JD 2040 Starting problem

[BryceSteiner]

I recently bought a JD 2040 (1981, I think). It started and ran this summer, but now it won't. It seems the starter is not doing its job. The red light will come on and just dims when engaging the switch. You can hear a bit of a noise or a click when trying, but that's about it.
I thought it was the battery, so I bought another, and no difference.
My opinion is that I think it's at a dead spot on the starter or maybe the solenoid. How would I tell the difference? Is there a way to turn the engine just a little bit by using a big wrench?

I would change the starter but because the front end loader is attached, the brackets that hold the FEL makes it much more difficult to access.

This tractor is also a bit strange as the red cable appears to be the ground and the black is positive. I did hook it up backwards at one point and it just wanted to spark at the battery and drained the battery quickly - maybe that caused problems. I switched it and then got it started - that was in August - but it hasn't started since.

My 2 year old grandson is insisting the green tractor needs fixed. He's not wrong and I can't seem to tell him to do it if he wants it running so bad

 

[Harry in Ky]

Cable colors aren't nearly as important as where they go. Is the ground cable long enough to bolt to the engine block or does it bolt to metal framework on the battery tray. The latter can be a major source of problems with carrying sufficient current to operate the starter.

 

[BryceSteiner]

It bolts to the sheet metal that holds the dash in place behind the battery. Maybe bolt to the block or frame?

 

[Harry in Ky]

That's the first step. The factory cables are too short to reach the engine block. Try using a jumper cable with one clamp on the negative battery post, the other clamp on the tractor frame or engine block. If that makes ANY positive improvement in your issue, then get/make a longer ground cable and see what you have after that.

 

[ScipioUSA]

Does that machine have a single battery or two of them? I think some of them (depending on the year) had two of them connected in parallel.

 

[BryceSteiner]

Does that machine have a single battery or two of them? I think some of them (depending on the year) had two of them connected in parallel.

This one has just one battery - that I know of. I only see one under the hood

 

[BryceSteiner]

I was just looking up this JD 2040 and noticed i only have one battery, yet all the online diagrams show there should be two. The battery is under the hood by the front dash. I don't think there is even room to put a second battery. Am I missing anything?
thanks!

 

[Tx Jim]

Number of batteries on a 2040 was an ordering option by JD dealer. Many JD utility tractors were ordered with a single 12 volt battery in warmer climates such as southern & lower western states in USA. I agree with Harry in that negative battery cable needs to be relocated from sheet metal to engine block!! Is your 2040 below or above 266,750? Serial range indicates if your tractor has open or closed center hyd system.

 

[ScipioUSA]

It might be two small batteries that are supposed to fit behind the dash, rather than one larger one. Regardless, I would agree with trying to jump from the battery to a known good ground on the block (or a bolt on the starter if you can) and see if that changes anything based on the suggestions of the other posters above.