Hello. I started my tractor (after it's been sitting for a few months) and it started fine, but I noticed the glow plug light came on after starting and stayed on. I let it idle for a few minutes then turned the tractor off. I then tried restarting it and it acted like the battery was dead. I tried jump starting but I can't get it to start now. Everything on the dash lights up but all I get is a clicking sound, the engine won't turn over. Now another work week is starting and I don't know when I'll get the time to trouble shoot. Any suggestions? Could it just be a bad battery? Thanks!
TC 40 won't start
- Thread starter t2sj
- Start date
- Views: 9255
jimmysisson
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2005
- Messages
- 2,358
- Location
- W.Mass
- Tractor
- 1993 NH 2120 (the best), 1974 MF 135 (sold, but solid), 1947 Farmall A (bought, sold, bought back, sold again), 1956 MH50 lbt (sold, in 1980, darn it)
Sure sounds like a flat battery. Charge it overnight and see.
Jim
Jim
jinman
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
- Messages
- 20,387
- Location
- Texas - Wise County - Sunset
- Tractor
- NHTC45D, NH LB75B, Ford Jubilee
(General) Your title says TC40. Is that the gear model tractor or is it a TC40D tractor with HST. The "D" model tractor has different glow plugs and a shorter timer, so the destinction does make a difference.
(A) You need a new glow plug timer relay. They are around $70 and will make your glow plugs operate for the proper time and shut off. Glow plugs coming on at odd times is a sure sign of timer failure.
(B) If you jump started by using jumper cables on the battery terminals, my guess is that you clamped the jumper to the outside of the batter terminals. This supplies power directly to the cables and bypasses dirty battery terminal problems, but checking the cables for corrosion is always worth checking to make sure; especially if it has been wet/humid lately. Also, make sure your negative (black wire) lead is not loose where it attaches to the frame. Also make sure that your red positive lead is tight at the starter.
(C) Make sure that you do not have a PTO ON light on the instrument panel. If you have that light and the PTO is OFF, then you have a blown fuse #2. The fuses are under the instrument panel. Remove the two Phillips-head screws in the panel and lift it out carefully. The fuses (covered in dust) will be on the left-hand side under the panel.
Also, Fuse #1 is for the glow plugs. It could be blown, but if the glow plug light comes on when you turn on the ignition, then fuse #1 is okay. Fuse #1 blown will NOT stop the tractor from trying to start, but fuse #2 blown will keep the starter from operating similar to your described problem.
jinman
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
- Messages
- 20,387
- Location
- Texas - Wise County - Sunset
- Tractor
- NHTC45D, NH LB75B, Ford Jubilee
If you had said that your tractor was completely dead with no dash lights or no clicking when start is attempted, I'd say to check the 40 amp main fuse above the starter, but if you have dash lights and some electrical, then this is not an issue. That means the main fuse has to be good.
podagrower
Silver Member
At the beginning of the season here, I tried to start my TC40 (no A, no D), and it gave me the bad click. It sounded too loud for a dead battery, but I checked anyway (12.4), so I presumed the starter was bad. After finding out a rebuilt starter was about $300, I decided a hammer would do for a while.
Sure enough, 1 tap of the hammer and it started right up. Off I went to mow the field. When I finished, i parked the tractor and looked at the starter again. Ants, thousands of ants, maybe millions of ants were pouring out of the starter. Itsy bitsy, teenie, tiny little black ants. Apparently, they had built a home in the starter in the off season, and were keeping the starter from making contact originally. Imagine their surprise when the hammer hit
.
Loose connections can be tricky to find, if it not one of the problems Jinman listed.
Sure enough, 1 tap of the hammer and it started right up. Off I went to mow the field. When I finished, i parked the tractor and looked at the starter again. Ants, thousands of ants, maybe millions of ants were pouring out of the starter. Itsy bitsy, teenie, tiny little black ants. Apparently, they had built a home in the starter in the off season, and were keeping the starter from making contact originally. Imagine their surprise when the hammer hit
.Loose connections can be tricky to find, if it not one of the problems Jinman listed.
rrs26ja
New member
I had a similar problem with my TC 40DA and it turned out that the battery was shorted, put a new battery in and the tractor started but I still don't see the glow plug light on when I first turn the key on. I have checked the fuses, light bulb, the timer relay. At least the tractor starts but I am still not sure why the glow plug light doesn't come on.
