2305 Won't Start

[GeaugaDeere]

I'm about 90% finished cleaning the 1' of snow off of my drive when my mother in law stops over. I parked my 2305 out of the way and figured it's as good a time as any for a break and proceed to turn of my tractor. About 10 minutes later I hop on it and try to start it back up, and nothing. It sounds like a car does when the battery is nearly dead, so I hook up a battery charger. After 20 minutes, again nothing. I checked all four of the smaller fuses and the larger fuse assembly, and they all appear to be ok. When I turn the key to initiate the glow plugs, a buzzing sound starts coming out of (what appears to be) the lower section of the dash. The buzzing sound dies out after a few seconds, but the tractor still fails to turn over. The battery light and engine oil light stay on during the buzzing...I checked the oil and it is fine.

I'm open to suggestions....

 

[Willl]

Take a volt meter and take some readings.

If you don't have a volt meter to check battery condition and the connections look good, your going to have to pull the battery and run it up to parts house and get them to check it.

Unless you've got another to swap in ?

 

[GeaugaDeere]

I don't think it's a battery issue, but certainly could be wrong. There's a small "door" down by the brake pedal on the operators left hand side. The loud buzzing noise seems to be coming from one of the components behind this door, not sure what it is though. I removed the small door and could feel this part vibrating and hear it buzzing loudly when I turned the key. The lights all come on, after having charged the battery, so that's why I'm guessing the battery is ok.

 

[davkir]

It's hard to tell from the picture in the manual, but it looks like these four components might be behind the access door on the left side.
Do you have a schematic?

S- K4 Engine Preheat Relay
T- N1 Voltage Regulator/Rectifier
U- K3 Safety Relay 2
V- K5 Safety Relay 1

 

[atschirner]

The buzzing sound is most likely the glow plug relay buzzing because there in not enough voltage to hold it closed when the glow plugs are in circuit. When the relay closes the voltage drops and the relay contacts open; with open contacts there is sufficent voltage to hold the relay contact closed; repeat, repeat, repeat. That's the buzzing.

Now, why low voltage. A few things come to mind. Since you added the charger to the battery let's leave it for last. Before that a loose primary batter cable either to the starter or the engine ground are my personal favorites. You can't get much farther without a volt meter with the exception of turning the headlights on and then activate the glow plugs. Do the headlights dim? If so back to the loose cables theory.

You may have a battery that decided it was time to go away but that is rare. If you were blowing snow or the alternator became wet from melting snow that may be the root problem. These are less likely than loose battery cables.

Please let us know what you find.

 

[bird1148]

Replace battery and problem will be cured. Had the same issue with my 2305.

 

[kennyd]

Make sure your PTO is not engaged (could have moved the lever when exiting the tractor) and the shifter is in neutral.

 

[markb74]

My first thought is to blame your mother-in-law...

Beyond that, I agree with what most of the other posters have suggested... I'm looking in my 2210 technical manual for some other ideas, and there are multiple tests you can do with a volt meter.

Personally, I've never had much luck charging an auto/tractor battery. I'd try jumping the battery for a one time start to help me conclude its not the battery. I know I've charged a battery until it had a nice 12.6 volt reading and go to start it and nothing (or not much). The fact the lights come on doesn't give me much faith its not the battery. There are specific tests in the manual, but if I'm reading it correctly the minimum volts should read 12.4, with 9.6 volts immediately after you try to start it (after a 15 second load test). If it's below 9.6, indications are the battery may need replaced.

Good luck and let me know if you'd like me to look anything up in the TM if you don't have one already.

 

[GeaugaDeere]

So most of you guys have pointed to the battery as the culprit, which is hopefully going to be the cheapest thing to fix. Cheapest meaning there's no truck from the dealership coming to pick up my tractor and then diagnose it back at their shop. I'll try to jump it Monday Morning to try and rule out any other parts, and I certainly hope that does the trick. Any particular battery brand that anyone cares to suggest?

