JD 216 Starter Problem

mwood · Mar 11, 2005

Okay all you electrically minded people...

I've got an old (1984 vintage) John Deere 216. It not only serves as my mowing machine but also my snowblower. Recently, I went out to start it and all I hear is a loud click (solenoid) but no cranking.

I'm planning on taking off the starter, but before I fork over any more money I wanted to ask a couple questions:

1. The previous owner (my neighbor) said he replaced the starter about 5 years ago due to a similar problem. 15 years out of the first starter and then only 5 out of the new one???

2. How does one tell if the starter is bad or if it's not getting juice?

Thanks in advance!

MWood

awlchu · Mar 11, 2005

Can you jump start it with your car/truck? If so, look at the battery before digging deeper.

1962 · Mar 11, 2005

yea, it does sound like a weak battery or bad connection. ck your batt. then check your batt. terminal connections. clean them up real good at the batt, and solenoid.

Molerj · Mar 11, 2005

To check the starter while it is on the tractor, connect jumper to ground the other to battery & then touch the postitve to the starter bolt (the one with the big wire going to it). The starter should turn over.

tomnky · Mar 11, 2005

And You might do a search as Kubmech made a post concerning a B2400. John Deere has issues on some of the starting circuits and actually has a kit for about $18.00 .

Seems to me some of these had Kawasaki engines.
Just a thought.

Here is a link : Starter problems

mwood · Mar 12, 2005

Thanks for all the great ideas. My first thought was battery so I put the charger on it. Didn't seem to help.

I think the next move is to check to see if the starter works. You mention jumpering from the + side of the battery to the starter post. I'm a little confused about the ground connection you mention.

Also, thanks for the great info regarding the starter relay problem. That very well could be it. If the starter works, i'll get out the multi-meter and see if I can determine how much voltage I've got at the solenoid.

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted!!!

Molerj · Mar 12, 2005

Two jumper cables. One end of one cable hooked to negative post of battery & the other end to frame of tractor. (this eliminates the cable that is presently hooked to battery & ground, just leave it attached as is, no need to remove it). Take the other cable & attach it to positve post of battery & touch the other end to the starter bolt (the one that has a red cable going to it). The starter should turn over. If it doesn't, then problem is in starter. If it does, then problem is other places ie; solenoid, ignition switch, wiring, safety switch etc.

mwood · Mar 13, 2005

Thanks alot!

I checked a few voltages last night. Voltage on the battery is ~12.5 volts.

Voltage at the starter (measured from the starter bolt to ground) was ~8.3 volts.

The battery seemed okay to me, but the voltage at the starter seemed way low. As it is now, I can't get a jumper cable onto the starter bolt without it grounding against the tractor (i'm going to have to remove the battery and some other sheetmetal to get there).

I'll keep everyone informed.

Thanks again for all the help.

tomnky · Mar 13, 2005

Was this 8.3 volts on the solenoid? In other words was it the voltage to pull the solenoid " up"? Or was it the actual voltage applied to the starter when the solenoid is pulled " up"?

mwood · Mar 14, 2005

The voltage was measured by measuring from the large bolt (positive) on the starter to the engine ground connection when the key was in the start position (my wife helped here). In other words, the voltage measured zero, my wife turned the key and there was a click, then the voltage measured around 8.3.

Thanks again all! My wife is going out of town in a week or so and I'll be tearing everything apart while she is gone to try to fix this.