Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay?

   / Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay? #1  

7mmrum

Silver Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2004
Messages
139
Location
Berryville, VA
Went out to start the tractor and it wouldn't start. Turn the key, glow plug light comes on as usually, but as soon as the glow plug light comes on I hear loud clicking. I jump off the tractor open the hood and find out it is coming from a small 12v relay on top of the firewall next to the "Preheater Relay". I turn the tractor off, now this is with the key out of the tractor..... a new sound, similar to a bumble bee in a small thin card board box buzzing around. I locate that noise to the larger black box labeled "Preheater Relay".

Hmm so I check all the wires, and make sure the battery is good. I attempt to start the tractor, no luck nothing happens, just sits there clicking? Glow plug light eventually goes out but still clicks and when you turn the key nothing. Turn the key off and pull it out and again I hear the buzz in the preheater relay box, goes on for about 5 seconds and then stops.

Tractor worked perfectly fine last weekend.

bought in 2005 new now has 239hrs on it.

Any suggestions? My first thought would be to replace the two relays?
 
   / Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay? #2  
Charge your battery. If that works well have to figure out why it went dead. Maybe something sticking on - - like the heater relay.
larry
 
   / Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay? #3  
7mmrum said:
Went out to start the tractor and it wouldn't start. Turn the key, glow plug light comes on as usually, but as soon as the glow plug light comes on I hear loud clicking. I jump off the tractor open the hood and find out it is coming from a small 12v relay on top of the firewall next to the "Preheater Relay". I turn the tractor off, now this is with the key out of the tractor..... a new sound, similar to a bumble bee in a small thin card board box buzzing around. I locate that noise to the larger black box labeled "Preheater Relay".

Hmm so I check all the wires, and make sure the battery is good. I attempt to start the tractor, no luck nothing happens, just sits there clicking? Glow plug light eventually goes out but still clicks and when you turn the key nothing. Turn the key off and pull it out and again I hear the buzz in the preheater relay box, goes on for about 5 seconds and then stops.

Tractor worked perfectly fine last weekend.

bought in 2005 new now has 239hrs on it.

Any suggestions? My first thought would be to replace the two relays?
Disconect and try cleaning the the prongs on the pre heat relay with sand paper. Did water come in connect with the relay, rain or washing
 
   / Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay?
  • Thread Starter
#4  
could be possibly rain, we did have a good storm roll through the other day. I'll clean the contacts and see if that helps.

Thanks for the suggestions
 
   / Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay? #5  
Did you check your batt and cables under load?
larry
 
   / Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay? #6  
Low voltage battery (going dead) can cause relays to cycle rapidly.
 
   / Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay? #7  
7mmrum said:
Any suggestions? My first thought would be to replace the two relays?

I'd definitely try charging your battery and cleaning the terminals before buying any new relays.
 
   / Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay? #8  
Happens every few months to me also on my CK30. It is always the connections at the battery terminals and the ground to the frame. I take everything apart, sand, add some grease and all is fine. As a matter of fact, I had to clean everything yesterday for the same reason. I attribute it to my tactor sitting out in the weather.
 
   / Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay?
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Sorry it took so long to get back to you guys. I was on vacation this past week.

Anyway, went out and removed the leads from the battery on the tractor, cleaned the posts up and the leads. Connected it back together and it started right up.

Must have corroded some. Battery read a 12.5v prior to cleaning, going to put a little bit of multi-purpose grease on the terminals to help prevent this in the future.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
 

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