wont start

Sergei · Feb 22, 2020

RNeumann said:
4 years on the factory battery is about all they go on average. A good auto parts store can test it with a Midtronics tester.

I've installed the Schumacher SE-1-12S on my Mahindra, garden tractor, truck and even the house generator plus each with a timer. This really seem to help extending the life of them.

Sergei · Feb 23, 2020

Sergei said:
I've installed the Schumacher SE-1-12S on my Mahindra, garden tractor, truck and even the house generator plus each with a timer. This really seem to help extending the life of them.

Since battery charge and its conditions has been mentioned, does the cranking speed change when your trying to start it? Starts high and drags lower? You need a good cranking speed to generate heat within the cylinders.

Atlfinfan · Feb 23, 2020

Sergei said:
Since battery charge and its conditions has been mentioned, does the cranking speed change when your trying to start it? Starts high and drags lower? You need a good cranking speed to generate heat within the cylinders.

Yes sir.

fried1765 · Feb 23, 2020

Atlfinfan said:
I don't personally think it's a temp. problem since it started getting harder to start when the weather was warm, but I DO KNOW...... I don't know much. I just tried to include everything in my OP.

Lately, the battery doesn't stay charged so I am going to start there, as you suggested.....cleaning battery terminals, though they LOOK fine to me. Then, if nothing improves, I'll probably get a new battery. The original one is 4 years old, so I thought it would not be the problem.

I guessing most of the guys that posted suggestions DON'T REALIZE HOW MECHANICALLY DUMB I AM. It's hard for me to admit......:embarrassed:

"Lately the battery doesn't stay charged"

It is highly likely that a 4 year old battery used for "garden tilling once a year" is badly internally sulfated from just sitting, and thus is not providing proper voltage for required cranking speed.
You should buy a new battery, clean all connections thoroughly, including the battery ground cable bolt mounting surface on your tractor.
A Walmart Everstart Maxx is the best battery bang for the buck.
Write down the battery physical dimensions (and group # if it is shown on the battery), and take that info with you to Walmart.

When you get the starting problem sorted out, buy a "Battery Minder" (brand) trickle charger/desulfator, and keep it connected to your battery, and plugged in to 110v, whenever your tractor is not in use.
A "Battery Minder" (brand) is inexpensive, and has a built in desulfating function.
"Battery Minder" model 12117 is $24.99 on Amazon.

Atlfinfan · Feb 24, 2020

I guess I wasn't clear, my fault.......I use the tractor 5 times a week on average, but its for very light stuff, like moving a trailer a few hundred feet, but only put a load on it when doing things like tilling the garden, moving round bales of hay, etc. . I am headed to WM in a bit. Hoping to get everything changed out today......in the rain.....or breaks in the rain.

I will post the results of the new battery when I get done. All help is very much appreciated.

fried1765 · Feb 24, 2020

Atlfinfan said:
I guess I wasn't clear, my fault.......I use the tractor 5 times a week on average, but its for very light stuff, like moving a trailer a few hundred feet, but only put a load on it when doing things like tilling the garden, moving round bales of hay, etc. . I am headed to WM in a bit. Hoping to get everything changed out today......in the rain.....or breaks in the rain.

I will post the results of the new battery when I get done. All help is very much appreciated.

4 years of lots of stops and starts ("moving a trailer a few hundred feet") with no time for the alternator to add a meaningful charge to the battery, is particularly hard on a battery.

k0ua · Feb 24, 2020

If you tractor has glow plugs and one or more of them are not functioning, this could cause hard to start problems. You can take a measurement for voltage on the glow plug buss to see if there is voltage (you will need an assistant to operate the key). And also a infrared temp gun would be handy to pinpoint a cold glow plug or plugs. These simple temp guns are less than $20 at Amazon and are useful for many things. I used mine just a couple of days ago to verify a cable modem in my house that was overheating. It was 168 degrees in one corner of the unit. Some sort of power supply failure. We have a lot of electronic equipment in the room, and it was helpful to track it down to this device.

Amazon.com: Etekcity Lasergrip 774 Non-contact Digital Laser Infrared Thermometer Temperature Gun -58℉~ 716℉ (-5℃ ~ 38℃), Yellow and Black: Kitchen & Dining

Atlfinfan · Feb 29, 2020

Update, in case anyone is curious.
I replaced the battery and one of the cable ends/ connectors. It cranked right up...................the first time and the rest of the day.
Didn't crank it for a couple of days because of more rain, then tried, and it would just spin, no SOUNDS of it cranking, or firing. I used a very small squirt of starting fluid and it cranked right up. Yesterday was in the 40's and low 50's and I gave it a try again. It started out just spinning again until I put the throttle lever up to about half way.......turned the glow plugs on 3 or 4 times and it started up after just a couple of, what i would call, rotations, then it would crank easily again. So, to me, the only progress is not having to charge the battery anymore. Which I'll take for starters......
In my unejumacated opinion.........it doesn't seem to be getting fuel...hence the spinning but not firing. How off base am I?

and thanks for all the suggestions and help and......

LouNY · Feb 29, 2020

When you say spinning is the engine turning over?
or the starter is spinning but not turning the engine over?

fried1765 · Feb 29, 2020

Atlfinfan said:
Update, in case anyone is curious.
I replaced the battery and one of the cable ends/ connectors. It cranked right up...................the first time and the rest of the day.
Didn't crank it for a couple of days because of more rain, then tried, and it would just spin, no SOUNDS of it cranking, or firing. I used a very small squirt of starting fluid and it cranked right up. Yesterday was in the 40's and low 50's and I gave it a try again. It started out just spinning again until I put the throttle lever up to about half way.......turned the glow plugs on 3 or 4 times and it started up after just a couple of, what i would call, rotations, then it would crank easily again. So, to me, the only progress is not having to charge the battery anymore. Which I'll take for starters......
In my unejumacated opinion.........it doesn't seem to be getting fuel...hence the spinning but not firing. How off base am I?

and thanks for all the suggestions and help and......

Replaced.... "one of the cable ends/connectors"

Did you take the ground CABLE END OFF the tractor, and THOROUGHLY clean the cable end, AND clean the cable mounting surface on the tractor, before putting all back together?