit and can be swapped to help with trouble shooting.
I just thought of a third area:
Ignition switch could have intermittent open.
If u don’t have an ohmmeter, u might consider purchasing one to help with your repair.
1) battery circuit corrosion. Check battery posts for corrosion and follow the cables to the alternator and frame and check for corrosion there as well.
2) solenoids. Many tractors have engine cutoff and start solenoids that can begin to fail intermittently. Sometimes the solenoids are the same for each circuit and can be swapped to help with trouble shooting.
I just thought of a third area:
Ignition switch could have intermittent open.
If u don’t have an ohmmeter, u might consider purchasing one to help with your repair.
bearthebruce
Platinum Member
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- Property is in Floyd County VA
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- '05 Massey Ferguson 1533; '22 LS MT125, '23 Kubota SVL65-2
3) The starter itself may have a dead spot. In that case, a new starter is required.
thclimer
Veteran Member
Yes, maybe tapping on the starter to see if that allows it to make contact.
Also, wiggle the levers (speed range, PTO) as maybe one of there switches is not functioning or out of alignment. Also, if you remove some of the cowlings you will be able to access wiring and give it some wiggles as well.
The most difficult to diagnose issues are the intermittent ones.
Let us know what you find.
dlctcg
Platinum Member
This is some info that I have posted previously in a different post that may help with the diagnosis.... I'm at work right now so just copied it....
Cable Test:
Older New Holland battery cables often corrode inside the terminal where it is sometimes impossible to see; not sure it was an issue with your particular yr / model... You will often have voltage so everything seems good. (gauges & all are working). So you will have voltage but they will not supply the required Amperage.
You can test if there is an issue with your existing battery cables pretty simply.
Remove the negative battery cable & then take a negative jumper cable wire and place it on the bare negative post of your tractor battery. Connect the other end to a solid clean ground of the tractor (bare metal location). Try starting the tractor & see if that makes a difference...
If that doesn't change anything you can do the same process on the positive post. Disconnect the Negative jumper from the Battery terminal. Then using your positive jumper cable attach one end to where the positive battery cable connects to the starter (connect this end first), and the other end to the positive battery post (last). Make sure the jumper cable is not able to arc to near by metal. Now reconnect the Negative jumper cable to the battery & try starting the tractor again & see if that changes anything...
Doing this process you basically bypassed the battery cables on the machine, and then can troubleshoot from there. I wouldn't put any more parts on it till I checked the factory cables...
Ignition Switch:
These are also prone to issues & can cause the issue your describing. (I'll see if I can find a testing procedure).... but check to see if you have voltage at the starter solenoid when the key is turned to start..
Starter Solenoid:
Make sure you have 12V at the starter solenoid when you turn the key to START...
If you see voltage only sometime I'm thinking it either a spotty ground or Ignition switch.
If you are see voltage Each time to turn the key yo the START position but it is less than 12V this will definitely cause an inconsistent starting issue. This circuit shares the voltage source this the glow plug timer (& I believe passes through some of the safety switches). Overtime the wiring & connection get dirty / lose there ability to pass the voltage. You can modify the current wiring & add a dedicated relay for supplying direct power to the starter solenoid via the same circuits. I did this on our TC40D & it made a big difference for our machine
Cable Test:
Older New Holland battery cables often corrode inside the terminal where it is sometimes impossible to see; not sure it was an issue with your particular yr / model... You will often have voltage so everything seems good. (gauges & all are working). So you will have voltage but they will not supply the required Amperage.
You can test if there is an issue with your existing battery cables pretty simply.
Remove the negative battery cable & then take a negative jumper cable wire and place it on the bare negative post of your tractor battery. Connect the other end to a solid clean ground of the tractor (bare metal location). Try starting the tractor & see if that makes a difference...
If that doesn't change anything you can do the same process on the positive post. Disconnect the Negative jumper from the Battery terminal. Then using your positive jumper cable attach one end to where the positive battery cable connects to the starter (connect this end first), and the other end to the positive battery post (last). Make sure the jumper cable is not able to arc to near by metal. Now reconnect the Negative jumper cable to the battery & try starting the tractor again & see if that changes anything...
Doing this process you basically bypassed the battery cables on the machine, and then can troubleshoot from there. I wouldn't put any more parts on it till I checked the factory cables...
