4035 PST will not start

[jnknsmk]

First time poster here- I went through the first five pages of posts and couldn't find my specific problem.
For a couple of years now, there have been times- random and unpredictable, but usually on first start after sitting for days or weeks- when I would have to "bump" the key switch several times to get the tractor to turn over and start. It would always eventually start. I always assumed starter switch. Now, it won't start at all. Still have to "bump" the key switch a few times to get the starter to engage, and when it does, the engine only partially turns over. It only makes a few degrees of rotation and that's it. With a brand new battery, the voltmeter needle only comes up about 25% and the red battery charge light is on.

Here's what I have tried so far:
1. New battery
2. New ground cable straight to the frame- tried engine block as well with no difference.
3. Took the starter to a highly reputable shop and they took it apart, inspected it and function checked it and said there is nothing wrong with it.
4. Tried a new key switch.
5. I've even wondered if the starter is trying to turn an engine that doesn't want to be turned, but I keep going back to electrical because of the voltmeter/ charge light.

Anybody have any helpful ideas? Thanks in advance!

 

[Agvg]

Was it a shop that tested the starter in a test bench? Any hydraulic that block the flow and locks the pump?

 

[RNeumann]

My guess is a bad positive cable or other bad connection. If the charger is reading low voltage with a new battery it sounds like the battery lost clamp.
Several folks on TBN have had similar issues and found that cleaning cables and or replacing cables did the trick.

 

[darmstrong2319]

I think you have an electrical problem. You’ll have to do some trouble shooting. Good luck

 

[jnknsmk]

The shop tested it on a test bench and took it apart and inspected it. Guess I could crack the pressure line to check the hydraulics, right?

 

[jnknsmk]

Also, the positive cable has been cleaned and is spotless. May need to consider changing it, though.

 

[Peter 315]

Most times when you bump the starter to get it turning over its the solenoid my:2cents:

 

[JerryK]

Your positive cable could look brand new, and still be bad. The acidic gas coming from the battery will get inside the swaged connection between the connector that clamps onto the post and the actual copper in the cable going to the starter. This acid turns the copper into white dust, with at least a layer of this white dust keeping the full battery current to flow to the starter terminal. You can check this by applying a voltmeter from the positive post on the battery [ not the clamp ] directly to the post the cable hooks onto on the solenoid. When you turn the key, you should read little voltage between these two spots. I had a JD2240 that acted like yours, which had a bad safety switch at the top of the trans that was made by the 'range' position of the trans. I put a push button across this switch and it allowed full current to the solenoid to pull it in. So, if not the positive cable, make sure you are getting full voltage to the coil of the solenoid.

 

[ovrszd]

Jump start it by connecting the hot cable of the donor vehicle to the positive battery feed on the starter. If it starts this eliminates the bad hot cable theory. If it doesn't start move the ground cable connection to the engine block or a starter mount bolt it you can access one. If it then starts you have confirmed the ground cable is bad. If it doesn't start and/or acts the same then we know the problem is elsewhere.

While the cables are attached, hot wire the starter terminal that the key switch is fastened to. If it then starts you have confirmed the problem is the switch circuit not telling the starter to engage. If it doesn't start you have now narrowed the problem down to the solenoid or starter.

Now move the hot cable connection from the donor vehicle to the hot terminal on the starter housing. If it starts you have confirmed the problem is in the solenoid. If it still doesn't start it has to be the starter.

 

[Bud Soda]

Sounds like a bad new battery.