JD400 Starter issues - Service manual

Brokk · Dec 14, 2015

I posted about my starter issues last winter. This summer it started fine. I read that could be a sign that the starter is going (cold weather problems, warm weather is fine). I found a shop that will rebuild starters, so I decided to bite the bullet before winter hits again and take the starter off and bring it to the shop.

I was expecting it to be a bear to remove it, so I turned to my trusty bible, the service manual. That book is so detailed, it tells you how to tear down the starter, test all the parts, and rebuild it. Wonderful book. However, it let me down today. For the instructions to remove the starter from the tractor, it had the following words: "Remove Starter". Yup. Plain and simple. Yet not helpful in the least.

I think the problem is the book was written with the basic model in mind. Not once the loader and backhoe were attached. My problem is that I have a big steel bar, as well as a number of hydraulic connections in the way. I can't begin to reach where the bolt heads are that hold the starter on. So I'm painfully pulling parts off the tractor, hoping I can get it hooked back up again after the fact, just praying I can actually reach the bolts eventually. So far it is more difficult that I had even imagined it would be. I am hoping I can finish the job today though.

Brokk · Dec 15, 2015

I finally got the starter off, after futzing around for 2 hours trying to get access to the machine screws holding it on. Even with most things out of the way, it's still such a tight fit in there that I can't get a socket on them and even those new racheting wrenches are too fat to get around the head. I just had to do it the old fashion way, 1/16 of a turn, then re position the wrench for another 1/16 of a turn...

beenthere · Dec 15, 2015

Good on you for sticking to it. And the mechanic doing it would likely have to do it at the same slow 1/16th at a time, and those two hours would be some big bucks at the dealer's hourly charge.

Brokk · Dec 16, 2015

I got it back today and it looks like new. It's shiny and amazing looking. I hardly recognize it. They said they had to rebuild the whole thing.

I stopped at a couple tool places, trying to figure out if there was anything that could help me get these bolts back in place. I settled on a low profile 1/4" rachet with a short handle and a set of 1/4" sockets that go up at least to 9/16", since that is what I need. Hopefully this will let me squeeze in there and tighten them up faster than I got them off.

Tx Jim · Dec 16, 2015

9/16 wobble socket with a extra long extension works for me

Brokk · Dec 17, 2015

I was thinking about seeing how one of these might work:
Ratchets, Sockets & Wrenches | Adapters, Extensions & Universal Joints | Urrea Flexible Extension, 5268, 3/8" Drive X 5" Long | B993545 - GlobalIndustrial.com

However, that would only apply to the back one. The front one is more accessible.

BTW, I grabbed a picture of the starter to show what it looks like before installation:

Brokk · Dec 30, 2015

End story: Starter installed fine. Tractor fired up, easier than ever.

It installed much quicker than taking it out. I think the take-away lesson is that I should use liquid wrench products more heavily. I tend to hold off using them unless I can't get something to budge. In this case, I think if I had used them on the starter bolts I could have gotten them loose enough to turn by hand earlier and it would have saved me a lot of time/grief. I cleaned off all the threads before re-installing, and I was able to tighten them by hand most of the way very quickly. Then used a wrench for the last little bit.