Ignition Switch:
These are also prone to issues & can cause the issue your describing. (I'll see if I can find a testing procedure).... but check to see if you have voltage at the starter solenoid when the key is turned to start..
Starter Solenoid:
Make sure you have 12V at the starter solenoid when you turn the key to START...
If you see voltage only sometime I'm thinking it either a spotty ground or Ignition switch.
If you are see voltage Each time to turn the key yo the START position but it is less than 12V this will definitely cause an inconsistent starting issue. This circuit shares the voltage source this the glow plug timer (& I believe passes through some of the safety switches). Overtime the wiring & connection get dirty / lose there ability to pass the voltage. You can modify the current wiring & add a dedicated relay for supplying direct power to the starter solenoid via the same circuits. I did this on our TC40D & it made a big difference for our machine
AWSubie
Platinum Member
NH TC40A Starting problem
www.tractorbynet.com
Check out this thread as well
NH TC40A Starting problem
My TC40A will crank but wont start. Need some help troubleshooting. This is how far I’ve got: Checked the fuel lines, changed the fuel filter, manually bled the the system at the injector pump bleed valve. Did not fix the prob. Unplugged connector at Fuel Shutoff Solenoid, jumped from...
www.tractorbynet.com
Check out this thread as well
dlctcg
Platinum Member
NH TC40A Starting problem
NH TC40A Starting problem
My TC40A will crank but wont start. Need some help troubleshooting. This is how far I’ve got: Checked the fuel lines, changed the fuel filter, manually bled the the system at the injector pump bleed valve. Did not fix the prob. Unplugged connector at Fuel Shutoff Solenoid, jumped from...
Check out this thread as well
Hold off on the above ^^^ mentioned thread for now... That is a different issue...
As you stated in your post:
Which is usually a different issue on the TC's... If it cranks & doesn't start then that's different.
But if it is intermittently just clicking sometimes & starting others I would start with testing the battery cables & then the starter solenoid
Henro
Elite Member
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Some tractors have issues with contacts in the safety circuit which develop resistance and drop enough voltage that the starter clicks, but does not turn.
JD made a kit that I bought and applied to my BX Kubota, that completely cured the Click, click, no start issue. It is basically a relay that is activated by the safety circuit, and which supplies 12 volts directly to the starter solenoid terminal.
Perhaps the OP's issue is the same.
bearthebruce
Platinum Member
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- Property is in Floyd County VA
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- '05 Massey Ferguson 1533; '22 LS MT125, '23 Kubota SVL65-2
The fact that the starter solenoid is clicking likely means the safety circuits are closed. The solenoid is trying to engage the starter. When it does, the high current draw lowers the battery voltage - enough that the solenoid drops out and cannot hold. As soon as it drops out, battery voltage rises, solenoid engages, high current tries to flow, battery voltage drops, and the vicious cycle goes as long as the operator holds the key.
Could be a weak battery. Could be bad terminal connections. Could be a weak connection of the starting circuits failing to provide a good enough connection to hold the solenoid in. Could be a bad spot on the starter. Could be a bad solenoid.
Solution: Check wiring and use a meter.
Could be a weak battery. Could be bad terminal connections. Could be a weak connection of the starting circuits failing to provide a good enough connection to hold the solenoid in. Could be a bad spot on the starter. Could be a bad solenoid.
Solution: Check wiring and use a meter.
PILOON
Super Star Member
A lot of electrical problems come from but a few sources.
1- ignition switch
2- safety switches
3- bad grounds
4- corroded battery cables
Techniques to use
1- spraying WD40 or a contact cleaner generally clears that problem
2- temporarily jumper cable eliminates that switch
3- un fastening and grinding/sanding to bare metal is the way to go
4- peel back insulation and if white powder found you have the answer.
Should add that every tractor owner should have a volt/ammeter in his tool kit and also a test wire, (short 16 g with alligator clips at both ends)
And, patience.
1- ignition switch
2- safety switches
3- bad grounds
4- corroded battery cables
Techniques to use
1- spraying WD40 or a contact cleaner generally clears that problem
2- temporarily jumper cable eliminates that switch
3- un fastening and grinding/sanding to bare metal is the way to go
4- peel back insulation and if white powder found you have the answer.
Should add that every tractor owner should have a volt/ammeter in his tool kit and also a test wire, (short 16 g with alligator clips at both ends)
And, patience.