Another "My Kioti wont start!" thread - HELP!

[kyfirestorm]

My husband and I moved onto a 30 acre farm two years ago. Being from the city, we only had a small riding mower . . . thankfully my father-in-law has a Kioti LB2204 (80's model I believe) that we've been able to use. However, this poor little tractor has been rode hard, put away wet, and held together with duct tape and bandaids for years .

What usually happens? FIL works away with no problems, and then we borrow the doggone thing and something breaks. Never fails. It's getting frustrating.

Our current problem is the reason I've registered: the tractor simply will not start. I've lurked for a couple of years now, and yesterday I read (and re-read) JoelD's thread about his tractor not starting, but I'm still stumped on one thing:

The battery has been bad in this tractor for a while. For MONTHS I've been trying to find out from my FIL how to get the battery out so I can buy a new one. "Nah, it's okay for now. Just pull out that decompression knob and it'll start." So that's what we've been doing. Last week we noticed it wasn't wanting to spin up as quickly as it used to . . . said something to FIL, got fed up, and decided just to haul the tractor to a local dealership and pay them to remove/replace the battery. Hubby started tractor, backed it out of barn, and drove down to check the bottom pasture while I was getting the trailer ready. I had a problem in the meantime and he parked the tractor and turned it off to come help me. Now? The doggone thing is flat dead. When we turn the key nothing happens. At all. The fuel gauge will begin rising, and the one working turn signal will flash when activated, but nothing else.

I've cleaned the ground-to-frame connection and re attached it. I've sprayed WD40 in the ignition. What has ne stumped is that the decompression knob is dead too. Before I start tearing this lil' tractor apart to replace the battery, cables, ignition safety switch, etc can somebody tell me if I'm on the right track? Or am I missing something to do with that decompression knob?

Thank you all for any help you can give me. Hubby isn't mechanically inclined and FIL is like talking to a brick wall. If it weren't for the fact that the loader is down and tilted forward, I'd winch the dang thing onto the trailer and dump it in HIS yard!

 

[kiotiken]

I had a very similar issue on my JD955. It turned out to be a bad positive (maybe negative) battery lead. The cable looked fine, but once it was stripped back, it was completely corroded. Same thing, drove it into the garage, got off to do something and didn't want to leave it running in the garage so I shut it off. That was that, didn't start again until the cable was replaced.

 

[landedakioti]

On my old MF 1010 the alternator didn't work so it wouldn't charge the battery. I had to jump start it everyday.

 

[kyfirestorm]

Thanks guys . KiotiKen, I'm planning on replacing both cables along with the battery, as soon as I am able to get to them) but that decompression thing has me scratching my head. Would the knob be "dead" too if there was a battery/cable issue?

LandedaKioti, jumpstarting is actually the first thing we tried . . . It was just as dead with the cables hooked up (and my truck running) as it was without 'em.

 

[MrWhippy]

Had the same symptoms due to bad battery cables. I'd replace both (it's a 25 year old tractor...)

 

[murphy1244]

Safety switches? Check them all. Should have turned slow at least.

 

[landedakioti]

Thanks guys . KiotiKen, I'm planning on replacing both cables along with the battery, as soon as I am able to get to them) but that decompression thing has me scratching my head. Would the knob be "dead" too if there was a battery/cable issue?

LandedaKioti, jumpstarting is actually the first thing we tried . . . It was just as dead with the cables hooked up (and my truck running) as it was without 'em.

Did you let it sit for 30mins before turning the key on the tractor.

 

[kyfirestorm]

Mr. Whippy, I've sprayed PB Blaster on all the bolts that appear to hold the sides of the body on. As soon as I can get in there that's my first order of business!

Murphy1244, that was my main "huh?" moment. I thought it shoulda at least mad a little noise. Found the ignition safety switch (that works via the clutch) and it's hooked up and is being depressed when I press the clutch, but I'm guessing it COULD have went bad. I've called the local dealership, am waiting on them to call me back to see how long it's gonna take to get one.

Landed, hmm, no I didn't. I let it run for maybe 5 minutes before I attempted to start it :/. Had daughter rev engine in truck when I turned the key. No noticable "pull" on truck at any time and no noise, movement, or electrical draw from tractor when I turned the key.

 

[kiotiken]

Thanks guys . KiotiKen, I'm planning on replacing both cables along with the battery, as soon as I am able to get to them) but that decompression thing has me scratching my head. Would the knob be "dead" too if there was a battery/cable issue?

