555E Backhoe will not turn over (has new battery and starter)

mjgamble · Feb 3, 2015

555 E Backhoe was hard to start, sounding like the battery was weak. I attached jumper cable to Kubota tractor for a half hour. Backhoe started right up. After 20 minutes use, noticed oil leak (hole in oil filter) and parked backhoe. Replaced oil filter. Backhoe started up fine. Ran for 5 minutes to check for any leaks and turned off. Tried to restart 20 minutes later, same symptoms as early morning: barely turning (like battery was weak).

Backhoe has new 1200 amp NAPA battery and new starter. Battery taken in and confirmed it was good and had charge.

Diesel mechanic spent a day trying to start: checked all positive and negative connections from battery to destinations. Obtained new heavy gauge jumper cables from the NAPA store and connected positive and negative poles directly to starter - same weak turning over of motor.

I removed injectors. Motor turned over fine after injectors were removed. Injectors taken to shop and tested good. Reinstalled injectors, engine again, barely turns over.

Am at a loss as to what to try next.

RickB · Feb 3, 2015

If you were supplying proper voltage AND current directly to the starter via new jumper cables no smaller than 2 gauge it makes me suspect the starter. I know you said it was new. Doesn't mean it's any good, especially if it is a reman.

mjgamble · Feb 3, 2015

RickB said:
If you were supplying proper voltage AND current directly to the starter via new jumper cables no smaller than 2 gauge it makes me suspect the starter. I know you said it was new. Doesn't mean it's any good, especially if it is a reman.

The starter (remanufactured) was installed in September 2014. Mechanic removed it and I took it to NAPA. It tested fine. later in the day , mechanic again removed it and I turned it in to NAPA, where it tested good. Nevertheless, NAPA dealer arranged for another starter to be delivered the next morning. That acted the same way. So, it has had two new starters with same result.

RickB · Feb 4, 2015

Then you have bad cables on the machine and your new NAPA HD jumper cables can't handle the current required to start the engine alone. Corroded cables on these machines is common and not apparent to the eye. Have your mechanic perform a voltage drop test at every connection between the battery and starter. Check both the hot and ground paths.

oldforgepower · Feb 7, 2015

I second bad cables or a lousy connection. Try putting a new set of cables right on the starter or a set of heavy 600+ amp jumper cables right on the solenoid and one starter bolt. Try jumping across the solenoid and see how it acts.

FredH · Feb 8, 2015

Had a Freightliner act same way a few years back . Ended up actaully being the Ground stud into the frame was cracked and corroded in crack . Ground paint off frame by another hole , shoved a S.S. bolt through it , double flat washers by head for ground lug and torqued it down . Was stll there with nary a issue several years later when I traded that truck in .

Fred H.