 

[FastPauly]

It certainly does sound as though the root cause is the Mother In-Law......I would think she should be held totally responsible for any expenses incurred on getting the machine back to working order.

....just kidding of course....hopefully it is just a bad battery issue

 

[GeaugaDeere]

Good news, my neighbor comes over with his 07 Chevy Silverado and we jump start the Deere. It runs great and I attempt to finish off my driveway, but while turning around on the road, I turn on my 4 ways and the tractor dies. I ran (I do mean ran) over to my neighbors and he brings the Chevy back out and jump starts me again. Obviously the battery is not charging, but now I'm concerned that the alternator may be part of the problem too. I'd hate to fork over the money for a new battery just to have the alternator take part in the demise of another battery. Is there a way to test the alternator or to see if the dealer can test it?

 

[swines]

Good news, my neighbor comes over with his 07 Chevy Silverado and we jump start the Deere. It runs great and I attempt to finish off my driveway, but while turning around on the road, I turn on my 4 ways and the tractor dies. I ran (I do mean ran) over to my neighbors and he brings the Chevy back out and jump starts me again. Obviously the battery is not charging, but now I'm concerned that the alternator may be part of the problem too. I'd hate to fork over the money for a new battery just to have the alternator take part in the demise of another battery. Is there a way to test the alternator or to see if the dealer can test it?

Still sounds like a bad battery - the alternator won't charge a bad battery. Take the battery out and have it tested first - don't jump to the conclusion it's an alternator problem. You don't have to "fork over money" for a battery before you know whether it's good or bad. Most auto parts stores will test the battery for you for free...

 

[megotatractor]

And don't forget to check that the alternator belt is tight if you haven't already. Then test the battery first.

 

[GeaugaDeere]

I removed the battery and have taken it to Chagrin Pet and Garden, they checked it on their voltmeter and it read 0.0

New battery won't be in until Thursday, so I'll return and pick it up then. The belt does appear to be pretty tight, so I'm hoping there is no alternator issue.

Thanks for all the help and advice guys, this site is the best.

Paul

 

[mfreund]

If the alternator wasn't charging, the battery light should be on.

 

[jd4310man]

I don't know who supply's Deere with their junk batteries but they don't seem to hold up for very long. We had three Deere batteries in our 455 and all three were nothing but problems. They all failed way to early and they all caused a lot of corrosion to the battery hard wear.
I had problems with the Deere battery in my 4310 as well. I would say any maintenance-free battery would be better than the stock ones Deere provides.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I don't know who supply's Deere with their junk batteries but they don't seem to hold up for very long. We had three Deere batteries in our 455 and all three were nothing but problems. They all failed way to early and they all caused a lot of corrosion to the battery hard wear.
I had problems with the Deere battery in my 4310 as well. I would say any maintenance-free battery would be better than the stock ones Deere provides.

I agree with you 100% on the batteries, mine wouldn't start one day and when i took the front grille off i seen where it had been leaking, it was just three years old. i cleaned up the metal and had to
put on new terminals.

I bought a new battery but not from J.D. alot of people have had problems with their batteries from JD.

 

[GeaugaDeere]

I was assuming the battery I was getting from the Dealer would be a Deere Battery, but it was a Crown Battery made in the good ole USA (Ohio even...). Sounds like it was a good thing they didn't supply me with another Deere Battery.

 

[Blazerbear]

Happened to me too. Shut-down for cleaning (10 Minutes) and got one short clunk from the starter. Checked all interlocks and regular fuses, nothing. Found a blown fused- link,40amp, replaced it, only a solid 2 second buzz, lower left firewall area, when ignition went to on. Had some lights and other electrical functions. Checked battery, no warnings here in previous starts, with VOM and got 13.35vdc. Replaced battery and tractor jumped to life. Lessons learned: cracked plate may not be detected without a battery load tester as "surface voltage" will have you running in circles. You guys are right about battery failure and the glow plug relay fluttering can drive you nuts, as a "new" problem. Easy fix once you get it figured out