Kioti CK20s starting issues

[thehawka]

Purchased in 2011 and has been a reliable machine, that is until recently. Now turn the key switch and I get relay buzzing and timer clicking. That is sometimes, sometimes I also get nothing. New switch, battery fully charged, ground cable cleaned and reattached. All connections took apart, cleaned and reattached with dielectric grease. Voltage same at the battery, starter, switch, and relay. I'm at my whits ends and suggestions?

 

[MichiganIron]

Voltage can be very misleading when dealing with a starting issue. What you really need to know is the voltage "under load". You can read 12v everywhere, but once the circuit is put under load (like starting or glow), the voltage can drop to below normal. The "clicking" you describe is almost always a low voltage issue under load. This can be caused by several things, including a battery that reads 12v in a normal state, but will fail to under 8v under load. We would recommend having the battery "load tested". A simple way to load test the battery if you don't have a battery system tester is just with a voltmeter. Put the meter on the battery and record voltage. With the meter still on the battery, attempt to glow and start the tractor. If the battery voltage drops below 8v, the battery has a bad cell.

Other possible causes are; bad battery cable under load, dirty connections, poor ground, bad battery terminals, faulty key switch.

You can also load test the system at the starter motor post for the positive battery cable connection. Do the same load test at the starter motor to test the battery cables.

Hope this helps...

 

[thehawka]

When I turn the switch nothing happens, no dash lights, no glow plugs, etc. So it difficult to load test the battery

 

[MichiganIron]

In the wire harness near the starter motor is the Main Slow Blow Fuse. It is wrapped in tape, usually near the starter motor. We would suggest taking a good look at the Main Fuse and the fuse plug to make sure you are all good thru the fuse.

 

[thehawka]

I did, and it checked out. Would a bad started solenoid cause this, intermitting dash lights, relay buzzing not turning over? If not i'm lost then.

 

[thehawka]

Now the frustrating part is when I turn the key sometimes nothing happens, sometimes if I turn it slow I get the buzzing from the relays & sometimes i get the clicking of the timer and preheat controller. If I straight wire A to E on the starter plug I'll get the relay buzzing & then when I hook the key switch up, nothing,

 

[MichiganIron]

Is this an issue just started?? The buzzing and clicking of relays is a clear indication of low voltage under load. Just to take a few issues out of the loop, jump the starter motor at the solenoid post. This is done by jumping between the positive battery cable post on the motor to the solenoid signal post. Make sure the started motor runs when jumped.

In you previous post you mentioned "switch"...did you recently replace the key switch ???

 

[thehawka]

Yes, replaced key switch a couple of days ago. We I jump the starter the engine turns over.

 

[MichiganIron]

So, with all of that out of the loop, you have a bad connection between the starter and key switch. Take a good look at everything, including the fuse box. The clicking of relays is definitely a low voltage problem under load.

Just another trick that work "sometimes"...spray a little WD40 in the key switch and cycle it several times. Then try to start.

 

[rademamj1]

Remember we call them 12V batteries, but if your actually reading 12V or less without any load, you have a weak battery at 50% charge level, and the starting problems is probably your battery not responding to load. Just cannot turn over your engine. So you may just need a New battery. For lead acid batteries 12.6V+ is 100% charge at no load. AGM reads 13.6V at 100% charge and no load. Lithium reads 14.1V at 100% charge