4610 Clicks when key is turned

[akajun]

The tractor has always done this, it always starts but lately has been doing it more. Sometimes WHen you turn the key, you get a click from the starter hitting the flywheel, but not turning it. Let it sit a few seconds, turn the key again it cranks right up. I pulled the contacts and cables, cleaned them, took off the ground and hot cable, cleaned them, then cleaned where the ground hits the frame. Put dielectric grease on all connections and thought I fixed it. However when I went to turn the key today, click, wait, start.
The battery is fairly new. Im pretty mechanical but electronic problems are not my best area. Can you give me some instruction on what to check, I have a digital multimeter but am not that familiar with how to use it.

 

[L3010Ken]

if this were a Delco Starter or a similar design (most japanese starters are similar) it sounds as though the copper contacts (starter motors switch) at the end of the solenoid plunger are bad. If this is the case - the plunger pulls in like it should which causes the bendix gear to engage the flywheel, but the motor that spins the bendix does not energize if the contacts are bad.

It is an easy fix with a solenoid rebuild kit. It is a very common problem with Japanese cars that get a few miles on them -

A quick search on eBay shows quite a few listed for John Deere tractors

 

[marco246]

To use the multimeter to check the battery, connect the black lead to COM (ground) and the red lead to VmA or VDC on the multimeter. Set the multimeter dial to DCV. Since you're checking a 12 volt battery you'll want to set the DCV dial typically to 20. Touch the leads to the appropriate battery terminals while the engine is running. If the charging system is OK the multimeter should read 14 to 14.2 volts.

To check how well the battery holds a charge, stop the engine and disconnect the battery's negative terminal. Again touch the multimeter's leads to the terminals. Fully charged, the battery will show 12.6 volts or more. If the battery shows 11.7 volts or less, replace it. If after charging, the battery shows less than a 75% charge (12.4 volts), then think seriously about replacing it.