2008 Kioti CK20 Start Issues - "Signal Flasher Black Box" Making Noises

[ritcheyvs]

Alright. I just replaced the terminals on both + and - and it's doing the same thing. Will not start without a jump. Even when jumped I am seeing the battery light lit up. I have a battery charger and it said this thing was full this morning when I put it back on so there is no reason it should be the battery right?

The battery is reading at 11.56 when the key is turned off. When turning the key on, it drops down really low, as low as 4.5 and will not start, but then when I turn the key back to the off position, it goes back up to 11.56.

In short, you have a bad battery and maybe a bad alternator.

Your battery IS bad. You should see at least 12.5 volts on a good battery with no load. Fairly new batteries do go bad. Poor charging will kill a previously good battery. When you turn the key to on, the glow plugs come on and they draw significant current, maybe 30 amps. But that should not pull the voltage below about 11 volts if the battery is OK. Maybe you have some parasitic load that is draining the battery when the tractor sits; a bad alternator can do this.

Your battery is bad for sure, Take it to a car parts place (like AutoZone, Advance, Pep Boys, etc.) and they will test it for free (and then sell you a new one).

Even before you do that, check the battery voltage when the engine is running? It should be just over 14 volts and certainly no less than 13 volts. If this voltage is low you need to address your charging system, which may well be what is killing your battery. If you have ruled out a loose alternator belt, take the alternator to the auto store and have them test that too. If the alternator is bad, you can probably get a local shop to rebuild it much faster and cheaper than buying a new one from Kioti. You didn't state the age of your machine but alternator brushes do wear out and the internal rectifiers and regulators can fail, which may also drain the battery.

Once started, this type of Diesel engine will continue to run until the battery gets so low that the stop solenoid drops out (newer version which requires power to run). On the older version stop solenoid (requires power to stop) the engine will run indefinitely even with the battery removed. But don't disconnect the battery on a running engine or you may blow alternator diodes.

As a stop gap, you could install a good battery and when the tractor is parked disconnect the tractor ground cable (so the tractor can't drain the battery) and connect your charger.

 

[CitizenOfThePlanet]

Thanks for the tips! The battery is a closed battery so I cannot check levels or add anything to it.

I have disconnected the battery from the tractor completely and have it on the charger, but let me ask, you mentioned having it charging but removing the ground.. In the past I have tried charging the battery while still connected to the tractor and grounded and it never works. Does the ground cause the battery not to charge properly? I will continue to charge it until the charger says it's done and I will give it a try again.

I am sure there must be something draining the load, but I don't think the belt is bad. Perhaps the alternator but I hope not as I wouldn't have the first clue how to remove it. Hopefully this will be charged by morning!

 

[CitizenOfThePlanet]

Thanks for the tips! The battery is a closed battery so I cannot check levels or add anything to it.

I have disconnected the battery from the tractor completely and have it on the charger, but let me ask, you mentioned having it charging but removing the ground.. In the past I have tried charging the battery while still connected to the tractor and grounded and it never works. Does the ground cause the battery not to charge properly? I will continue to charge it until the charger says it's done and I will give it a try again.

I am sure there must be something draining the load, but I don't think the belt is bad. Perhaps the alternator but I hope not as I wouldn't have the first clue how to remove it. Hopefully this will be charged by morning!

 

[murphy1244]

Have your battery tested at the parts store..

 

[oldpilgrim]

In the past I have tried charging the battery while still connected to the tractor and grounded and it never works.

that indicates you have a drain in the system that is dragging down the battery as fast as you are charging it. That's another whole different problem that I can't help you with as it's going to take some serious trouble shooting to find. If you're lucky, it could be as simple as a short in the alternator that's causing the drain. You should take that off and get it checked.

I think ritchey was advising you to put in a good battery so you could use the tractor but disconnect the ground when not in use to prevent it from getting drained.

 

[ritcheyvs]

... I have disconnected the battery from the tractor completely and have it on the charger, but let me ask, you mentioned having it charging but removing the ground.. In the past I have tried charging the battery while still connected to the tractor and grounded and it never works. Does the ground cause the battery not to charge properly? I will continue to charge it until the charger says it's done and I will give it a try again. ...

In a healthy tractor, you can charge the battery just fine with it still connected. But if the tractor is draining the battery, disconnecting either cable will prevent that (it's safer to disconnect the ground cable). Unless someone has messed with the wiring, about the only things that can drain the battery with the key off are the alternator, the emergency flashers, and the preheat relay; but the alternator is the most likely culprit.

From what you have already said (very low voltages), the old battery probably can't be saved, no matter how long it is charged. I suspect you have a charging and/or current-drain problem that killed the current battery. If an alternator diode fails, charging will be inadequate AND you will have a constant drain on the battery. If the alternator belt is loose, charging will be inadequate.

When you jump-start the engine, what is the battery voltage with the jumpers disconnected and the engine running? If it isn't 1-2 volts higher than before engine start, you DO have a charging problem. If the alternator isn't charging you'll just kill a new battery unless you disconnect and charge it every time the tractor is parked.

 

[ritcheyvs]

... I think ritchey was advising you to put in a good battery so you could use the tractor but disconnect the ground [and recharge the battery] when not in use to prevent it from getting drained.

Exactly.

 

[murphy1244]

I think his Battery is shot. He needs to have it load tested and find out why?

 

[CitizenOfThePlanet]

Good morning! I just installed a new battery. They tested the old one and said it was shot, they didn't tell me why.

The new battery starts the engine up great, BUT the battery light is still lit on my dash, and when testing the battery with a voltmeter, it's only reading 12.3.

Any thoughts? The belt for the alternator is tight. Is there any way I can troubleshoot this without removing the alternator?

Thanks

 

[murphy1244]

Good morning! I just installed a new battery. They tested the old one and said it was shot, they didn't tell me why.

The new battery starts the engine up great, BUT the battery light is still lit on my dash, and when testing the battery with a voltmeter, it's only reading 12.3.

Any thoughts? The belt for the alternator is tight. Is there any way I can troubleshoot this without removing the alternator?

Thanks

Give us voltage then start and check again. Sitting volts should be 12.5 and up for a new batt and when started will drop to 11.5 to 12 then rise to 13.5 to 14. after a few minutes voltage should slowly drop to 12.5 or a little higher