LandedaKioti, jumpstarting is actually the first thing we tried . . . It was just as dead with the cables hooked up (and my truck running) as it was without 'em.

I'd get gauges and a lights, but as soon as you tried turning the key, nothing. I could boost it all day, but that did nothing.

 

[landedakioti]

Try for 30mins then put your key in turn it to start then take a screw driver to the solenoid on your starter to help start it. Thats what we did with the ford long tractor as a kid on my grandfathers farm. Because the ignition wasn't turning the starter.

 

[kyfirestorm]

Thanks so much guys! I've gotten a few of the bolts loosened enough to be able to see the battery, cables, and starter. The loader being attached is a bit of an issue, but at least my hands are a lot smaller than hubby's and I can get in there. I don't know if I can get the battery out, but I CAN get the cables out and replaced, which is a start. Gonna work on that this evening.

I can't thank you guys enough, I'll update as soon as I get the cables replaced.

So I just need to ignore the decompression switch for now?

 

[kiotiken]

Would you marry me?!? No way my wife would be getting her hands dirty with the tractor! Good luck.

 

[Jesse masterson]

Now kioti ken , this is not a dating website, lol

 

[kiotiken]

Now kioti ken , this is not a dating website, lol

BUT SHE CAN FIX A TRACTOR!!!!

 

[Jesse masterson]

Haha, very good point, carry on!

 

[kyfirestorm]

Rofl here guys! It actually works out really well for hubby and I -- I was my Dad's oldest daughter (no sons) so I spent a lot of time with him in the garage, under the house, etc. Hubby was the youngest of three sons and he spent a lot of time with his mother in the house . I work on our cars, can fix plumbing, wiring, do general woodworking, etc. The only regret I have is that I never learned to weld . . . and I can't do a complete teardown/rebuild of an engine. I'm still learning a lot.

I appreciate all of the help y'all are giving me . KiotiKen, here's a hug for yiu, lol

 

[kyfirestorm]

I forgot to add: when I'm finished doing repairs outside, I come in to a perfect meal, a plate fixed and ready for me, and a fresh glass of tea. Laundry is finished, dishes are done, and I have fresh flowers on the bar. Our roles may be backwards, but it works for us

 

[kiotiken]

I forgot to add: when I'm finished doing repairs outside, I come in to a perfect meal, a plate fixed and ready for me, and a fresh glass of tea. Laundry is finished, dishes are done, and I have fresh flowers on the bar. Our roles may be backwards, but it works for us

Maybe I should marry him :laughing:

 

[Gary Fowler]

This sounds so much like my BIL's Dodge truck. He was in town and it wouldnt start, just a little click. He got it jumped and took it to the dealership. They checked battery, alternator and all was good and it started for several stops. The following day I was with him at a local shop and again it wouldnt start but we got a jump to get home but now the AC wouldnt work either. When we got home it started right up but AC still wouldnt work. Next day he was preparing to take it back to the Dodge dealer for repair and it again wouldnt start. Now it wouldnt jump start either. He put a battery charger on overnight and it still wouldn t start or jump start either. Had to call a wrecker to pick it up and haul it 20 miles to the dealer. This time they put in a new battery and all was well including the AC.
I had a battery like that once that would start normally sometime and not even click the next time. It turned out that the battery had a short circuit in between the cells that would sometimes weld itself together and work ok but next time the break would not arc and nothing.
I also had my old Yanmar not start even though the battery was hot and wouldnt jump either. I figured a bad starter, but after taking it off, I decided to test it and it spun like a top, so back on it went. Next I started work cleaning the battery cables and while reattaching one of them, the cable end just slipped out of the crimp. It was all corroded under the crimp and shrink wrap and nothing noticeable visually. One new cable and a new crimp on connections and it was good to go.
I guess I am saying that you can go one of two ways: either replace the battery and see how it goes or start with the cables and if that doesnt work, then replace the battery. Give those cable ends a good hard yank to make sure all connections are sound after cleaning all visible corrosion. If the battery is 3 years or older, I would just start with replacing the battery, clean all the connections and see what happens. I hear lots of folks say they get 8 or 10 years from a battery but I always get the normal ones with the built in life clock that go dead at end of 4 years max.

 

[pickeringchris]

Would you marry me?!? No way my wife would be getting her hands dirty with the tractor! Good luck.

Buddy, you have a beautiful wife and kids. Your wife can't work on tractors but would you really want her too? . Lol